Assistant Athletic Director Communications & Public Relations

Job Summary

Essential Functions:

• Day to day oversight in planning, coordinating and directing media and public relations activities.
• Serves as the primary media contact for all day-to-day public relations activities for Men’s Basketball and other sport programs as assigned.
• Oversight of the department budget for Communications and Public Relations.
• Coordination with the Director of Broadcasting to manage all broadcast Productions.
• Interact with campus officials, athletics administrators and staff, coaches, student-athletes, media members, department constituents, alumni and spectators.
• Serve as a liaison between the athletic department and media members and outlets, general public and University community while establishing personal contacts and providing information as requested.
• Serve as the primary media relations contact for Men’s Basketball and other sport programs as assigned.
• Maintain daily contact with coaches, student-athletes and athletic staff in an effort to generate potential human interest and feature stories that will enhance the University and UMass Athletics’ image and brand.
• Disseminate potential human interest and feature stories to media members in an effort to place positive public relations pieces.
• Create, prepare and disperse media materials including, but not limited to, rosters, personnel biographies, schedules, press releases, media advisories, media guides, preseason and postseason prospectus and written and/or visual digital content.
• Establish and maintain statistics, records, and team and individual information that could be used by the University.
• Stay appraised of current and emerging trends in media consumption, and tailor UMass Athletics communications strategies to fit those trends.

  Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required.
• Three to five years' experience in a NCAA Division I communications/sports information/media relations office, or comparable experience required.
• Knowledge and skills using PC and Apple computers.
• Knowledge and skills in desktop publishing, digital media and graphic design, social media platforms and StatCrew software.
• Strong interpersonal, editing, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work nights, weekends and holidays.
• Working knowledge of and strict adherence to NCAA, conference(s) and University policies, rules and regulations.