Director of Athletics Communications

Augustana University•Sioux Falls, SD

About The Position

Augustana University is seeking a Director of Athletic Communications to support and enhance the university's mission through digital media, social media, sports information, and media relations. This role is crucial to the university's strategic plan, Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030, and will serve as the point of contact for multiple Viking sport programs, highlighting the achievements of student-athletes. The Director will embrace the Augustana Athletics philosophy of a student-athlete-centered experience focused on academic distinction, competitive excellence, and faithful service to the community. The position involves regular updates to the athletic website, responding to statistical requirements, managing website content, creating photo galleries, maintaining historical data, working with media for coverage, writing press releases and stories, coordinating photography, and collaborating with communications teammates on an annual working calendar. The Director will also be part of the athletic administration team for event planning, develop relationships with coaching and athletic staff, and promote student-athletes and coaches for recognition. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
Previous experience in athletics communications at either the college or professional level.
NCAA experience preferred.
Adherence to established NCAA, NSIC and CCHA regulations.
Proficient with statistical programs and social media operations.
Demonstrated ability to curate and adapt content for designated communications channels.
Ability to work on deadline and manage several tasks simultaneously with consistent follow-through.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including interviewing, editing and proof-reading.
Creative self-starter with ability to exhibit diplomacy and tact while protecting confidentiality.
Ability to work nights and weekends as typical in collegiate athletics.

Nice To Haves

Exceptional writing skills and experience.
Ability to develop and maintain relationships with administrative, coaching and College administrative staff.
Develop and post social media content that engages the Viking fan base and maintain web pages for assigned sports.
Be able to work alone, one-on-one, or as part of a larger team.
Flexibility to travel and work nights and weekends as needed.
Experience in management and promotion of regional and national tournaments preferred.
Proven experience and expertise in developing and maintaining positive relationships with the media on the local and regional level.
Knowledge of news, reporting, and editing principles, practices, and techniques.
Knowledge of public relations principles, practices, and techniques.
Strict adherence to established NCAA, conference, and University rules and regulations.
Interacting with students, faculty and leadership with different backgrounds and points of view and a deep appreciation of and respect for academic values and culture must be a top value of the candidate.

Responsibilities

Ensure that the athletic website—Goaugie.com—is updated regularly with results, stories and statistics.
Respond to statistical and other report requirements for the NCAA, NSIC, etc.
Ensure all programs have proper headshots and updated roster information on the website.
Update all other pages of GoAugie.com website (staff directory, summer camps, spirit squads, prospective student-athlete questionnaires, coach and player bio’s, facilities, SAAC, athletic training, etc.).
Create photo galleries.
Maintain all statistical information, historical data, and photo files for assigned athletic programs.
Work with media to solicit event coverage and feature stories for assigned sports.
Serve as the primary media contact for select sports.
Write and/or coordinate news releases, game stories, feature stories, and game notes.
Coordinate photography of select home athletics events
Work with communications teammates to establish a “working calendar” outlining the necessary annual updates/tasks that need to be accomplished within the communications office.
Serve as part of the athletic administration team for event planning.
Offer ideas, manage details, and implement plans as necessary.
Develop and maintain quality relationships with coaching staff and other athletic staff members by creating solid communication channels with each sport.
Promote and nominate on a timely basis student-athletes and coaches for proper recognition at the conference, regional, and national levels.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.