Associate Athletic Director for Communications

Chicago State University - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

Educational Services

About the position

The Associate Athletic Director for Communications at Chicago State University plays a pivotal role in shaping the public image and communication strategies of the university's athletic programs. Reporting directly to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics or their designee, this position is responsible for the comprehensive management of all publicity and communications for the Department of Athletics. The primary objective is to ensure that the university's assets are protected through adherence to applicable external and internal regulations while effectively representing CSU Athletics to the public and media. In this role, the Associate Athletic Director will provide leadership and coordination for media relations, developing and implementing ongoing media training for coaches and student-athletes. The position requires the creation and execution of innovative media and public relations strategies, overseeing all digital communications, and producing engaging content that tells the stories of the Cougar athletic teams across various media platforms. Additionally, the individual will manage the official CSU Athletics website and all department social media accounts, ensuring they are current and reflective of the department's branding and vision. The Associate Athletic Director will also maintain all department and team statistical records, nominate student-athletes and coaches for conference and national awards, and select, train, and manage student-assistants in athletics communication. Coordination of communication with the Northeast Conference and collaboration with other departments within the athletic department, such as ticketing and event management, is essential to ensure the smooth execution of home sporting events. The role may also involve special projects and other duties as assigned, requiring a proactive approach to problem-solving and effective communication with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and coordination of all publicity and communications for the Department of Athletics, including media relations.
• Develop and implement ongoing media training for coaches and student-athletes.
• Develop and implement creative media/public relations strategies.
• Oversee all creative digital communications.
• Produce content for all of the Department's athletic teams telling Cougar Stories through all media types.
• Develop, implement, refresh and manage CSU Athletics official website and all department social media accounts.
• Maintain all department and team statistical records.
• Nominate student-athletes and coaches for conference and national awards.
• Select, train and manage the day-to-day priorities for athletics communication student-assistants.
• Coordinate all communication involving CSU and the Northeast Conference.
• Collaborate branding, vision and relevancy of CSU web site with partner SIDEARM Sports.
• Stay current on emerging digital communications trends, including mobile technology, metrics and social media.
• Coordinate all aspects of media coverage for home sporting events.
• Serve as a leader for game day execution, collaborating with other departments within the athletic department, including ticket office, event management, and marketing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree; collegiate experience preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of communication, marketing, and social media best practices.
• Knowledge of compiling game statistics (Stat Crew) for a variety of sports.
• Organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks and details effectively.
• Ability to effectively interact with a wide variety of constituencies.
• Thorough knowledge of NCAA and CSU rules and regulations.
• Ability to establish and maintain a presence on social media.
• Good attention to detail and the ability to note errors and inconsistencies.
• Ability to meet established deadlines.
• Proficient knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Acrobat, Photoshop) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree preferred.
• One year plus of managing/administration of NCAA rules and regulations.
• Work experience in compiling game statistics for a variety of sports.
• One year plus of proficient level work experience in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Acrobat, Photoshop).
• Relevant experience with supervisory responsibility in collegiate or professional sports.