The Director of Athletic Communications is a full-time position within the athletic communications department and reports directly to the Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Content at the University of North Dakota. This position will serve as the direct communications contact for the sports of men's basketball, women's volleyball, and softball. This position will use discretion and independent judgement, and will use creative license to formulate, affect, and implement operating practices related to assigned sports. Invention, imagination, originality, and talent must be exercised by the employee on a daily basis. Must have commitment to compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations. Must provide support and encouragement and ensure the safety and well-being of the student-athletes.
Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as Communications Contact for Men's Basketball Program, Women's Volleyball Program, and Softball Program
  • Arrange media requests for coaches and student-athletes
  • Respond to media requests and inquiries in timely fashion
  • Direct press conferences including placement of media backdrops
  • Assist in executing external operations unit promotion of the program (including but not limited to social media, website information such as bios pictures, schedules, production of game notes, game day programs, press releases, game story, post-game content, pre/postseason media guides)
  • Update archives for program
  • Assist in content strategy with external operations unit for program
  • Manage press area before, during and after program's home competitions including leading student-interns and stat crew
  • Build positive relationships with local and regional media members
  • Direct and assign photographers as necessary
• Lead and Direct UND Athletic Communications & Lead Point of Contact with Website Host for Assigned Sports
  • Responsible for all communications functions including press releases, stat crew, archives, media advisories, website accuracy/timeliness.
  • Hire, train, supervise, lead, evaluate communication student interns of assigned sports.
  • Provide public relations strategy at request of Director of Athletics or Assistant AD for Communications & Content.
  • Lead athletic department projects that aren't sport related as requested by Director of Athletics or Assistant AD for Communications & Content.
  • Communicate with website host for updates and changes in timely fashion.
  • Official point of contact for UND athletics coaches of assigned sports and staff for website manners.
  • Other duties as assigned by Assistant AD for Communications & Content and/or Director of Athletics.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 2 years of full-time or undergraduate/graduate or internship experience in NCAA Division I, II, IIII, NAIA or NJCAA athletics communications or professional sports.
• Demonstrated proficiency in desktop publishing.
• Strong social media presence and demonstrated use of various social channels to include Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Valid Driver's License
• Successful completion of a criminal history background check (CHBC).

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.
Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of full-time experience in NCAA Division I, II, III, NJCAA or NAIA or professional sports.
• Supervisory experience of graduate assistants, interns, and student assistants & game-day event staff.
• Experience with SIDEARM CMS.
• Experience working NCAA, NJCAA or NAIA Softball or Volleyball.
• Experience working NCAA, NJCAA or NAIA Men's or Women's Basketball.
• Experience in Adobe Suite with an emphasis on content creation (graphic design, video production, etc).
• Experience using the following software: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, StatCrew, Microsoft Office.
• Experience working and/or hosting NCAA championship events.