University of Northern Colorado
Director of Brand Strategy and Social Media
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, US, 80639
Duration: Full Time
POSITION TITLE: Director of Brand Strategy and Social Media
COMPENSATION RANGE: 55,068.00 - 65,000.00 USD per year
EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Professional Administrative
DEPARTMENT: Athletic Marketing Promotion
TARGET HIRE DATE: 9/30/2025
BENEFITS: UNC's Career Hub
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 9/16/2025.
Position Summary:
The Director of Brand Strategy & Social Media leads the strategic development and execution of brand identity and social media engagement for the university's athletics department. This role ensures that all athletic programs and initiatives align with the department's vision, values, and brand standards. The Director oversees storytelling, digital engagement, and integrated campaigns that elevate the university's athletic profile, enhance fan engagement, and strengthen recruiting efforts for student-athletes. The position will play an integral role in the oversight and coordination and strategic development, implementation, and activation of comprehensive marketing and ticket sales plans, assistance with sponsorship implementation, social media, fan engagement, and organizational branding outreach.
Job Duties:
Brand Strategy & Identity (40%)
•Develop and maintain a unified brand strategy for the athletics department, ensuring consistency across all sports programs, marketing channels, and fan experiences.
•Define brand positioning and messaging that reflects the department's core values and competitive spirit.
•Collaborate with internal teams (communications, marketing, creative, sponsorships) to ensure brand alignment across digital, print, and in-venue assets.
•Serve as a brand steward, ensuring compliance with NCAA and university brand guidelines.
Social Media Leadership (35%)
•Create and implement a comprehensive social media strategy to engage fans, alumni, recruits, donors, and the broader university community.
•Oversee the athletics department's main social channels and provide strategic guidance to individual team accounts.
•Drive content planning, storytelling, and engagement initiatives across platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).
•Monitor trends in college athletics and emerging platforms to keep the department's social media presence innovative and competitive.
•Oversight of all aspects of game day production and promotions as it relates to digital and creative media.
Recruiting & Fan Engagement (10%)
•Develop strategies that leverage social media and branding to support student-athlete recruitment and retention.
•Partner with coaches and recruiting coordinators to create compliant, compelling digital content for prospective student-athletes.
•Enhance fan experience through interactive content, live updates, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and in-game engagement campaigns.
Campaign Development & Ticket Sales (10%)
•Lead multi-channel marketing campaigns to promote key athletic events, ticket sales, and fundraising initiatives.
•Partner with the sponsorship team to deliver branded content that meets contractual obligations while maintaining authenticity.
•Collaborate with university communications and PR teams on integrated campaigns to highlight athletic achievements and major announcements.
•Oversight in the development of comprehensive marketing and ticket sales plans with an emphasis on increasing season, single-game and group ticket sales.
Analytics & Performance Measurement (5%)
•Track and analyze social media engagement, audience growth, and campaign effectiveness.
•Report on KPIs such as fan engagement, impressions, reach, follower growth, and recruitment-related metrics.
•Continuously refine strategies based on data insights and audience behavior.
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Education: Bachelor's Degree. A major in business, marketing, sport management/athletic administration or comparable field preferred.
2. Experience: At least five years of experience in college athletics, sports marketing, or a related field. Preferred graduate degree. Experience in other multi-media production platforms (web sites, animation, graphic design) desired.
Benefits:
Benefits available include health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions. Employees at UNC receive sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position. Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.
About UNC
The University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral/research institution located in Greeley, Colorado. UNC's commitment to education began in 1889 and continues to be a transformational force for our students. Recognizedas a top university for social mobility, UNC is proud tobe a HispanicServing Institution and to serve more than 44% of our undergraduates who are the first in theirfamily to attend college. UNC is also committed to providing our faculty and staff with the support they need to succeed as professionals, educators, and in life. Please visit UNC's Career Hub,to learn more about UNC's strategic plan, school programs, and employee benefits. Go Bears!
EEO StatementThe University of Northern Colorado offers an educational and workingenvironment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the UNCcommunity. In accordance with federal and state law, UNC prohibits unlawfuldiscrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, national origin,religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, geneticinformation, and/or veteran status. UNC also prohibits discrimination based ongender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who opposea discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for,assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating todiscrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally protected expression will not beconsidered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is theresponsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure UNC'scompliance with this policy.
