Associate Athletic Director for External Relations

Job Summary

The Associate Athletic Director for External Relations is a key member of the University’s senior management team, responsible for the strategic leadership and operational oversight of all external units within the Department of Athletics. This individual will lead the planning, execution, and assessment of communications, marketing, creative services, and broadcast initiatives, ensuring alignment with the goals of a competitive NCAA Division I athletic program sponsoring 15 varsity sports. This role works to ensure brand consistency, audience engagement, and compliance with NCAA Division I standards, and actively increases the visibility, reputation, and engagement of the University’s athletic programs among internal and external stakeholders.

Job Description

Typical duties may include but are not limited to:

• Provides strategic leadership and daily oversight for professional and support staff in athletic communications, marketing, creative services, and broadcasting.
• Serves as the primary liaison between FGCU Athletics and University Marketing & Communications to ensure cohesive messaging and alignment with institutional branding and campaign strategies.
• Leads the development and execution of integrated communications, marketing, and promotional plans to elevate brand awareness, fan engagement, ticket sales, and revenue growth.
• Acts as the department's lead spokesperson and public messaging strategist, including media engagement and communications support for the Director of Athletics.
• Supervises all external communications efforts, including media relations, social media, digital/web content, and gameday messaging.
• Oversees the creation and distribution of multimedia content, including graphics and video, to support branding, recruitment, and fan engagement initiatives.
• Directs the planning and execution of high-quality broadcast operations for live events and digital platforms, ensuring alignment with brand and production standards.
• Coordinates outreach and promotional strategies across functional areas, including ticketing, development, sponsorships, advancement, and coaching staff.
• Manages the Athletics external relations budget, ensuring efficient and strategic resource allocation in alignment with departmental priorities.

Job Summary

The Associate Athletic Director for External Relations is a key member of the University’s senior management team, responsible for the strategic leadership and operational oversight of all external units within the Department of Athletics. This individual will lead the planning, execution, and assessment of communications, marketing, creative services, and broadcast initiatives, ensuring alignment with the goals of a competitive NCAA Division I athletic program sponsoring 15 varsity sports. This role works to ensure brand consistency, audience engagement, and compliance with NCAA Division I standards, and actively increases the visibility, reputation, and engagement of the University’s athletic programs among internal and external stakeholders.

Job Description

Typical duties may include but are not limited to:

• Provides strategic leadership and daily oversight for professional and support staff in athletic communications, marketing, creative services, and broadcasting.
• Serves as the primary liaison between FGCU Athletics and University Marketing & Communications to ensure cohesive messaging and alignment with institutional branding and campaign strategies.
• Leads the development and execution of integrated communications, marketing, and promotional plans to elevate brand awareness, fan engagement, ticket sales, and revenue growth.
• Acts as the department's lead spokesperson and public messaging strategist, including media engagement and communications support for the Director of Athletics.
• Supervises all external communications efforts, including media relations, social media, digital/web content, and gameday messaging.
• Oversees the creation and distribution of multimedia content, including graphics and video, to support branding, recruitment, and fan engagement initiatives.
• Directs the planning and execution of high-quality broadcast operations for live events and digital platforms, ensuring alignment with brand and production standards.
• Coordinates outreach and promotional strategies across functional areas, including ticketing, development, sponsorships, advancement, and coaching staff.
• Manages the Athletics external relations budget, ensuring efficient and strategic resource allocation in alignment with departmental priorities.
• Ensures compliance with NCAA, ASUN Conference, and university policies, including submission of required reports and statistics.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of campaigns, workflows, and tools; implements improvements to elevate performance and achieve strategic goals.
• Establishes and maintains quality assurance systems to ensure brand consistency, operational efficiency, and high standards across all communications and marketing efforts.
• Serves as a key advisor to Athletics leadership on external relations strategies and contributes to the department’s overall strategic planning.
• Provides strategic leadership and daily oversight for professional and support staff in athletic communications, marketing, creative services, and broadcasting.
• Fosters a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance culture aligned with the department’s and university’s mission and values.
• Complies with all University and ASUN Conference regulations, as well as all NCAA rules and regulations. Remains current with all changes in NCAA, as well as changes to University, ASUN Conference rules and regulations regarding intercollegiate athletics. This includes the requirement for self-reporting any possible rule violations and participation in the annual NCAA continuing education programs including passing the NCAA certification test, if applicable. Any violation of NCAA rules is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Other Duties:

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications:

• This position requires either ten years of directly related full-time experience or, as an alternative, a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field and six years of full-time experience directly related to the job functions.
• Progressive experience in athletics external relations, with demonstrated leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Experience operating a personal computer and proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook), as well as graphics and video editing software.
• Any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree from an accredited institution in Sports Management, Communication, Journalism, or closely related field.
• Experience managing staff in Division I college athletics or in sports communications.
• Experience establishing relationships with local and national sports media.
• Extensive experience in media relations, marketing integration, and athlete/coaching staff media preparation.
• Experience developing and executing communication strategies in response to sensitive or emergency situations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of media relations, journalism, and communication principles.
• Knowledge of NCAA, Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and regulations as they pertain to media and publicity at the Division I level.
• Knowledge of various broadcast and event production platforms.
• Knowledge of social media platforms.
• Knowledge of and skill in publication production.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Skill in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with word processing, database applications, web design and maintenance, and statistics software.
• Proficiency in multimedia content development and digital/social media strategy.
• Ability to interact in a professional manner with faculty, staff, students, and the community in a service-oriented environment.
• Ability to effectively manage the work of others by providing information, guidance and motivation.
• Ability to manage a high-performing team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to think critically and creatively, have a high standard of integrity, and be motivated to incorporate best practices into the organizational structure.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of independent judgement in the establishment, interpretation, application, and enforcement of all rules, regulations, and policies.
• Ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends as required.

Pay Grade 19

This position is not eligible for sponsorship

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