The Director of Athletic Communications is responsible for overseeing all phases of the athletic communications office. This role serves as a spokesperson for Lafayette College athletics, supervising a talented team of creative professionals who tell the story of Lafayette Athletics. The director reports to the Executive Director for Strategic Communications within the Communications Division and is a member of the Department of Athletics leadership team. This role serves as a primary strategic communications adviser for the Director of Athletics, other members of the athletic administration, and athletic teams and their coaches, helping to maximize communications opportunities while limiting potential communications liabilities.
The Director is responsible for developing and executing strategies that enhance and implement Lafayette’s brand while contributing aggressive and innovative approaches to projecting the strategic value of Lafayette’s intersection of academics and athletics to numerous audiences and constituencies. Additionally, this role also supports student-athlete recruitment and fundraising goals as a key partner across campus.
Responsibilities include all publicity efforts for Lafayette’s 23-sport Division I athletic program. The Director oversees writing, editing, publications, game day operations assistance, website development and management, media relations and statistical and archival endeavors. The director of athletic communications oversees the departmental and team social media program , video production and live streaming operations, and photography. Game day presentation/run-of-show and promotions at ticketed sporting events also fall under the athletic communications purview.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversight of Athletic Communications office staff, including the video production manager, associate director for fan engagement, two assistant directors of athletic communications, several part-time publicity assistants, a secretary, part-time game day staff and freelance photographers along with student workers.
- Oversee the athletics department website and all social media platforms
- Serve as a conduit between the Department of Athletics and Communications Division
- Oversee all publicity efforts including writing, editing and distributing all press releases; social media management for multiple accounts across a variety of platforms; editing videos (season previews, game highlights, etc.); and designing flyers and similar materials
- Oversee live broadcast streaming operation, ensuring that all team sports home events stream and that highlights and B Roll video are available for all sports for use on social media and the website
- Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite and familiar with designing graphics for all relevant media platforms
- Assign and supervise student staff to assist with in-game responsibilities (play-by-play, public address, statistics, in-game updating of social media etc.)
- Communicate with and solicit media for event coverage and feature stories on student-athletes, teams and other department milestones and accomplishments.
- Plan and implement historical archiving, as well as maintenance of the photography database
- Complete conference, regional and national award applications to recognize coaches and student-athletes from assigned teams and programs
- Compile, disseminate, and maintain sports statistics for assigned teams
- Travel with teams from ticketed sports and as necessary, primarily for postseason
- Work collaboratively within the College’s communications division on all athletic-related news stories and events
- Responsible for oversight and management of athletic communications budget.
- Promote a positive image of the College through participation in community and professional organizations, representing the College at professional meetings and on community committees and establishing and maintaining working relationships with news media and other college athletic communications offices
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, strategic communications, public
- relations, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
- 5-8+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications, athletic communications, media relations, digital communications and content creation
- Experience working in or with higher education institutions preferred, but professional experience in an athletic organization or sport management or a similar field will be considered
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and success at building collaborative relationships and meaningful interactions with various stakeholders such as: coaches, athletic department staff, student-athletes, administrators, faculty, campus partners, alumni and the wider Lehigh Valley community
- Strong leadership and interpersonal communication skills
- Must possess the ability to manage multiple projects at once while operating in a fast-paced and complex work environment
- Collaborative mindset with a passion for innovation, storytelling and impact
Please provide a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. https://apply.interfolio.com/190195
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives, and Lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.
