Director of Athletics Communications

HOW TO APPLY

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD.  Talent Acquisition cannot accept application materials outside of the jobs portal, and is unable to update submitted applications on an applicant's behalf, or forward communications to the hiring units. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link .

The IRD for this job is: 07-15-2024

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

At UC Santa Cruz, we strive to enrich the total educational experience by promoting physical activity, encouraging health and wellness, creating and shaping community, and cultivating direction. Through our diverse offerings in athletics, classes, workshops, outdoor trips, intramural sports leagues, tournaments, clubs, drop-in activities, and recreational facilities, we strive to provide opportunities for UCSC students, staff and faculty, retirees, alumni, and local community members to participate. As one of the largest student employers on campus, we also have many work-study and non-work student jobs in our facilities and programs. Our goal is to provide a wide variety of professional programs and physical activities that promote and enhance community, learning, motivational skills, lifelong wellness, and academic achievement.
 

More information can be found at: https://goslugs.com

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Athletic Communications will strategically promote the Athletics teams, student-athletes, and coaches of UC Santa Cruz in a balanced manner to the local and national media, fans, parents, alumni, recruits, and the community. The Director of Athletic Communications the liaison between UCSC Athletics and the conference office, media, the NCAA, and other departments on campus. The successful candidate will be creative, organized, detail-oriented, innovative, and have experience working under pressure, while balancing multiple projects and deadlines. Candidates must have excellent writing, public relations, marketing, and games management skills (statistics, etc.), and a background in supervising a small team (student workers, part-time assistants and freelancers). The ability to create engaging video and social media content is an important part of the position, along with oversight of CMS live stream broadcasting efforts.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $83,304- $89,350 / annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Sun - Schedule will vary
• Shift Includes: Day, Evening & Weekend

Employee Classification: Career appointment 

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: MEDIA COMM SPEC 3 (007462)

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

85% - Athletics Communications
 

• Create and oversee the communication strategies and vision for the Department of Athletics and Recreation at UC Santa Cruz.
• Coordinate media coverage of all home athletic events including event previews, recaps and photography coverage.
• Oversee live streaming/broadcasting efforts and assemble a team of students / part time employees to broadcast and operate cameras. Handle the movement of cameras, tripods and/or broadcasting equipment as necessary.
• Serve as a liaison between UCSC, the C2C Conference, local and national media, and the NCAA.
• Coordinate all statistical coverage of home athletic events, using live stats software.
• Serve as official statistician, track statistics, and report statistics to the conference and media for UCSC Athletics events, and conference and NCAA Championships that are hosted by UCSC.
• Create and provide a variety of engaging promotional and marketing items for each team including feature stories, releases on student-athletes, videos, social media posts, and promotion of awards and camps.
• Provide biographical information on athletes for press releases and for student-athlete bios.
• Oversee all content on the UCSC Athletics and Recreation website (goslugs.com) and social media channels (Instagram, X (Twitter), Youtube, etc.)
• Produce game day program materials for home events.
• Interact daily with student-athletes, coaches and administrators to actively promote UCSC Athletics and Recreation.
• Work with the Director of Athletics and Recreation, and other members of senior leadership to manage the brand (logos, marketing materials, etc.) for UCSC Athletics and Recreation
• Track all team, conference, regional, and national student athlete honors.
• Maintain up-to-date historical documents and archives
• Interface with Public Affairs, Alumni, and Advancement Offices at UCSC to promote Athletics teams, student-athletes, coaches, and staff.

15% - Departmental and Event Oversight
 

• Collaborate with coaches and administrators to maintain internal and external Athletic and Recreation Event Calendars.
• Supervise the sports information staff, hire assistants and interns, train personnel and delegate various duties.
• Oversee staff in press boxes and at scorer’s table(s), etc. with Game Day Manager.
• Hire students to act as Sammy the Slug.
• Serve as Game Day Manager for home contests as needed

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• Thorough knowledge and/or experience in Intercollegiate athletic program operations.
•  Ability to multi-task and work with frequent interruptions. Good administrative and organizational skills.
• Sound judgment, problem solving and decision making skills.
• Thorough written communications skills.
• Thorough verbal and listening communication skills.
• Good interpersonal and political acumen skills.
• Thorough skills in understanding and effectively utilizing all news / media mediums including broadcast news, the internet, social media and other emerging technologies.
• A strong sense of a good story and understanding of the topics that may be of interest and incorporate key location messages.
• Ability to operate computers with basic Microsoft Office software (such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, and PowerPoint) and associated professional software (such as stats software, streaming software, video editing software, Adobe Suite - Photoshop, InDesign, etc.)
• Demonstrated professional skills in public relations, marketing, and the ability to deploy them in collaboration with colleagues, to best promote UC Santa Cruz' strategic interests.
   

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Must possess CPR/First Aid/AED certification or have the ability to obtain it within 60-calendar days of hire.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California and be able to participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pull notice program.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• Ability to work in conditions of variable temperature/weather with possible exposure to strong, unpleasant odors, high levels of noise and vibrations, and exposure to dust and allergens.
• Ability to sustain exposure to dusty, noisy environments and inclement weather as necessary to carry out assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements necessary to move light to moderate objects up to 60 lbs., with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work all scheduled hours on-site.
• Ability to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to travel within a defined regional or service area.
• Ability to travel nationally.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here .

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination