Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications and Branding

Posting Details

This position is designated as Exempt from the Human Resources Act (EHRA).

Posting Details

​Benefits of Working at UNCW

Want to become a soaring UNCW Seahawk and work at one of the best universities on the East Coast? Want to put your toes in the sand after a day of work? The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a wonderfully vibrant university community along with a beautiful location just miles from the beach.

Employees of UNCW are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other programs, resources, policies, and practices that help to support a work/life balance. Our programs have been designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans. Health insurance benefit plans eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System. In addition, UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session.

As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, meditation and yoga sessions, voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid community service leave time, paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service.

We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy, and the employee assistance program, many of which are offered free of charge.

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Posting Details

This position is designated as Exempt from the Human Resources Act (EHRA).

Posting Details

​Benefits of Working at UNCW

Want to become a soaring UNCW Seahawk and work at one of the best universities on the East Coast? Want to put your toes in the sand after a day of work? The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a wonderfully vibrant university community along with a beautiful location just miles from the beach.

Employees of UNCW are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other programs, resources, policies, and practices that help to support a work/life balance. Our programs have been designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans. Health insurance benefit plans eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System. In addition, UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session.

As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, meditation and yoga sessions, voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid community service leave time, paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service.

We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy, and the employee assistance program, many of which are offered free of charge.

Hiring Range

Determined based on qualifications and/or experience.

Working Title

Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications and Branding

External Link to Posting

https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/38725

Vacancy Number

E1498

Position Number

2186

Location of Workplace

Main UNCW Campus

Home Department

Athletics - 25900

Division

Chancellor - 25000 Division

Brief Summary of Work for this Position

The Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications and Branding mobilizes and professionalizes assigned resources to deliver compelling, memorable, engaging communications and marketing products that accomplish Athletics objectives. The Senior Associate AD inspires and ensures excellence, tracks key performance indicators of progress, and manages team dynamics characterized by accountability, creativity, and ambitious goal setting to achieve goals that support UNCW Athletics, its mission, identity, and brand. The incumbent must have the ability to supervise creative, communications, and technical personnel and manage complex projects with dependencies, deadlines, budgets, and outside resources. The incumbent must possess the ability to implement marketing and communication principles and strategies in the execution of a variety of communications and promotional products. The incumbent must be able to assess the needs of internal stakeholders and suggest appropriate measures to meet those needs. The incumbent is able to work effectively and independently with internal and external constituencies and can operate in an environment where skilled relationship management and consensus-building are required to deliver successful outcomes.

The incumbent is expected to have the willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays in support of Athletics programming and high-profile events.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in a communication/marketing or sports information position.
• Minimum 5 years of experience supervising full-time staff and managing cross-functional teams at the Associate Athletic Director level or above, with demonstrated outcomes and institutional impact.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing integrated marketing and communication strategies that drive audience growth, engagement, and visibility.
• Proven leadership in brand management, digital marketing, campaign strategy, game day operations, and content production across traditional and emerging platforms.
• Experience advising on budget planning and resource alignment in a complex, high-profile environment.
• Exceptional writing, editing, interpersonal, and executive communication skills.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• A Master’s degree
• At least 5 years of experience in athletics marketing, preferably within an NCAA Division I context.
• Strong analytical skills; ability to interpret performance data, manage budgets, and drive continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to balance competing priorities, foster a high-performing team culture, and deliver results in fast-paced, mission-driven settings.
• Familiarity with NCAA rules and university policy compliance, particularly related to student-athlete promotion, communications, and recruitment.
• Strong collaboration and partnership skills; ability to work effectively with central Communications teams on media relations, crisis response, and coordinated messaging.
  

Required Certifications or Licensures

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications and Branding is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing digital and creative strategy in support of UNC Wilmington Athletics. This individual sets the strategic direction and vision for Athletics marketing and communications and leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals responsible for execution. The role provides executive counsel, advice, and thought partnership to the Athletics Director, Athletics leaders, and senior leaders in Communications, Creative and Marketing.

College/School Information

University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university’s efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Number of Openings

Single Incumbent

Special Notes to Applicants

PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application before you apply for this position. Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

Months Per Year

12 Months

FTE

1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Type of Position

Permanent

Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited Positions

Job Posting Date

03/04/2026

Posting Close Date

03/31/2026

Applicant Documents

Required Documents 1. Resume 2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you learn of this opportunity with UNCW? (2026)

   • UNCW Website
   • UNCW LinkedIn Page
   • UNCW X Account (formerly Twitter)
   • UNCW Employee Referral
   • UNCW Instagram Account (UNCW_jobs)
   • UNCW Job Alert
   • Chronical of Higher Education
   • Glassdoor
   • Higher Ed Jobs
   • Indeed
   • Inside Higher Ed
   • North Carolina Job Network
   • Craigslist
   • Career Events/Job Fairs
   • Billboards/Marquee
   • Other

2. * If you selected "Other" to the question above, please explain how you found out about this opportunity. Enter N/A if not applicable.

(Open Ended Question)

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