Athletic Communications Assistant

Roadrunner Athletics Communications

• →Create and/or assist in creating engaging content for various communications channels including press releases, newsletters, websites, social media, and internal communications for assigned sports and events.
• →Maintain sports information files and digital content including photographs, game notes, event results, statistical reports, and assigned teams/department member biographies.
• →Maintain and update assigned team pages on the athletics website, ensuring timely and accurate content, schedules, rosters, statistics, and biographies.
• →Coordinate delivery of promotional communications through social/digital media and other external communications channels, including assigned teams’ publicity and promotion of events.
• →Assist with maintaining schedules and related communications for assigned teams.
• →Assist with statistical record keeping, research and archiving for assigned sports.
• →Assist the Sports Information Professional III by serving as a contact and coordinating athletics communications activities for assigned sports, including implementing established communications plans and supporting media coverage.
• →Compile and assist with distribution of game notes, media guides, record books, and other publications for assigned sports.
• →Assist with coordinating photography and content collection for assigned teams, including working with photographers, videographers, and creative services staff.
• →Assist with ensuring NCAA, conference, and institutional branding and communications standards are followed, relevant, and accurate across assigned communications materials.

Media Relations Support

• →Assist with responding to standard media inquiries and serve as an athletics communications contact for assigned events under the direction of the Sports Information Professional III.
• →Work alongside the athletic External department to assist in identifying and pitching content directly for social media, print, and broadcast media.
• →Assist with the reporting of results and student-athlete feature stories to the media.
• →Assist with the development of digital content under supervision of Associate Athletic Director for Marketing & Fan Engagement.
• →Draft press releases and related communications under lead direction of the Sports Information Professional III.
• →Assist with coordinating interviews between media representatives, coaches, and student-athletes in accordance with departmental and NCAA policies.
• →Monitor media coverage of assigned sports and maintain media contact lists.
• →Nominate student-athletes and coaches for conference, regional, and national awards and assist with preparation of award materials.

Gameday Operations Support

• →Assist in preparing game-day materials, including game notes, flip cards, statistics packets, media guides, and other resources for media representatives, coaches, officials, and visiting teams.
• →Support live broadcasts and streaming productions by providing statistical information, game notes, rosters, pronunciation guides, and other reference materials to broadcast personnel.
• →Assist with issuing media credentials and maintaining credential lists in accordance with departmental policies.
• →Compile and distribute live statistics during home contests using NCAA-approved statistical software.
• →Assist with coordinating postgame reporting, including timely submission of statistics, recaps, and required reports to the conference, NCAA, and media outlets.
• →Provide work direction to student assistants, interns, and game-day workers supporting athletics communications operations.
• →Assist with coordinating game-day media operations, including interview procedures and postgame press conferences as appropriate following established departmental procedures.

• Communications/Media relations experience within collegiate or professional Athletics (Division I preferred).
• Strong story development and journalistic writing skills.
• Competence in the following computer software programs: the Adobe Creative Cloud, Genius NCAA Live Stats, Stat Crew, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Editorial skills.
• Knowledge of interview techniques and the ability to define and deliver media messages.
• Experience writing (AP style) press releases, feature stories, game recaps, and other athletics communications materials.
• Experience managing athletics websites using a content management system (e.g., SIDEARM Sports or similar CMS).
• Knowledge of NCAA rules, conference policies, and best practices related to athletics communications and media relations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with coaches, student-athletes, administrators, media representatives, and campus/community stakeholders.
• Experience serving as the primary communications contact for one or more athletic teams.
• Demonstrated skills in a fast-paced environment utilizing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

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• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
• General knowledge of media relations, public affairs, and sports information.
• Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills to effectively present information and produce content.
• Skill in following guidelines and providing input and feedback as required and applicable.
• Ability to analyze information and data as well as use reasoning to summarize into clear and succinct statements.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team and build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
• Computer skills to appropriately use technology (i.e., social media platforms) and relevant software packages as required.
• Knowledge and understanding of sports terminology and relevant sports.
• Ability to travel and attend training programs off-site.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.
• Must be able to travel with assigned teams, as needed, to provide athletics communications and media relations support before, during, and after competitions.