Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director
Vanderbilt University
Application
Details
Posted: 14-May-22
Location: Nashville, TN, United States,
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 10002293
Vanderbilt University is seeking an experienced and innovative leader to serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director. The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Associate Athletic Director plays a leading role in designing and driving communications efforts for Vanderbilt University's athletics as an NCAA Division I school and charter member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and serves as an in-residence expert and advisor on all Athletics Communications strategies. It is an exciting time at Vanderbilt as the institution nears its 150th anniversary and is in the midst of the $300 million Vandy United capital campaign for Athletics. The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director will help shape the current and future identity of the university's athletics, and design and drive strategic communications initiatives in support of the university's priorities.
This position reports directly to the Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing and serves as a member of the Vice Chancellor's core leadership team. In addition, the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Associate Athletic Director serves as a member of the Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director's (AD) leadership team, and will coordinate closely with the athletics department's external team led by the Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs and Revenue Generation. The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Associate Athletic Director will work collaboratively with other members of the university leadership team, including the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations, the Vice Chancellor for Administration, all head coaches and athletic administrators, and many others throughout the university.
The Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt is a dynamic and collaborative group. The division serves as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing, developing and executing strategies that inform, engage and inspire others to participate in Vanderbilt University's global academic and research mission. The division is a key strategic adviser and partner for the mission-based work of the university, providing comprehensive communications and marketing plans and thoughtful analysis on messaging opportunities and constraints. The Communications and Marketing team delivers impactful marketing and communications results across key audiences in order to serve the larger mission, values and priorities of the university.
This role requires the ability to report to work in-person on the Vanderbilt University campus and the ability to travel as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities
Working with leaders and stakeholders across campus, direct the vision for an institutional athletics communications strategy that can help the university achieve its goals both on and off the field while staying true to its values through best-in-class brand, recruiting, and revenue strategies.
Bring industry expertise to the university's athletics communications strategy and individual campaigns that will allow the institution to connect with and build stronger relationships with key constituencies locally, nationally, and globally.
Further refine Vanderbilt's identity as a premier academic and athletics destination that offers a unique approach to athletics, learning, and discovery.
Serve as an advisor to the Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing, the Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs, and AD and other leaders across the university on all matters regarding athletics communications.
Continue to center the university's values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all athletics communications as part of an ongoing effort to reach out to and engage with diverse audiences throughout the Vanderbilt community and beyond.
With the Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing and the Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and AD and others, closely coordinate across Athletics to amplify Vanderbilt's unique approach to the student-athlete experience (the Vanderbilt Way) andleverage the opportunities presented by Vanderbilt's position as an NCAA Division I school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), including using Athletics as an entry point for reaching audiences that may be new to or otherwise unfamiliar with the university.
Develop and oversee the execution of high-priority and high-impact communications plans, strategies, and tactics that support the university's mission for Athletics and overall communications goals. Lead the co-creation and distribution of compelling content across a variety of digital and traditional channels, including the Vanderbilt Athletics website.
Direct a media relations strategy for Athletics, prioritizing national, high priority, and international media outlets, in partnership with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Relations and the media relations team.
Direct social media strategy for Athletics, prioritizing meaningful engagement with key audiences according to each account and platform, in partnership with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Relations and the social media team.
Partner closely with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing to ensure alignment between communications, brand, and revenue-generating activities.
Lead and guide the Athletics Communications team, facilitating a results-driven culture of collaboration, self-empowerment, and accountability. This includes setting goals across the team, monitoring progress toward results, and overseeing both performance and professional development.
As part of establishing goals for the Athletics Communications team, direct the collection of key performance indicators (KPIs) for the team and individual staff members' success, including through qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis; demonstrate a high level of comfort with media and social media monitoring software.
Analyze and interpret data and information and make appropriate recommendations based on findings.
Direct and manage the Athletics Communications budget.
Recruit and retain talent.
Work closely with partners across the Communications and Marketing and Athletics teams and beyond to coordinate communications efforts and ensure consistent cross-channel messaging in line with Vanderbilt's brand framework.
Maintain fluency in current and ongoing developments in higher education, college athletics, and the broader communications and marketing industries.
Think creatively and pragmatically with a willingness to consider many options, problem solve, and take directives as necessary.
Demonstrate excellence in news judgment, written communications skills, and a sense of what is appropriate for the Vanderbilt University brand.
Adhere to confidentiality and business ethics; demonstrate outstanding judgment and discretion.
Demonstrate understanding of the university's mission, values, goals, and priorities, and an abilityto ensure that all are considered in developing communications strategies.
Communicate and collaborate effectively with a wide range of audiences--including leadership, coaches, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and vendors.
Efficiently and effectively manage multiple, complex, and results-oriented projects with both quick turn-around requirements and long lead times.
Work outside regular business hours as needed in order to perform job responsibilities, including being officially on-call. Travel is required seasonally throughout the year (an estimated 10%).
Provide overall support as needed and assigned for institutional priorities.
Perform other relevant duties as assigned.
Qualifications
A bachelor's degree is required.
A degree in communications, journalism or a related field is strongly preferred.
A master's/advanced professional degree (MA, MBA, or Ph.D.) is preferred.
At least 10 years of experience in communications, journalism or a related field is required.
At least 5 years of experience managing a team of 5+ people is required.
Athletics communications experience, whether professional or collegiate, is required.
Evidence of ability to achieve results and move projects forward is required.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.
Vanderbilt University is a center for scholarly research, informed and creative teaching, and service to the community and society at large. Vanderbilt will uphold the highest standards and be a leader in the quest for new knowledge through scholarship, the dissemination of knowledge through teaching and outreach, and the creative experimentation of ideas and concepts. In pursuit of these goals, Vanderbilt values most highly intellectual freedom that supports open inquiry, equality, compassion, and excellence in all endeavors.
