Director, Strategic Communications - Football; U Intercollegiate Athletics

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of more than 275 staff members and coaches and sponsors 30 varsity sports programs, including more than 850 student-athletes who participate annually in the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

The first review date for this job is April 29, 2026.

This position leads strategic communications for the digital ecosystem of Cal football. Key tasks include:

• Crafting and executing a storytelling strategy across conference, community, college, national, and international levels.
• Building partnerships with media members, governing bodies, conference resources, NCAA employees, and sport-specific influencers.
• Coordinating with coaches, senior leaders, athletics digital ecosystem directors, fundraisers, and game day entertainment to ensure consistent messaging.
• Managing a comprehensive media plan, including audience targeting, content types, timing, and messaging cadence.
• Providing a public-facing resource for football storytelling, project managing media requests and updates, and maintaining historical knowledge of the program.
• Facilitating statistical reporting, written materials, and sport-specific releases.

• Arrange and conduct interviews, maintain and compile records and statistics.
• Serve as team historian for football.
• Manage an Assistant Director, Strategic & Creative Communications.

• Advanced knowledge of program activity and best practices.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving, multi‑tasking, and active listening skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English.
• Proficiency with relevant computer applications.
• Ability to create and execute a sport‑specific storytelling strategy and media plan.
• Strong digital media and content creation skills; experience with Facebook, X, Tik Tok, Instagram, and other social media platforms.
• Knowledge of NCAA, Power 4 landscape, recruiting cycles, NIL trends, and student‑athlete retention drivers.
• Understanding of news and media communications principles.
• Compliance with rules of the Atlantic Coast Conference, NCAA, UC Berkeley campus, and affiliated organizations.
• Leadership skills to guide storytelling across multiple platforms.
• Strong time, project management, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects from concept to completion.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.

Base salary range: $80,000 – $110,000 per year.

• Full‑time (40 hrs/week), career position eligible for UC Benefits.
• Exempt, monthly‑paid position.

This is not a visa sponsorship opportunity.

Valid driver’s license and clean driving record required.

Position requires fingerprinting and a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion.

The role requires reporting observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders.

Applicants must disclose any misconduct or disciplinary proceedings within the last seven years that led to final administrative or judicial decisions.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration 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.

Submit your resume and cover letter via the UC Berkeley careers portal. Apply here.