Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications (Public Relations Specialist)

STUDENT SERVICES (NW-SSER-IUNWA)

The Office of Intercollegiate Athletics promotes and enhances the quality of student engagement at IU Northwest. Intercollegiate Athletics serves as the integral component for student involvement and community engagement, providing a supportive environment that encourages student athlete academic success, positive experience and success in competition.

IU Northwest is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC).

Reporting to the Associate Director of Athletics, the Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications will assist in all public relations functions of the athletic department with the goal of increasing the profile and visibility of the IU Northwest RedHawk Athletics program and enhancement of the student athlete experience.

Departmental-Specific Responsibilities

• Manages all website content and design, all marketing materials and public communication documents for athletics (printed and web).
• Manages all in game statistical needs as well as game recaps, game programs, scripts for PA announcer, in game promotions and overall coordination of in game event management.
• Documents all records and historical milestones.
• Manages all media contracts and building relations with various local and regional outlets.
• Serves a liaison to IU Northwest media and marketing office for athletic communication, liaison with WJOB for broadcasts and any use of TV studio.
• Manages all video and broadcasting content including hiring and staffing play by play broadcasters and video operators, table crews/press box staff.
• Develops video content for website. Assist in development of a cohesive social media plan and execution.
• Manages any and all River States Conferences and NAIA awards with nominations as well as serve on IU Northwest, Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference and NAIA committees when possible.
• Helps co-supervise with Department of Communication Redhawk Media student communication group.
• Reviews written content for various strategic communications, media and external outreach and partnership needs, audiences, and publication format.
• Adheres to tight and sometimes urgent communications timelines when editing routine press releases, speeches, briefs, remarks, reports, correspondence, crisis intervention briefings, and media stories; may draft routine communications to be reviewed and approved by supervisor.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.
  
  

General Responsibilities

• Writes, edits, publishes, and distributes clear, informative written content for various strategic communications, media, and external outreach and partnership needs, audiences, and publication formats.
• Independently corrects basic and complex grammar, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and syntax errors and performs edits that improve overall writing quality of communications and ensure alignment with university mission, strategies, objectives, and brand guidelines.
• Performs reviews of peer written communications to ensure grammar, quality, tone, and level of depth are sufficient; particularly in matters of crisis intervention, external affairs, and media relations, ensures communications advance the image, reputation, goals, objectives, and mission of the university.
• Regularly provides information to and consults with faculty, staff, media, organizations, and/or other stakeholders regarding university affairs, initiatives, programs, and activities and escalates issues to higher-level Public Relations Specialists and/or manager as needed.
• Schedules and attends meetings, press releases, consultations, publicity events, and various outreach events; may also perform administrative duties, such as maintaining photo databases and managing media contact lists.
• Identifies opportunities for implementing public relations strategies and discusses with team and manager.
• May provide guidance to other Public Relations Specialists (if applicable); may make process recommendations to supervisor.
  
  

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, public relations, or related field
  
  

Preferred

• Master's degree in relevant field
  
  

Required

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 2 years in relevant field
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in sports management or collegiate athletic department
  
  

Skills

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Familiarity with design programs, social media, and websites
  
  

Preferred

• Familiarity with Cloud applications
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suites
• Demonstrates knowledge of in-game statistical programs
• Proficiency with desktop publishing software
• Ability to work on deadlines and mange several tasks simultaneously
• Working knowledge of university and NAIA rules and regulation
• Basic Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
  
  

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Gary, Indiana

$47,000 - $50,000 per year

Evening, night and weekend work, as well as off-campus travel is required

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
  
  

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Marketing & Communications

Job Family: Public Relations

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

Request Support

Telephone: 812-856-1234