Assistant Director, Strategic & Creative Communications; Intercollegiate Athletics

Assistant Director, Strategic & Creative Communications (5372C) Intercollegiate Athletics 86717

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of more than 275 staff members and coaches and sponsors 30 varsity sports programs. These 30 programs include over 850 student‑athletes who participate annually within the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

The Strategic and Creative Communications role supports 2–3 Olympic Sports with storytelling and digital communication efforts. Under the direction of the strategic lead, the assistant director helps execute content strategies that reach fans, recruits, and the community, leveraging appropriate platforms and media to strengthen brand awareness and student‑athlete retention.

• Content Creation & Capture: Capture and produce video, photos, and social media graphics; utilize Adobe Photoshop and Premiere to create assets aligned with the media plan.
• Media Plan Execution: Assist with daily implementation of the sport‑specific media plan, maintain schedules, ensure messaging cadence, and update content per leadership direction.
• Team Engagement, Research & Immersion: Spend time with assigned teams to identify storytelling opportunities, gather information on student‑athlete personalities and coaches’ strengths, and identify sport influencers to broaden messages.
• Communication Coordination: Collaborate with digital, fundraising, and gameday entertainment teams to synchronize publicity efforts; act as liaison for routine media requests and coordinate storytelling tasks.
• Strategic Communications Project Supporter: Serve as the main point of contact for assigned sports regarding storytelling aspects; triage, assign, and communicate requests, coverage, or alterations to the media plan, maintaining historical knowledge of each sport.
• Other: Facilitate required statistical submissions, written notes, historical records, or releases specific to the assigned sports; perform other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of content creation to promote sports/athletes, assist in recruiting and retaining athletes.
• Ability to execute a sport‑specific storytelling strategy using existing media.
• Follow a sport‑specific media plan including cadence, audiences, media types, and schedules.
• Learn all facets of an Olympic sports program, including personnel, trends, and national landscape.
• Collaborative flexibility to adjust schedules, timelines, content, and messaging.
• Knowledge of digital media assets and communication content.
• Proficiency with social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Tik Tok, Instagram) for storytelling.
• Knowledge of NCAA/Power 4 landscape, recruiting cycles, NIL trends, and student‑athlete retention drivers.
• Understanding of news and media communications principles.
• Maintain current knowledge of Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA rules and avoid violations.
• Time and project management skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of design fundamentals, user experience, and web content management systems.
• Technical skills in web production, image handling, publishing, and design tools.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to develop and implement original ideas and solve problems effectively.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or equivalent experience or training.

Annual salary range: $83,000 – $90,000. Exempt, monthly‑paid position. Full‑time (40 hours/week) Staff:
Career position eligible for UC benefits.

Valid driver’s license, compliant driving record, and/or enrollment in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

Designated position with fingerprinting and background check. Employment contingent upon successful completion.

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.