Associate Athletic Director, Strategic Communications & Digital Media

Associate Athletic Director - Strategic Communications & Digital Media

Position Number: 40035503

Payroll Title: MEDIA COMM SPEC 3

Job Code: 7462

Department Code (Name): ATHL (ATHLETICS)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Job Open Date: 5/8/2025

Application Review Date: 5/23/2025

Union Code (Name): 99

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: Grade 22

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $77,000 to $97,000/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University.

Work Location: Intercollegiate Athletics Building, Practice Facilities, and Competition Venues

Working Days and Hours: Monday - Sunday as needed

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:

UC Santa Barbara is located on the Pacific Ocean, ranks among the top-10 public universities in the nation and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The UCSB Athletics Department includes 20 intercollegiate sports teams and 450 student-athletes that compete for championships in the Big West Conference and at the NCAA Division 1 level. The Gauchos have won a record 10 Big West Conference Commissioner's Cups representing the league's all-sports champion.

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Serve as the strategic communications lead and is responsible for conceptualizing, producing, and executing communications strategies for UC Santa Barbara Athletics. Prepares a wide range of written and electronic communications, creates digital media content, provides website oversight, connects with local and national media, produces game notes/related content and archives. Serve as a member of the senior staff/communications, and marketing teams and collaborates with department and campus partners to share stories of student athletes, programs. Works collaboratively with campus partners to strategically advance the UC Santa Barbara Athletics mission and brand. Provide high-level management to assigned areas of responsibility and takes initiative to lead research and develop projects and concepts that are designed to advance intercollegiate athletics programming and services. All duties are to be performed in strict compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA, Big West, Gold Coast, and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conferences and the University.

Qualifications:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Espresso Suite, Gateway, email and calendaring software.
• Comprehensive knowledge of NCAA, Big West Conference, and University policies, procedures, and regulations applicable to the performance of the position.
• Ability to use sound judgment and discretion in responding to issues and concerns and maintain confidentiality.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications or related field or a combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in a public/media relations capacity, including serving as a media point of contact.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisor experience.
• Minimum of 2 years working with and creating digital content.
• Working knowledge of social media platforms, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of NCAA Constitution and Bylaws.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Must be available to attend home games and to travel with sports teams as necessary. Must be available to work nights and weekends as needed.
• Mandated reporting requirements of Child Abuse
• UCSB Campus Security Authority under Clery Act
• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegation or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 30% Digital Strategy & Content - Create and implement an overall digital content, social media strategy and production plan to promote the visibility of the department of athletics and all Gaucho Sports and enhance the brand of UCSB Athletics. Plan should address department and individual sport needs on an annual, not season, basis. Produce, supervise and approve digital content posted on websites and all program/department social media accounts. Explore new multimedia approaches, formats and channels to best share achievements and the athletics story. Develop content such as online program media guides, videos and materials. Coordinate sessions such as photos, video content with programs. Maintain a file of photos and videos to be used in publications. Create department "tool kits" for distribution to department communicators.
• 20% Management Duties - Management of the Athletics Communication office while supervising a team of 2-3 FTE and additional student interns. Work with Deputy Director of Athletics / External and senior administration to create an overall communications strategy to share the powerful story and mission of the athletic department. * Manage and direct two full-time (career) employees and 3-4 student assistants/interns. * Prepare and monitor budget for the Communications Office. * Attend weekly administrative staff meeting. * Plan long-range Communications Office equipment/budget needs. * Assist with the administration of radio contracts. * Prepare/provide annual performance evaluations for employees * Assist other department administrators in overall department.
• 20% Public Relations/ Media Relations - * Serve as primary contact for all local, regional, and national media outlets while coordinating promotional opportunities for the department, coaches, student-athletes and staff. * Maintain, archive, and report on all statistical information for UCSB's Athletics Programs. * Develop overall "positive" relationship with the media. * Act as spokesperson at department press conferences. * Serve as primary contact for a variety of local and national media. * Serve as publicist all sports * Arrange interview between athletes and media. * Solicit stories on teams and individuals within athletic department. * Manage and provide information of 20 intercollegiate sports. * Report results and achievements of athletic teams to media. * Prepare and distribute press releases to media. * Promote athletes for All-American, All-Big West, All-District, and Academic All-American and like awards and achievements.
• 15% Website - Maintain and ensure accuracy and timeliness of UCSBgauchos.com for biographical, statistical and all news related items pertaining to UCSB Athletics, including digital creation of record books and media guides for each program. Coordinate social media postings and creative needs to establish cohesive presence between all public facing digital properties of UCSB.
• 10% Home Event Management - * Obtain, train and supervise statistical crews for all 20 sports, coordinating with the department Business Office for the hiring process. * Coordinate scorers table and media at appropriate home games. * Provide assistance to media covering home events.
• 5% Other Duties - Other duties as assigned by the Athletic Director or Deputy Athletic Director for External Operations.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.
As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit:

* UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 Information - https://www.ucsb.edu/COVID-19-information
* University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodations:

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