Seeking a skilled and talented Director of Public Relations and Social Media and Digital Content who is prepared for the challenge of leading the department’s external communications social media strategies with an emphasis, building meaningful connections with Wildcats fans through internal and external storytelling, and helping our NUDAR social channels narrate the student-athlete experience. The role will manage a team of full-time staff in support of 19 varsity programs with a focus on football and basketball.
This position, which reports to the Associate AD- Strategic Initiatives and Communications will be responsible for planning, managing and implementation of the activities and projects that grow the NUDAR brand and fanbase locally, nationally, and globally, and build a community of loyal fans and supporters. This leader will collaborate with the department’s creative, marketing, sales, and community relations teams and will be required to scope new initiatives, deliver on deadlines and manage expectations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Directly manage 3-5 full-time employees, establishing goals and priorities, setting and meeting deadlines, and mentoring for professional development.
Serve as a primary communications contact for Wildcats football, overseeing media relations, public relations, crisis communications, and image management support for all team personnel.
Provide on-site media management at all home and road contests including, but not limited to, credentialing, press box operations, media and staff hospitality, pregame/in-game/postgame interviews.
Build, manage and execute the Northwestern Athletics year-long social and content strategy across numerous accounts and platforms including but not limited to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.
Act as the key driver behind the NU Athletics’ brand and narrative across all digital channels including the delivery of the department’s social framework that establishes the overall voice and brand behavior along with content strategy for storytelling across sport programs, athletes/coaches and fans.
Develop and deliver social media training sessions to NUDAR coaches and staff who manage team accounts.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders across the department to identify and develop revenue opportunities with content across Sponsorships, Merchandise, Ticket Sales and Community Impact initiatives.
Own monthly and weekly digital reporting across social channels, working closely with analytics teams to pull results and analyze data to create strategies and tactics for continual audience engagement and growth.
Help to lead digital, marketing, and creative brainstorming sessions.
Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
Minimum five years of professional experience in communications, public relations, digital media or relevant field.
Previous management experience preferred.
Proven track record of results in media & public relations, social media management an
Excellent written skills and attention to detail required.
Proficiency with Sidearm web content management system, NCAA Genius statistics and StatCrew strongly preferred.
Experience across variety of social media platforms, in both management and measurement, preferred.
Highly proficient and full understanding of the publishing, monitoring and analytics functions of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and emerging social platforms.
Experience with development and deployment of a branded content strategy.
Strong ability to organize and lead an efficient social media workflow, while transitioning from strategic planning to creative briefs to asset development and trafficking.
Maturity, professionalism, and a strong work ethic are essential.
Must be organized, highly motivated and team oriented.
Must be able to work flexible hours including weekends, evenings and game nights as assigned.
Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Faculty members include Tony Award winners, MacArthur Fellowship recipients and members of numerous honorary and professional societies, National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and American Council of Learned Societies. Research thrives at Northwestern University. Interdisciplinary teams at Northwestern work to solve society's problems and facilitate clinical and commercial use of their innovations with partners at Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, and local universities. Beyond being a dynamic learning organization, Northwestern employs a dynamic and diverse mix of faculty and staff who work proactively to ensure that the University is a special place to work. Northwestern is committed to the recruitment of a diverse faculty, staff and student body, fostering a climate that treasures differences and provides rich opportunities for learnin...g. To that end, Northwestern University actively seeks women, minorities, veterans, and disabled persons for employment and promotion throughout the University.
The Northwestern Work Environment. Our two main campuses are situated along Lake Michigan’s lakefront. The Chicago campus, located between the Magnificent Mile and Lake Michigan, offers outstanding views and is within walking distance of some of the city’s main attractions.The Evanston campus, just 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, sits among charming residential neighborhoods, parks, beaches, and bike trails.At our newest campus, in the architecturally significant Education City in Doha, Qatar, the University offers undergraduate programs in partnership with the Qatar Foundation.
Northwestern offers many benefit options to full and part-time employees including: Competitive compensation, Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, Tuition reimbursement, Pre-tax transit options, Professional development opportunities, Vacation, sick, and holiday pay, Excellent retirement plans, Work/Life balance and resources, Dependent care match, Faculty-Staff Assistance Program. We also provide employees with access to an abundance of recreational, cultural, and enrichment opportunities that take place on and off campus.
