The Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications and Creative Content will serve as the lead media contact for Gannon Athletics. This position will strategically promote the success and commitment to excellence of Gannon Athletics student-athletes, teams, and the University externally and internally across multiple platforms, including social media and websites.
The successful individual will be responsible for developing a strategic vision and implementing a plan for digital content creation (graphics, videos, photos), written content (game notes, news releases, and feature stories), and in-game management activities (livestreaming, statistics, photography, etcetera). The successful candidate will manage in-game sports information and strategically develop initiatives and strategies to elevate the student-athletes, coaches, staff, and department.
The position will collaborate daily with other External Relations Units – including Assistant Director of Athletics for External Relations, University Marketing, University Communications, and University Creative Services – to manage the brand of the programs and the department.
Required qualifications include, but are not limited to:
- Supervision of full-time staff members and student workers.
- Experience in generating creative content (i.e., graphics, motion graphics, videos, photos) and implementing a content strategy.
- Experience working with members of the media and pitching stories.
- Demonstrated competencies and experience with desktop publishing, writing, and creating content on deadlines.
- Thorough knowledge of StatCrew/NCAA Live Stats statistical software.
- Proficiency in using various programs within the Adobe Creative Suite. Knowledge of social media best practices and emerging platforms, as well as knowledge of graphic design, video, digital media, and written media in athletics.
- Demonstrated and proficient oral and written communication competencies; ability to write game stories and features stories; ability to conduct media training with coaches and student-athletes and advise in interactions with the media; experience designing/editing media guides and/or game programs in an intercollegiate sports information environment is preferred.
- Must be able to adapt to flexible work schedules due to the high volume/sport season schedules.
- Experience and knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.
- Must demonstrate exceptional customer service. This position will involve extensive interpersonal dealings with student-athletes, coaches, and administrators from within the University and with several external audiences, primarily media outlets.
Accuracy and attention to detail are key as this position deals with facts, historical relevance, records, and statistics to promote student-athletes for awards, put events in historical context, compare teams to other teams from the past and present, etc. Creativity, brainstorming, writing, creating content, and communicating are priorities.
Must demonstrate the ability to deal with stressful and changing situations. Work is performed in a University environment, both indoors and outdoors. Weekend time, holiday time commitments, and travel are required.
