Associate Vice President, Athletics Communications

Associate Vice President, Athletics Communications (Finance)

USF Athletics is seeking a seasoned and strategic Associate Vice President, Communications to lead all internal and external communications efforts for the department while serving as the primary Sports Information Director (SID) for Football. This role will oversee the communications strategy, messaging, media relations, and storytelling across all sports, ensuring consistent, accurate, and compelling representation of USF Athletics.

• Set and lead the overarching communications strategy for USF Athletics across all sports and platforms.
• Ensure alignment of messaging with institutional priorities, brand standards, and competitive positioning.
• Develop multi‑year communication plans that elevate the profile of USF Athletics at the conference and national levels.

• Serve as the primary communications lead for USF Football.
• Manage all football‑related media relations, including press releases, media days, credentialing, interviews, press conferences, statistics, and game notes.
• Act as the primary communications advisor to the football head coach and program leadership.
• Coordinate with conference, NCAA, and broadcast partners on football‑related communications and requirements.

• Lead, mentor, and oversee the communications staff across all sports.
• Assign sport coverage, establish standards, and ensure consistent execution of best practices.
• Foster professional development, accountability, and collaboration across the communications team.

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for USF Athletics when appropriate.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets.
• Proactively pitch stories, manage media inquiries, and position USF Athletics for positive coverage.

• Oversee internal communications across USF Athletics, including staff messaging, executive communications, and internal announcements.
• Partner with senior leadership to manage sensitive, high‑impact communications and messaging.
• Ensure coordination and consistency between athletics communications and broader university communications efforts.
• Serve as the primary communications strategist and advisor for the CEO of Athletics, developing messaging, talking points, speeches, and media strategies to support departmental leadership and institutional priorities.
• Coordinate and manage executive‑level communications on behalf of the CEO of Athletics, including media engagements, public statements, internal messaging, and crisis or sensitive communications.

• Lead crisis communications planning and execution for USF Athletics.
• Develop protocols, messaging frameworks, and response strategies for high‑risk or time‑sensitive situations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership during issues management and reputational challenges.

• Partner closely with marketing, creative services, digital, live events, development, and ticket sales to ensure integrated storytelling and messaging.
• Ensure alignment between earned media, owned platforms, and in‑venue communications.

• Establish metrics to evaluate communications effectiveness, media reach, and message penetration.
• Use data, feedback, and benchmarking to refine strategies and elevate performance year over year.

Requires a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Minimum of 12 years of related exempt level experience, including 7 years of management experience, typically in large, complex institutions. Requires broad practical and substantive expertise across multiple related disciplines.

Degree Equivalency Clause:
Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.

• Senate Bill 1310 – The Florida Senate (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.

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Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary…