Assistant Athletics Director, Social Media & Creative Content (MarComm)

EXPIRED

Job Description

The Assistant Athletics Director, Social Media and Creative Content is part of the Vanderbilt Athletic Communications team within the Communications and Marketing division at Vanderbilt University. This role is responsible for leading the social media strategy for Vanderbilt men’s basketball and overseeing the department’s digital communication efforts in alignment with institutional-level strategies and tactics for Vanderbilt’s distinctive athletics program within the context of the university’s overall strategic communications plan.As a member of Vanderbilt’s Communications and Marketing division, the Assistant Athletics Director, Social Media and Creative Content successfullycollaborates with relevant departmental units in planning, editing and strategically telling the Athletic Department’s best stories while promoting and protecting theVanderbilt Athletics brandat the local, regional, national and international level. These stories are produced through multiple media (e.g. videos, graphics, motion graphics and animations, written stories, photographs, media releases and media pitches) and on multiple channels (e.g. social media, website, apps, in-game and external media).

Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director, this position does have supervisory responsibility. This position supervises 5+ staff, including social media specialists, content creators (photographers /videographers), and a visual media manager. The Assistant Athletics Director is responsible for the creation and distribution of engaging social media content and creative direction, tracking issues and monitoring results. This role also requires the ability to report to work in-person on the Vanderbilt University campus and travel when necessary for away games and special events.

The Athletic Communications team designs and executes integrated communications strategies to protect and enhance Vanderbilt’s local, national and international reputation, and positions the university as one of the world’s leading academic research institutions and home to competitive, Division I collegiate athletics through the distribution of compelling content across a variety of digital and traditional channels.

Job Description

The Assistant Athletics Director, Social Media and Creative Content is part of the Vanderbilt Athletic Communications team within the Communications and Marketing division at Vanderbilt University. This role is responsible for leading the social media strategy for Vanderbilt men’s basketball and overseeing the department’s digital communication efforts in alignment with institutional-level strategies and tactics for Vanderbilt’s distinctive athletics program within the context of the university’s overall strategic communications plan.As a member of Vanderbilt’s Communications and Marketing division, the Assistant Athletics Director, Social Media and Creative Content successfullycollaborates with relevant departmental units in planning, editing and strategically telling the Athletic Department’s best stories while promoting and protecting theVanderbilt Athletics brandat the local, regional, national and international level. These stories are produced through multiple media (e.g. videos, graphics, motion graphics and animations, written stories, photographs, media releases and media pitches) and on multiple channels (e.g. social media, website, apps, in-game and external media).

Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director, this position does have supervisory responsibility. This position supervises 5+ staff, including social media specialists, content creators (photographers /videographers), and a visual media manager. The Assistant Athletics Director is responsible for the creation and distribution of engaging social media content and creative direction, tracking issues and monitoring results. This role also requires the ability to report to work in-person on the Vanderbilt University campus and travel when necessary for away games and special events.

The Athletic Communications team designs and executes integrated communications strategies to protect and enhance Vanderbilt’s local, national and international reputation, and positions the university as one of the world’s leading academic research institutions and home to competitive, Division I collegiate athletics through the distribution of compelling content across a variety of digital and traditional channels.

The Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt is a dynamic and collaborative group. The division serves as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing, developing and executing strategies that inform, engage, and inspire others to participate in Vanderbilt University’s global academic and research mission. The division is a key strategic adviser and partner for the mission-based work of the university, providing comprehensive communications and marketing plans and thoughtful analysis on messaging opportunities and constraints. The Communications and Marketing team delivers impactful marketing and communications results across key audiences to serve the larger mission, values, and priorities of the university.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director, execute the team’s digital content strategy, including day-to-day operation and management of the social media strategy for Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball, Vanderbilt University Athletics’ social media platforms and creative content.
• Manage a team of social media specialists, content creators (videographers and photographers) and a visual media manager. Set and monitor goals and performance for the team and oversee professional development, among other administrative duties..
• Track the team budget, including being accountable for freelance expenses, advertising and subscriptions.
• Implement a culture of professional excellence and strive to facilitate and support the same for colleagues in and outside the team, and effectively manages through challenges and opportunities.
• Work inclusively to build trust and accomplish tasks, goals, and initiatives.
• Lead by example and work to ensure that members of the team have the necessary tools, resources, and knowledge to be successful.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently design and execute on communications priorities while still collaborating across the Athletic Communications team, broader Communications and Marketing division, Athletics Department and other areas of the university.
• Set the strategy for and direct the creation of engaging and relevant content across all Vanderbilt Athletics flagship social media accounts, including Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads and other social media platforms. Collaborate with the university social media team to coordinate content and schedule cross-promotion of content when appropriate.
• Work closely with marketing, visual media, graphic design, brand engagement, and other staff on integrated marketing campaigns, including efforts around fan engagement, brand awareness, advertising and more;manage relationships with outside partners.
• Manage the team workload and assign projects across the team, using project management tools to effectively track projects to completion. As needed, coordinate with other teams across the Communications and Marketing division to add capacity and ensure the highest caliber delivery of projects.
• Coordinate 24/7/365 social media monitoring and responses to conversations when needed. This responsibility rotates on a schedule and includes some nights and weekends.
• Along with the social media specialists, track issues and risks via social media monitoring tools, as well as handle sensitive and/or highly visible issues, requiring a high degree of discretion and sound judgment.
• Stay abreast of emerging social media trends and platforms and make recommendations to leadership to adjust strategies and tactics as appropriate.
• Use the latest social media measuring and monitoring tools to analyze data and recommend tactical changes, including overseeing the timely and thorough delivery of reports and metrics as needed.
• Provide social media training about the role social media plays in the larger communications plan for a department, school, university, team, and brand.
• Track trends in content creation and encourage staff creating content to constantly iterate and innovate.
• Make appropriate decisions and evaluate risk and uncertainty to create ideal outcomes; exhibit an eye for the macro and the micro, and work to ensure others can do the same.
• Understand, anticipate, and appropriately responds to internal and/or external customers’ needs.
• Demonstrate excellence in news judgment, written communications skills, and a sense of what is appropriate for the brand.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with a wide range of audiences including faculty, students, leadership, staff, alumni, suppliers, fans, and agencies.
• Efficiently and effectively manage multiple, complex, and results-oriented projects with quick turn-around requirements.
• Operate in a highly organized fashion with attention to detail on all projects.
• Demonstrate a high level of comfort with social media platforms and tools, project management tools and video and photography editing software.
• Demonstrate understanding of the university’s mission, values, goals and priorities and an ability to ensure that all are considered in developing communications strategies.
• Work outside of normal business hours, including evenings/nights/weekends as needed for the completion of job responsibilities. Travel is a part of this position; this includes overnight stays depending on team and department needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice Chancellor of Communications and Marketing, the Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director, and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director.
• Think creatively and pragmatically with a willingness to consider many options, problem solve and take directives as necessary.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or related field is necessary.
• At least five years of comprehensive social media strategy or content creation experience, is necessary.
• At least three years of managerial experience is necessary.
• Experience managing creative content in an NCAA Athletics Department is strongly preferred.
• Strong leadership skills are necessary.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills with experience using different media including web, social media and traditional environments to communicate is necessary.
• Experience and comfort working in a deadline-driven environment of multiple projects and quick turn-around requirements is necessary.
• Experience using project management tools to manage team workloads and ensure timely project delivery is preferred.
• The ability to travel with teams and/or for department special events is necessary.

As conditions of employment, individuals have an affirmative obligation to cooperate fully with the institution, SEC, and NCAA infractions processes. An individual who is found in violation of NCAA regulations shall be subject to disciplinary or corrective action by the institution, SEC, and/or NCAA as set forth in the provisions of the NCAA infractions process, up to and including suspension without pay or termination of employment. Additionally, individuals receiving athletically related income or benefits from a source outside the institution (e.g., income from endorsement or consultation contracts with apparel companies, equipment manufacturers, television and radio programs; income from ownership, control or management of a foundation, organization, or other entities; etc.) must report such earnings (other than cash or cash equivalents if the total amount received is $600 or less) to the chancellor on an annual basis.