Job Summary

This position plays a key role in publicizing select Varsity sports for the Department of Athletics, which has a 42-sport Division I athletics program.  Handles sports public relations, media relations, and communications and information for assigned sports.  Promotes positive branding, press coverage, strategic communications, social media, multimedia and messaging to various constituents, using a variety of traditional media as well as new media outlets.  Constituents include prospective student-athletes; game-day attendees, alumni/ae, fans, and the entire University community.  Works with select sports to ensure that appropriate Athletics storylines are created and communicated; statistics, schedules, rosters, game recaps and other information is communicated to the proper media outlets. Handles media interview requests.  Assists with archiving historical records. This position greatly enhances both the external and internal image of the Department.

Position Description

1. Manages media and public relations functions for select sports as well as key Department initiatives.  

• Proactively communicates with media about, and solicits media coverage for, events and feature stories on Harvard athletes, teams, and other Department milestones/accomplishments.
• Conceives and creates content for a dynamic Department website (including graphics and video content), which serves as a primary source of information regarding Harvard Athletics (www.GoCrimson.com).
• Directly responsible for publicity efforts in assigned sports.  Media point-of-contact for assigned sports.
• Designs, writes and edits printed game programs, special event publications and press releases, including the creation of graphic designs and video content.
• Informs and educates athletes, coaches, administrators, and other Department of Athletics constituents about effective methods of media interaction.  Oversees media relations at home events and travels with varsity teams to cover select competitions.           

2. Effectively utilizes multimedia, digital, new and social media strategies for promoting the department and select sports.  

• Stays abreast of and proficient with emergent social media best practices, strategies and platforms, in order to promote Department programs and increase fan engagement.
• Coordinates social media/networking initiatives among the department with effective strategy and foresight for information delivery protocols.

3. Manages student employees, volunteers, and game day event staff.

• Recruits, hires, trains, schedules, supervises, and evaluates game-day staff, volunteers, student workers.  Ensures compliance with applicable University, NCAA and Ivy League policies, procedures and regulations.
• Provides guidance to interns and game-day staff.
• Manages payroll functions for game-day and office staff.  Ensures that appropriate time-keeping and Human Resources procedures are followed. Resolves payroll issues.   
• Develops and maintain positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and the community.

4. Actively plans and implements the historical archiving of content for assigned sports and projects.  

• Directly responsible for maintenance of current and historical team information (rosters, statistics, records, photos, videos) in assigned sports including proper naming and meta data assignments.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required (preferably in communications/ sport management/ journalism/ audio-visual communications or related field).  At least 3 years of work experience in athletic communications/ sports media. Internships and education may count towards this experience. 

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Master's degree desirable.
• Seasoned user of wide range of social media platforms, including Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
• Seasoned user of SideArm Sports, NCAA Live Stats/Stat Crew software and Adobe Creative Suite, including video editing platforms
• Demonstrated knowledge of web design and digital storytelling, including the use of content management systems and digital analytics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of graphics design

Certificates and Licenses

Valid driver's license is required. 

Physical Requirements

Job occasionally requires strenuous physical activity, including the climbing of steps and moving of heavy boxes and equipment (~50 lbs); ability to work extended stretches, both within a day and over several consecutive days. 

Working Conditions

The position requires extensive evening, weekend and holiday hours and ability to handle last-minute schedule changes. Occasional local and regional travel is required, about 20% of the year.

Additional Information

Harvard is a highly selective liberal arts college whose mission is to educate citizens and citizen-leaders for our society.  The College is a residential institution of nearly 7,000 undergraduates and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Harvard is deeply committed to the intellectual, social and personal transformation of its undergraduates during their four years at Harvard.
 
The Department of Athletics offers 42 varsity programs for men and women, more than any other Division I school in the United States.  We also offer extensive recreational and intramural programs.
 
Harvard employees have access to a competitive benefits package that includes multiple options for the health and well-being of our employees as well as ongoing professional development.
 
All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.  We regret that, due to the number of responses we typically receive, we may be unable to respond to phone calls or contact personally those applicants not selected for an interview.
 
We actively seek and welcome applications from diverse candidates and from those with a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society.

Work Format Details

This position is based primarily on-campus, in Massachusetts. This may include in-person during emergency situations (if applicable). Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.