Assistant Athletic Director for Communications

The Athletics Department at Whittier College is seeking an Assistant Athletic Director for Communications.

The assistant athletics director for communications is responsible for coordinating Whittier College’s sports information, communications, and media program. This is a position of discretion and the employee is primarily engaged in the exercise of discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance affecting the policies, programming, and compliance of the Athletics Department.

The employee supervises the assistant director of sports communications, a graduate fellow, and a team of more than ten (10) work-study students, and regularly directs their work. This position will be responsible for the overall operation of the sports information office, including the internal and external department communications, oversight of the production of live sporting events, and ensuring compliance with all NCAA Division III and conference (SCIAC) policies and procedures related to sports information and statistical reporting for the 18 intercollegiate sports at Whittier College.

Hours: Varies
Exempt Status: Exempt
Full Time/Part Time status: Full time  
Salary Range: $70,314-$71,200 annual; salary will commensurate with experience, skills, and knowledge.

Reports to: Associate Director of Athletics
Location/Department: Whittier College / Athletics

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions of the Job

The Athletics Department at Whittier College is seeking an Assistant Athletic Director for Communications.

The assistant athletics director for communications is responsible for coordinating Whittier College’s sports information, communications, and media program. This is a position of discretion and the employee is primarily engaged in the exercise of discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance affecting the policies, programming, and compliance of the Athletics Department.

The employee supervises the assistant director of sports communications, a graduate fellow, and a team of more than ten (10) work-study students, and regularly directs their work. This position will be responsible for the overall operation of the sports information office, including the internal and external department communications, oversight of the production of live sporting events, and ensuring compliance with all NCAA Division III and conference (SCIAC) policies and procedures related to sports information and statistical reporting for the 18 intercollegiate sports at Whittier College.

Hours: Varies
Exempt Status: Exempt
Full Time/Part Time status: Full time  
Salary Range: $70,314-$71,200 annual; salary will commensurate with experience, skills, and knowledge.

Reports to: Associate Director of Athletics
Location/Department: Whittier College / Athletics

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions of the Job

Administration essential duties and responsibilities (primary function — more than 50% of work time)

• These administrative duties constitute the primary function of the position and are performed for the majority of the employee’s work time.
• Estimated allocation of work time: administrative direction, planning, and supervision — approximately 55%; oversight and quality control of communications and production output — approximately 30%; and other duties — approximately 15%. The employee is therefore primarily engaged in exempt administrative work involving the exercise of discretion and independent judgment.
• The employee performs office and non-manual work directly related to the management policies and general business operations of the Athletics Department and Whittier College, and customarily and regularly exercises discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.
• Negotiates all departmental media contracts and coverage involving athletics and Whittier College athletes.
• Has independent authority to negotiate and commit the department to media contracts and coverage agreements, and to bind the department in dealings with media partners, vendors, and the conference within delegated limits.
• Exercises independent authority over the athletics communications budget, including allocation of funds, approval of expenditures, and vendor selection for branding, media, and production needs.
• Formulates, interprets, and implements departmental communications policy, including social media, messaging, crisis-communications, and student-athlete conduct standards, and exercises final approval authority over departmental messaging.
• Represents the department and the College in dealings with the SCIAC conference and NCAA national offices on matters of significance, and commits the department to positions and reporting on its behalf.
• Exercises oversight of student-athlete social media conduct, including approval of design, content, and transmission of information.
• Promotes and authorizes procurement of all branding and media-related supplies for the Athletic Department, exercising independent judgment over vendor selection and budget.
• Serves as oversight personnel for all home events and championship contests when hosted by Whittier College.
• Assists the director of operations in hiring and management of Event Staff for all home events.
• Promotes and champions the achievements of Whittier’s student-athletes, teams and coaches through a wide variety of media outlets.
• Directs the training of work-study award recipients, departmental interns, and graduate assistants for gameday tasks.
• Manages the sport-specific accounts or works with program staff to develop a coverage plan together.
• Establishes and oversees the department’s protocols for disseminating results, scores, and highlights to the media and the public. (Routine posting and data entry is delegated to work-study staff and interns.)
• Determines departmental messaging and directs the dissemination of student-athlete athletic and academic achievements to constituents across campus.
• Ensures the department satisfies the informational and statistical requirements of the NCAA and SCIAC Conference, including individual, team, seasonal and career statistics and records.
• Ensures that all sports information, statistical reporting, results, and record-keeping fully comply with NCAA Division III and SCIAC bylaws, formats, and deadlines, and verifies the accuracy and timeliness of all required submissions to the conference and national offices.
• Monitors departmental and student-athlete social media, publicity, and promotional content for compliance with NCAA Division III rules governing publicity, amateurism, recruiting, and name, image, and likeness (NIL), and corrects or removes non-compliant content.
• Ensures that the publicizing of prospective student-athletes and recruits conforms to NCAA and SCIAC recruiting and publicity restrictions.
• Maintains the confidentiality and proper handling of student-athlete education records in compliance with FERPA and institutional policy when releasing rosters, biographical information, statistics, and related materials.
• Ensures that all use of NCAA, SCIAC, and institutional marks, logos, and trademarks in communications, branding, and publications complies with applicable licensing and brand-standards requirements.
• Coordinates with the Athletics compliance staff and the College's compliance officer to align communications practices with NCAA, SCIAC, and institutional policy, and completes compliance-related reporting, rules education, and certifications as assigned.
• Arranges opportunities for team photos, team media days, programs and other College sports publications.
• Nominates and promotes individual athletes for in-season awards, post-season honors, scholarships, and other awards.
• Serves as the university contact with the conference and national offices.
• Travels with teams to post-season events, and conducts limited in-season travel.
• Has oversight for the operations of the All Sports-Night awards banquet, including nominations, selection, and public announcement of recipients.
• Maintains high visibility in the athletics department and on campus.
• Participates in opportunities for professional development.
• Directly supervises the assistant director of sports communications, the graduate fellow, and a team of more than ten (10) work-study students assigned to the athletic communications area, exercising authority over their assignments, schedules, and day-to-day direction.
• Supervises the assistant director of sports communications: sets goals and priorities, assigns and reviews work, provides ongoing direction and coaching, and conducts performance evaluations for the position.
• Participates directly in the recruitment, interviewing, selection, and recommendation for hire of the assistant director of sports communications, and makes recommendations regarding discipline, promotion, and other changes of status.
• Delegates coverage responsibilities to the assistant director of sports communications and holds the position accountable for the quality and timeliness of assigned sports information, statistical, and production work.
• Directs and oversees a work-study staff of more than ten (10) students: recruits, interviews, and selects student workers; assigns them to events and sports; and approves their schedules and hours.
• Trains, mentors, and evaluates the work-study team, establishing performance standards for game day operations, statistics, broadcasting, and social media, and providing regular feedback and corrective direction.
• Plans and coordinates weekly staffing across the 18 varsity programs, ensuring the assistant director and the work-study team are deployed to meet home-event, travel, and reporting demands.
• Assists in the hiring of departmental staff members.
• In the absence of the executive director of athletics, represents Whittier College at all SCIAC meetings.
• Night and weekend work is required on an as-needed basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the executive director of athletics.

