Director of Athletics Marketing & External Engagement (Internal Applicants Only)

Posting Details

Come and join the Bearkat community!

Named after Texas' legendary hero, General Sam Houston, the university boasts a rich historical legacy that resonates with the spirit of Texas, which provides a balance between a peaceful, natural setting and proximity to urban amenities. With a student population of over 21,000, SHSU offers a vibrant and dynamic community. SHSU has a small town feel with large scale opportunities. Located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas and just an hour drive north of Houston, Huntsville provides area residents with a sense of community and belonging.

SHSU offers compelling options for individuals seeking a fulfilling and impactful career including a superior benefit package, competitive salaries and a flexible work environment fostering work/life balance. SHSU offers programs that support a healthy work-life balance, contributing to employee well-being and job satisfaction, as well as, professional development opportunities with our educational assistance and dependent assistance programs.

Posting Information

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.

| Requisition | 202500012ES | | Title | Director of Athletics Marketing & External Engagement (Internal Applicants Only) | | FLSA status | Exempt | | Hiring Salary |
Salary commensurate with education and experience. |

Posting Details

Come and join the Bearkat community!

Named after Texas' legendary hero, General Sam Houston, the university boasts a rich historical legacy that resonates with the spirit of Texas, which provides a balance between a peaceful, natural setting and proximity to urban amenities. With a student population of over 21,000, SHSU offers a vibrant and dynamic community. SHSU has a small town feel with large scale opportunities. Located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas and just an hour drive north of Houston, Huntsville provides area residents with a sense of community and belonging.

SHSU offers compelling options for individuals seeking a fulfilling and impactful career including a superior benefit package, competitive salaries and a flexible work environment fostering work/life balance. SHSU offers programs that support a healthy work-life balance, contributing to employee well-being and job satisfaction, as well as, professional development opportunities with our educational assistance and dependent assistance programs.

Posting Information

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.

| Requisition | 202500012ES | | Title | Director of Athletics Marketing & External Engagement (Internal Applicants Only) | | FLSA status | Exempt | | Hiring Salary |
Salary commensurate with education and experience. | | Department | IMC Athletics External Engagement | | Division | Integrated Marketing Communications | | Open Date | 01/17/2025 | | Open Until Filled | Yes | | Educational and Experience Requirement |
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, sports management, or related field. Five years of experience in a related field. Experience in a state institution of higher education is desirable. A combination of education, experience, and training that would produce the required knowledge and abilities could be considered.

Must be a current Sam Houston State University employee in order to be considered for this position. | | Nature & Purpose of Position |
Develops and executes comprehensive marketing and external operations plans for the Department of Athletics, through Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). | | Primary Responsibilities |
Enhances the fan experience, drives ticket sales, increases brand visibility, and cultivates strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. This role requires both creative and strategic thinking, along with a deep understanding of sports marketing, digital platforms, fan engagement, and corporate sponsorships.

Develops and implements marketing and communications plans for the Department of Athletics, focusing on engagement through web, social platforms, traditional media, and advertising. Sets annual department marketing and engagement goals (e.g., for web traffic, social media growth, game attendance, and ticket sales). Fosters innovative marketing strategies to drive fan engagement, increase ticket sales, and enhance the overall fan experience. Leads efforts to increase fan awareness and attendance at athletic events, ensuring an engaging and memorable experience for students, alumni, staff, and public. Creates fan engagement strategies for home events, including promotions, group sales, and collaborative initiatives with student organizations and campus partners. Ensures consistent branding and messaging to build and strengthen the Bearkat Athletics brand across all platforms. Develops and executes sales strategies aimed at increasing attendance and revenue generation for all athletic events. Collaborates with IMC Digital and Analytics to develop the department’s digital advertising and social media strategies across all platforms, ensuring alignment with overall marketing objectives. Works closely with the communications and creative teams to develop engaging content for digital platforms that resonates with students, fans, and alumni. Monitors and analyzes engagement metrics to refine and optimize social media strategies, fostering long-term fan loyalty. Collaborates with external partners (e.g., Van Wagner College) to secure and grow corporate sponsorships, ensuring that sponsorship goals are aligned with university priorities. Leads athletics communications and creative services, including photography, videography, and video production, to support marketing, social media, and promotional efforts. Develops and manages the marketing department’s budget, ensuring all marketing activities and promotions are executed within the allocated resources. Regularly assesses the effectiveness of marketing strategies through data analysis, adjusting tactics based on results. Works closely with Department of Athletics administration on projects and initiatives for the operations of the department. Works closely with campus partners, including faculty, staff, and student groups, to foster engagement and promote athletics within the university community. Collaborates with the Integrated Marketing team to ensure a unified marketing approach across the university. Ensures that all marketing efforts align with the broader goals and strategies set forth by the Office of the President. Ensures compliance with university policies, procedures, and legal regulations in all marketing and external relations activities. Maintains a clear understanding of NCAA regulations and ensure that all marketing and promotional efforts are in line with athletic governance standards. Performs other related duties as assigned. | | Other Specifications |
Provides leadership and oversight to a department. Must exhibit a high level of professionalism and maturity, executive ability, and a keen understanding of protocol. Ability to organize work effectively and prioritizes objectives. Ability to exercise discretion, excellent reasoning, and independent judgment. Assists in the development of policies and operational procedures for the overall department. Skilled in directing multiple tasks, setting priorities, and organizing operations. Asset and fiscal resources management skills preferred. Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with administration, faculty, staff, and the public. Strong communication skills, both orally and written. Requires the critical judgment for the department, in which very serious consequences on decision-making can occur. Interprets and applies complex directives, policies, regulations, statues, and procedures, and/or written guidelines for a department or major work group.

This position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA).

Up to 20% of this position, over the fiscal year during off-peak periods, may be performed remotely as determined by the supervisor. | | Full Time Part Time | Full Time | | Position Number | 1M1064 | | Quicklink | https://shsu.peopleadmin.com/postings... |

EEO Statement

| EEO Statement |
Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression. Sam Houston State University is an “at will” employer. Employees with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code § 51.215.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report |

Applicant Documents

Required Documents 1. Resume 2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Screening Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Are you a current Sam Houston State University employee?

   • Yes
   • No

2. * How did you learn about this position?

   • The Chronicle of Higher Education
   • Diverse Issues in Higher Education
   • HBCU Connect - Historically Black Colleges and Universities
   • HACU - Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
   • The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
   • Association for Women in Science
   • TWC - Work in Texas
   • Inside Higher Ed
   • Higher Ed Jobs
   • HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
   • SHSU Website
   • SHSU Employee
   • SHSU Recruiter
   • Other

3. (Open Ended Question)

4. (Open Ended Question)

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