What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Communications position at KC Current?
Join the Team.
Kansas City Current is home to the best-in-class training facility and the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team. Our mission is to be the best women’s soccer club in the world.
Kansas City Current is home to the best-in-class training facility and the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team. Our mission is to be the best women’s soccer club in the world.
To attain our mission, we have focused on hiring and retaining world-class talent.
We’re looking for talented individuals with diverse perspectives, skill sets, and backgrounds to provide our guests and players with an unforgettable experience. As leaders in women’s sports, we are excited to offer a variety of positions within our front office, stadium, and event settings. We provide opportunities for professional growth and development and invest in our employees through competitive pay, robust health care and wellness benefits, and employee resources and networking.
Who are we hiring?
The Director, Communications will work with the head of communications to direct the planning and execution of media coverage of the club, with a particular focus on the soccer side of the club. This leader directs the development, and implementation of a comprehensive, multifaceted communication program around the soccer team, players and technical staff. In addition, this position will be responsible for developing and building media relationships. The ideal candidate will possess a passion for soccer, with a strong understanding of the technical side of soccer, experience in high level soccer media and communications, and enthusiasm for relevant statistics to help grow the interest and fandom of the team. The ideal candidate should also have experience as a competitive athlete at the high school, collegiate and/or professional levels.
What will you do?
Strategic Communications Planning:
- Identify key messaging and communication priorities for the team and players.
- Help to develop the annual goals and metrics for evaluating the success of projects, initiatives, and efforts of the communications and public relations team.
- Help to create a communications strategy to support the club’s goals, increase brand awareness, tell the players’ stories, and grow the fan base, locally, nationally and internationally.
- Assess and evaluate communication and media efforts. Monitor publications, websites, and initiatives to ensure promotion of club priorities.
- Ensure that messaging is consistent across all channels of communication, including content, web and social.
- Use creative and innovative approaches to generate positive promotion of the club.
- Serve as key communications leader on matchdays.
- Provide guidance and advice to the VP, Communications and senior leadership on significant public relations issues.
Media Relations:
- Build and maintain relationships with local, national, and international media outlets covering soccer.
- Proactively pitch story ideas and secure media coverage for the team and its players.
- Field and facilitate interview requests and provide appropriate gameday accommodations.
- Responsible for game-day operations at CPKC Stadium related to the press box, broadcast teams, and media.
- Manage matchday credentialing for media, photographers, videographers and broadcast crews.
- Write and distribute communications materials for the club including press releases, feature articles, media guides, match previews, team statistics and other daily requirements.
- Produce a regular season media guide and weekly match guide that includes the schedule, team history, and bios of players and executives.
Team Support:
- Work closely with coaches, players, and staff to gather insights and information for communication materials.
- Provide guidance and training to players and staff on media interactions and public speaking.
- Maintain all relevant statistical data and track club and team milestones.
- Serve as liaison between national and local broadcast partners, head coach, general manager and players.
- Travel is required to regular and postseason road matches as well as preseason training.
- Represent the Kansas City Current in a positive and professional manner at various internal and external functions and in working with internal and external constituencies, including but not limited to the media and public.
- Other duties as assigned.
What do you need to succeed?
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in sports communications, public relations, or a related field preferably within soccer or a professional sports environment.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Proficient in Meltwater or another media monitoring tool.
- Willingness to learn, adaptability and brings a positive, professional attitude.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred
- Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Passion for soccer and a deep understanding of the sport’s culture and dynamics.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by the soccer season.
- Ability to work cross-functionally and influence a variety of stakeholders.
- Develop effective working relationships with coaches, executives and other members of the team and club.
- Effective time management skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Proficient with personal computers, including the entire suite of Microsoft Office Applications, Adobe Creative Cloud, and others as required.
- Ability to lead, manage, coach, and mentor people assigned to administrative functions within the department.
- Strong working knowledge of and proficiency in the use of social media platforms including but not limited to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky and more.
- Proficiency with Opta Stats, Slack, Skype, Box and other communications software.
- Knowledge of Microsoft-based programs, including Word and Outlook.
Special requirements of the Job:
- Attendance at matches and other club events is required
- Must be able to travel with the team
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, inclusive of weekends, evenings, and some holidays based on team schedule
We value diversity and seek world-class employees of all backgrounds. The Kansas City Current values diversity and is looking for extraordinary employees of all backgrounds! We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law mandates, we comply with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in all locations and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required.