Supervision Given To

• The position exercises direct supervisory authority over the following, including assigning and directing work, setting priorities and standards, evaluating performance, and making or recommending hiring and status decisions:
• Assistant director of sports communications (part-time, hourly / non-exempt) — direct report.
• Graduate fellow assigned to athletic communications.
• A team of more than ten (10) work-study students assigned to athletic communications.
• Departmental interns assigned to the communications area.

Communications / Technical Duties (secondary — delegated or supervised where practicable)

• The following technical and production tasks are secondary to the position’s administrative function. Where practicable, hands-on execution is delegated to and performed by work-study students, interns, and the graduate fellow under the employee’s supervision; the employee’s role is to direct, oversee, and set standards for this work.
• Directs and oversees sports information game coverage of all home varsity events, ensuring coverage and customary media reporting duties are staffed and executed by the Assistant Director of Sports Communications and the student team.
• Oversees the compilation, maintenance, and updating of statistics for all Whittier sports via PrestoStats and NCAA LiveStats, delegating routine data entry to trained student staff.
• Maintains, with periodic updates, the standards for the Whittier College record books and athletic web site (wcpoets.com); directs student staff in their routine upkeep.
• Develops and directs the department’s social media strategy and approves messaging to deliver the proper message to fans, recruits, supporters of the program and media.
• Directs and approves the writing, editing, design, and publication of team sport public announcements and press releases.
• Directs and approves the production of departmental publications for event such as: tournaments, President’s Club Luncheon, Purple & Gold Sports-Night, Hall of Fame and the annual Purple & Gold Golf Tournament.
• Directs the planning, staffing, and production of live  game broadcasts from the Whittier College Sports Network and SCIAC Network, coordinating student and event staff to broadcast home events over the internet.
• Arranges and assigns public address announcer coverage for home sporting events, staffed by student and event personnel.

Non-essential Functions of the Job

None identified at this time.

Position Specifications and Requirements

Knowledge and Education

Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills are essential.

Job Specific Skills

Understanding of SIDEARM Sports, BlueFrame Production Truck, NCAA statistical procedures is required. Familiarity with HTML/CSS a plus. Understanding of Microsoft Office is essential. Understanding of Adobe Creative Suite and Canva a plus.

License(s) and Certificate(s)

CPR/AED certification is preferred.

Physical Activity/Effort

Must be able to lift/transport boxes of up to 15 pounds.

Environmental Conditions

Standard office conditions. Position requires irregular office hours including after-hours and weekend work to attend competitions, meetings, and college events. Consecutive days of work-related activity often exceed seven or more during the academic year. Office hours will be established in consultation with the Assoc. Athletic Director or Executive Athletic Director as the direct supervisor.

Application Deadline

Until the position is filled.

The position is based in Whittier, California. To be considered for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume to: whittierjobs@whittier.edu and rcarter@whittier.edu or mail to Whittier College, Attn: Human Resources Manager, 13406 E Philadelphia Street Whittier, CA 90608. AA/EOE.

Apply Now