Director, Communications, Athletics, Football

FEATURED

EXPIRED

About Us

Are you ready to join a community leading in innovative teaching and learning? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With our growing enrollment and global reach, we are enjoying increased prominence among Georgia's colleges. We offer more than 150 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to over 43,000 students. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics also draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities,mission and values and rich benefits make us an employer of choice. We are part of theUniversity System of Georgia. Kennesaw State will exemplify the power and promise of a student-centered, research-driven university. Our institutional values are student-inspired, promise-fulfilling, true to ourselves, elevational, open and impact-generating.In addition, we support the University System of Georgia core values of accountability, excellence, integrity and respect. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University. Come to KSU and find your passion.

Location

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

About Us

Are you ready to join a community leading in innovative teaching and learning? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With our growing enrollment and global reach, we are enjoying increased prominence among Georgia's colleges. We offer more than 150 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to over 43,000 students. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics also draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities,mission and values and rich benefits make us an employer of choice. We are part of theUniversity System of Georgia. Kennesaw State will exemplify the power and promise of a student-centered, research-driven university. Our institutional values are student-inspired, promise-fulfilling, true to ourselves, elevational, open and impact-generating.In addition, we support the University System of Georgia core values of accountability, excellence, integrity and respect. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University. Come to KSU and find your passion.

Location

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Department Information

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Lead the development and execution of tailored communication strategies specifically designed for an FBS Football program, ensuring they align with the broader goals of the athletic department
2. Oversee the creation and distribution of compelling football-focused content across various platforms like social media, the official website, and press releases, aiming to enhance fan interaction and showcase team accomplishments
3. Manage the creation of multimedia content specific to football, including highlights, player profiles, and interviews with coaches, to highlight the program's achievements and boost its visibility at local and national levels
4. Coordinate all communication aspects related to football events, such as promotions on game days, press conferences, and post-game interviews, to provide comprehensive coverage and increase support for the team and coaching staff
5. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets, as well as organizations and influencers focused on football, to maximize media coverage and exposure for the FBS Football program
6. Participate on assigned committees
7. Offer consistent assistance to the Head Football Coach and other designated coaches in crafting external messages and key points for communication
8. Collaborate on creative projects for football and other sports as assigned

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES*:
¿ Demonstrated understanding of football terminology, rules, and strategies essential for effective communication with stakeholders, content creation, and accurate game coverage
¿ Proficiency in analyzing data and metrics related to audience engagement, media coverage, and digital performance to facilitate informed decision-making and optimize communication strategies for football programs
¿ Ability to develop and implement strategic communication plans tailored to the unique needs and objectives of football programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities

Job Summary

Plays a central role in strategically disseminating crucial information about our intercollegiate athletic teams. Responsible for leading communication initiatives across diverse media channels, this position is pivotal in enhancing the visibility and reputation of KSU Athletics.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Act as the primary communications liaison for assigned sport programs
2. Supervises the communication team and other assigned gameday employees, staff and/or student assistants,, guides the creation and implementation of strategic communication plans
3. Creates, writes, and distribute news and feature stories about specific athletic programs, events, student-athletes, and coaches
4. Develops and maintains online and social media presence to enhance visibility and grow audience engagement for designated sports programs
5. Produces unique content, including features, videos, and coverage for KSUOwls.com, the official Kennesaw Athletics website
6. Manages and maintains current and relevant content on the website and mobile app for designated sports within the athletic department
7. Records and maintains statistics for assigned games and teams
8. Engages with fans via social media, highlighting student-athlete achievements and directing traffic to KSUOwls.com
9. Creates and updates online team record books, game notes, and press releases
10. Responds promptly and accurately to media inquiries following established regulations, policies, processes, and guidelines
11. Coordinates staffing for home and selected away events, including scorer¿s table personnel
12. Collaborates with appropriate staff and coaches to nominate student-athletes for academic and athletic awards and scholarships
13. Leads and oversees the communications internship program
14. Supports the digital media department with graphic design and content planning
15. Works on strategies to enhance department outreach, brand management, and reputation- building efforts
16. Maintains social media department goals and strategies to increase exposure and engagement for designated sports and main channels, ensuring team members fulfill responsibilities
17. Assists with planning and creating content for athletics email campaigns
18. Assists with organizing and executing post-game, post-event, and weekly press conferences for designated sports
19. Works closely with KSU Strategic Communications staff on athletics-focused projects, particularly related to the designated sports
20. Identifies, tracks, and reports on key performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of communication plans for designated sports
21. Collaborates on plans to enhance the brand of KSU Athletics, associated sports, and student-athletes
22. Provides consistent support to the Head Coach(es) and other assigned coaches in crafting external messaging and talking points
23. Assists with managing the communications budget
24. Creates content creation for sports banquets, special events, and recruiting visits

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field

Other Required Qualifications
Current, valid, and unrestricted driver's license

Required Experience
Four (4) years of relevant work experience in marketing, communications, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Educational Qualifications
An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in journalism, communications, Sport Management, or related field

Preferred Experience
Previous experience in athletics communications
Previous experience at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) athletics department within athletics communication and with football communications responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES
Able to represent multiple causes and interests with diverse constituencies effectively
Maintains relationships with relevant communication contacts for various organizations to ensure the needs of Kennesaw State Athletics are met
Participates in other Athletics and Campus committees as assigned
Cultivates and maintains relationships with local, regional, and national media to meet the communication needs of the university, athletics department, sports programs, coaches, and student-athletes
Able to foster a cooperative environment
Demonstrated ability to organize and establish priorities
Strong relationship-building skills with both internal and external constituents
Capacity to handle multiple tasks or projects simultaneously, meeting assigned deadlines

KNOWLEDGE
Familiarity with Statcrew and ability to keep statistics at athletics events
Familiarity with website creation and update using Sidearm and associated platforms
Knowledge of NCAA regulations as they pertain to donors and fundraising

SKILLS
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management and presentation skills
Proficiency in writing proficiently on journalistic deadlines
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (e.g., Microsoft Office suite, Windows and Mac operating systems, Adobe Suite, including Photoshop and InDesign)
Excellent customer service skills, including phone and email etiquette
Strong attention to detail and follow up skills

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect.These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards.More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line athttps://www.usg.edu/policymanual/sect....

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line athttps://www.usg.edu/policymanual/sect....

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.

For additional information or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 50% - 74% of the time

Background Check

• Standard Enhanced
• Education
• DMV
• 9 Panel Lab Drug Test

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening
results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.

https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap...