Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

Summary

The position will be the primary contact for several Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. (“AWPAA”) athletic programs, including Men’s Basketball, and select others based on experience and fit. Duties include, but are not limited to writing press releases, game notes, running team social media accounts, graphic design, serving as the liaison between the public, media, and athletic programs, and gameday media operations. This position will play a role in the strategic vision of AWPAA by helping uniquely tell the stories of the cadet-athletes, coaches, and staff at the United States Military Academy (“USMA”).

Scope of Impact

The Assistant Director’s scope of impact will be moderate due to this position creating content that is externally facing towards USMA, the U.S. Army Garrison, West Point, the United States Army and respective fans and constituents. This position will interface and collaborate with members of the AWPAA External Operations unit and AWPAA coaches and cadet-athletes.

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Summary

The position will be the primary contact for several Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. (“AWPAA”) athletic programs, including Men’s Basketball, and select others based on experience and fit. Duties include, but are not limited to writing press releases, game notes, running team social media accounts, graphic design, serving as the liaison between the public, media, and athletic programs, and gameday media operations. This position will play a role in the strategic vision of AWPAA by helping uniquely tell the stories of the cadet-athletes, coaches, and staff at the United States Military Academy (“USMA”).

Scope of Impact

The Assistant Director’s scope of impact will be moderate due to this position creating content that is externally facing towards USMA, the U.S. Army Garrison, West Point, the United States Army and respective fans and constituents. This position will interface and collaborate with members of the AWPAA External Operations unit and AWPAA coaches and cadet-athletes.

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Level of Decision-Making

The level of decision-making for this position is moderate. This position will work under the direction of the Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications with assistance from the Senior Assistant Director, Athletic Communications and generate content for social media and releases. This position will be able to directly interface with cadet-athletes, coaches, sport administrators, and other external team members to determine best practices and procedures for creating content. 

Success Factors

Success in this position will be evaluated by the Supervisor on the employee’s performance in a variety of areas, including but not limited to: Commitment to AWPAA Mission, Vision and Values; and supporting the AWPAA Strategic Plan and Priority Results.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

40% Sports Information/Public Relations

• Act as the primary athletic communications liaison for designated sports, with a focus on Men’s Basketball.
• Develop and compose research notes, game recaps, and feature articles to enhance media engagement.
• Provide guidance and direction to coaches, staff, and cadet-athletes on Public Affairs Office policies and public relations strategies, facilitating the dissemination of accurate information.
• Create and produce a variety of publications, including game programs, flip cards, and media guides, to support marketing and communication efforts.

25% Social Media

• Assist in the coordination and execution of the department’s social media strategy, aligning with AWPAA’s overarching strategic plan.
• Manage social media accounts for designated teams, ensuring comprehensive coverage of pregame, in-game, and postgame activities.
• Collaborate with marketing and video production teams to generate engaging content for social media platforms.

20% Media Relations

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national media representatives across print, radio, television, and digital platforms to promote assigned sports.
• Conduct interviews and facilitate communication opportunities as needed to enhance media coverage.
• Oversee postgame and press conferences for assigned sports programs, ensuring effective information delivery to the media.

10% Graphic Design

• Collaborate with the Assistant Athletics Director, Creative Services to conceptualize and develop graphic design projects that support departmental initiatives.

5% Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position will not have any supervisory responsibilities.

Work Conditions & Physical Requirements

The selected individual in this position must be able to:

• Perform work duties during flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. 
• Remain in a stationary position 50% of the time; constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer, and other office equipment.
• Occasionally move about inside the office and or/venue to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. 
• Frequently communicate with cadets who have inquiries about their given sport and be able to exchange accurate information with these cadets. 
• Move communications and office equipment weighing up to 50 pounds across campus for various events.

Travel 

Travel will be based on the nature of the team schedules (e.g., Championship tournament, service academy games, etc.) and on the need for assistance for home events.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, sports management, business, marketing, or related field; a combination of education and experience may substitute. 
• One to two years of applicable related experience. 
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office programs.
• Experience with Stat Crew/NCAA Genius stat systems.
• Strong knowledge of social media platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of one to two years of sports communications or relevant experience at the collegiate or professional level.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be eligible to work in the United States of America, without sponsorship.
• Must be eligible to work on a military installation, including a willingness to submit to a background screen.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Pay Range

$40,000 - $45,000 

This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries that AWPAA believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted position. AWPAA expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would AWPAA consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.

About Us

USMA is renowned as the world’s preeminent leadership development institution. Located on the banks of the Hudson River in West Point, NY, it is approximately one hour from New York City. The mission of USMA is "to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army." This position will be housed within the AWPAA, which is a non-profit corporation organized to manage and support the 30 intercollegiate athletic programs at the Academy. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train, and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country through an extraordinary NCAA Division I athletic experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AWPAA is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (“BIPOC”), women, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities are encouraged to apply. Applicant qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law. 

Disclaimer Statement

This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

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