Director of Athletic Communications

PRIMARY PURPOSE/SCOPE

The primary purpose of the Director of Athletic Communications is responsible for the planning and implementation of a proactive, comprehensive communications operation for the University’s NAIA athletics program. This position informs external and internal entities of newsworthy matters concerning intercollegiate sports at Bluefield University.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS

Director of Athletic Communications

PRIMARY PURPOSE/SCOPE

The primary purpose of the Director of Athletic Communications is responsible for the planning and implementation of a proactive, comprehensive communications operation for the University’s NAIA athletics program. This position informs external and internal entities of newsworthy matters concerning intercollegiate sports at Bluefield University.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS

1. Management/Oversight (30%)

   • Hire, train, and oversee student-worker staff for office and athletics contests related to sports information and athletics communications.
   • Manage and maintain sports information and athletics communications budget.
   • Oversee the Director of Broadcasting and all video broadcasts for all applicable sports.
   • Oversee Social Media accounts for Athletics and individual sports.
   • Serve as point of contact for outside production vendors.
   • Oversight of all logos, word marks, and spirit marks, including serving as the lead contact for the Department.

2. Website Content Manager (15%)

   • Maintain and update the athletics website: burams.com
   • Compose compelling stories in written, video, social media, graphics, and other innovative formats for publication including recaps, press releases, record books, and content for the website.
   • Regularly update and maintain the athletic website for assigned sports and athletic department programs. Create Web and other communications that support the University’s athletic program, enrollment marketing, and institutional marketing goals.
   • Update personnel bios for student-athletes, coaches, and athletics personnel annually.
   • Maintain and update rosters for each sport on the website.
   • Create and oversee photo database.
   • Maintain historical records, photographs, stories, and other important information in the department in a database.
   • Coordinate team photos and headshots of the student-athletes, coaches, and athletics personnel.

3. Game Day Responsibilities (20%)

   • Provide and/or supervise in-game statistics for all applicable sports in compliance with NAIA statistic regulations.
   • Oversee game day operations pertaining to sports information and athletic communications, including student workers, scoreboard, announcer, statisticians, and third-party vendors.
   • Schedule and oversee the public address announcer for all home contests, including creating the scripts for the announcer prior to the event.
   • Upload and update statistics after every contest and archive statistics for past contests on the athletics website.
   • Oversee photography and photographers at all athletics events, including hiring outside photographers for special athletics and post-season events.
   • Post action photos for home athletics contests on social media and photo gallery on the athletics website.

4. Social Media (10%)

   • Develop and implement a social media marketing plan for athletics.
   • Manage the Department of Athletics social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
   • Post in-game updates, graphics, and important information on social media accounts.

5. Design and Promotional Materials (10%)

   • Create and update templates, and develop game day programs for all home contests.
   • In collaboration with athletics staff, design recruiting materials such as season previews, schedule cards, postseason accomplishments, and recaps.
   • Design and create graphic templates for home contests and conference player of the week, All-Conference, All-Region, etc.
   • Update and post graphics for contests and scoring recaps.

6. Department of Marketing and Communications Collaboration (10%)

   • Work in conjunction with the Office of Marketing and Communications to promote the University.
   • Contribute substantively to determine and execute initiatives to further the University’s goals with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Oversee development, production, and dissemination of video and social media content which does the same.
   • Assist in the development and maintenance of the brand and style guide of both the University and the Department of Athletics.
   • Assist with the production of media guides, posters, schedule cards, newsletters, advertisement schedules and posters, and game day program.
   • Attend regular departmental meetings to give athletics a voice in the promotion of BU Ram as a whole.

7. Public Relations (15%)

   • Coordinate local, regional, and national media coverage that promotes the successes of student-athletes, coaches, and programs.
   • Serve as the institutional sports information contact for requirements of the AAC and Mid-South Conferences.
   • Comply with NAIA rules and regulations.
   • Develop and maintain a crisis communications plan for the Department.
   • Nominate and complete forms for NAIA, conference, and sport organization awards for student-athletes and coaches.

8. Other (5%)

   • Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics of Athletics

SUPERVISORY DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS

This position directly supervises any assistant, volunteers, and student workers who are assigned to the athletics communication area and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the University’s policies and applicable laws. Supervisory duties, responsibilities, and functions include interviewing, hiring, training, and mentoring employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Individuals must possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to demonstrate, explain, and perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, using some combination of the following skills and abilities:

• Must possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field (Sport Management, Journalism, Statistics or Communications, etc.) or equivalent. preferred. be able to support the Mission Statement, purpose, and goals of the University, and express a personal Christian commitment.
• A minimum of two years of experience in a collegiate athletics communications/sports information office is required. Experience in journalism or media relations is preferred.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe InDesign/Photoshop are required.
• Experience with statistics programs (StatCrew, SIDEARM/PrestoSports live statistics, NCAA-mandated statistics software) is required.
• Experience in website maintenance (PrestoSports/SIDEARM Sports CMS) is required. Website analytical data expertise is preferred.
• Social media experience is required and social media marketing experience is preferred.
• Strong ability to multitask, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to work nights and weekends.
• Supervisory and/or management experience, preferably in collegiate athletics.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively interact with a wide variety of people.

ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS

• Physical Demands

  • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This position may require frequent standing, walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, pulling, pushing, lifting, and carrying.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee must also possess the ability to occasionally lift, carry, and/or drag approximately 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include the ability to distinguish the nature of objects by using the eye. The operation of vehicles and the transportation of athletes are duties that are required at various times. Tasks such as working at a computer which involves extensive wrist and hand movements are also required.

• Specialized Equipment Requirements

  • The use of specialized equipment listed here is representative of equipment an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Specialized equipment would be equipment typically found in modern athletic facilities.

• Working Conditions and Environment

  • The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the duties, responsibilities, and functions of this job. Supervisors are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, coercion, or harassment, including sexual or gender harassment. Work is performed indoors and/or outdoors. The noise level is usually low to moderate. While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be required to travel.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

This position is subject to at least an annual evaluation based on the job duties, responsibilities, and functions set forth above.

APPROVALS

The job duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements delineated above should not be interpreted as an all-inclusive list of the same. Additional duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements may be assigned as deemed appropriate. The University reserves the right to change or reassign job duties, responsibilities, and functions, or combine positions at any time. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the University. Position descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The University maintains its status as an at-will employer.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

To apply for this position, please visit https://www.bluefield.edu/employment/ to complete the electronic staff employment application and upload the following:

• Letter of interest
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Names and full contact information for at least three professional references
• Statement of Christian Faith

Hard copy application materials may be sent to Judy Pedneau, Director of Human Resources at Bluefield University, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605, [email protected].

To be considered for this position, all application requirements listed above must be completed.

Bluefield University is a Christ-centered, multicultural learning community that values and seeks faculty and staff who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives, are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation.

Bluefield University is a private, not-for-profit institution affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Bluefield University shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs. This institution encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

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