Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

George Mason University - Chantilly, VA

Full-time - Mid Level

Chantilly, VA

Educational Services

About the position

The Assistant Director, Athletic Communications serves as the primary contact for the Intercollegiate Athletics Women's Basketball program at George Mason University, located in one of the nation's top Division I college athletics markets, Washington DC, and within the Atlantic 10 Conference. This role is pivotal in managing the communications and public relations for the Women's Basketball program and other assigned sports, ensuring that the branding of Athletics and the University is appropriately represented to create a positive image. The position requires a high level of professionalism and decision-making, particularly in crisis management situations where timely communication is essential to control narratives and minimize negative exposure. In addition to media relations, the Assistant Director will develop and enhance the fan experience, working closely with the Director of Creative Media to create engaging videos and graphics. The role involves writing and editing printed and digital materials, including guides and game programs, as well as producing multimedia projects and maintaining historical archives. The Assistant Director will also be responsible for pitching stories to reporters, coordinating media interviews, and providing game information for assigned teams. Social media management is a significant aspect of this position, where the Assistant Director will develop strategic initiatives, manage social media accounts, and create original content to engage fans and promote the teams. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including marketing and communications staff, to ensure consistency in messaging and to capitalize on emerging trends in media and public relations. Furthermore, the Assistant Director will support event management by coordinating media interviews and providing necessary information for broadcasters. The position also includes supervisory responsibilities over interns and student wage employees, ensuring effective team management and support for the overall goals of the Intercollegiate Athletics department.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for the Women's Basketball program and other assigned sports.
• Manage appropriate branding of Athletics and the University to create a positive image.
• Handle crisis management to control narratives and minimize negative exposure.
• Develop and enhance the fan experience for Women's Basketball.
• Collaborate with the Director of Creative Media to create videos and graphics for women's basketball.
• Make high-level decisions regarding what to report and post without prior editing by a supervisor.
• Plan and implement publicity/media relations activities for assigned sports.
• Write and edit printed/digital guides and game programs.
• Write feature articles, press releases, and pre-season articles to promote teams.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key media contacts.
• Produce multimedia projects including video features for assigned sports.
• Coordinate media interviews and provide game information for assigned teams.
• Develop strategic social media and digital initiatives for assigned teams.
• Create original, engaging written and visual content for social media channels.
• Manage Women's Basketball social media accounts and produce creative content with the Director of Creative Media.
• Monitor emerging trends in media and public relations to keep Athletics in a leadership role.
• Supervise interns, wage/student wage employees, and statisticians.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a related field or equivalent experience in athletic communications or sports department.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Competency in word processing (Word, Excel), desktop publishing (InDesign, Photoshop), and statistical software (StatCrew, NCAA Stats).
• Knowledge of NCAA and A-10 Conference media and ability to build relationships with media outlets.
• Ability to work with and lead multiple teams in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work effectively under deadlines and with a diverse group of people.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate social media programs into communication and marketing objectives.
• In-depth knowledge of social media platforms and their deployment in various scenarios.
• Ability to build internal and external contacts and credibility.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in sports, entertainment, or related industry in communication, social media, and journalism.
• Proven history of successful media placements and pitching stories.
• Experience contributing to successful PR campaigns.
• Demonstrated experience in writing, editing, and desktop publishing.
• Success in building a large online community and increasing engagement.