ADA AccommodationsThe University of Northern Colorado is committedto providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If yourequire reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewingor otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please directyour inquiries to 970-351-2718 or human.resources@unco.edu.
Background Check
Satisfactory completion of a background check, educational check, and authorization to work in the United States is required after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The successful candidate must submit original transcripts within one (1) month of hire.
This position is contingent on funding from the Colorado State Legislature, approval by the Board of Trustees, and subject to the policies and regulations of the University of Northern Colorado.
Clery Act
In compliance with the Clery Act, the most recent University of Northern Colorado Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. A paper copy can be requested at the UNC Police Department. This report contains crime statistics and policy statements related to safety, conduct processes and Title IX investigations.
COMPENSATION RANGE: 55,068.00 - 65,000.00 USD per year
EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Professional Administrative
DEPARTMENT: Athletic Marketing Promotion
TARGET HIRE DATE: 9/30/2025
BENEFITS: UNC's Career Hub
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 9/16/2025.
Position Summary:
The Director of Brand Strategy & Social Media leads the strategic development and execution of brand identity and social media engagement for the university's athletics department. This role ensures that all athletic programs and initiatives align with the department's vision, values, and brand standards. The Director oversees storytelling, digital engagement, and integrated campaigns that elevate the university's athletic profile, enhance fan engagement, and strengthen recruiting efforts for student-athletes. The position will play an integral role in the oversight and coordination and strategic development, implementation, and activation of comprehensive marketing and ticket sales plans, assistance with sponsorship implementation, social media, fan engagement, and organizational branding outreach.
Job Duties:
Brand Strategy & Identity (40%)
•Develop and maintain a unified brand strategy for the athletics department, ensuring consistency across all sports programs, marketing channels, and fan experiences.
•Define brand positioning and messaging that reflects the department's core values and competitive spirit.
•Collaborate with internal teams (communications, marketing, creative, sponsorships) to ensure brand alignment across digital, print, and in-venue assets.
•Serve as a brand steward, ensuring compliance with NCAA and university brand guidelines.
Social Media Leadership (35%)
•Create and implement a comprehensive social media strategy to engage fans, alumni, recruits, donors, and the broader university community.
•Oversee the athletics department's main social channels and provide strategic guidance to individual team accounts.
•Drive content planning, storytelling, and engagement initiatives across platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).
•Monitor trends in college athletics and emerging platforms to keep the department's social media presence innovative and competitive.
•Oversight of all aspects of game day production and promotions as it relates to digital and creative media.
Recruiting & Fan Engagement (10%)
•Develop strategies that leverage social media and branding to support student-athlete recruitment and retention.
•Partner with coaches and recruiting coordinators to create compliant, compelling digital content for prospective student-athletes.
•Enhance fan experience through interactive content, live updates, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and in-game engagement campaigns.
Campaign Development & Ticket Sales (10%)
•Lead multi-channel marketing campaigns to promote key athletic events, ticket sales, and fundraising initiatives.
•Partner with the sponsorship team to deliver branded content that meets contractual obligations while maintaining authenticity.
•Collaborate with university communications and PR teams on integrated campaigns to highlight athletic achievements and major announcements.
•Oversight in the development of comprehensive marketing and ticket sales plans with an emphasis on increasing season, single-game and group ticket sales.
Analytics & Performance Measurement (5%)
•Track and analyze social media engagement, audience growth, and campaign effectiveness.
•Report on KPIs such as fan engagement, impressions, reach, follower growth, and recruitment-related metrics.
•Continuously refine strategies based on data insights and audience behavior.
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Education: Bachelor's Degree. A major in business, marketing, sport management/athletic administration or comparable field preferred.
2. Experience: At least five years of experience in college athletics, sports marketing, or a related field. Preferred graduate degree. Experience in other multi-media production platforms (web sites, animation, graphic design) desired.
Benefits:
Benefits available include health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions. Employees at UNC receive sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position. Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.
About UNC
The University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral/research institution located in Greeley, Colorado. UNC's commitment to education began in 1889 and continues to be a transformational force for our students. Recognizedas a top university for social mobility, UNC is proud tobe a HispanicServing Institution and to serve more than 44% of our undergraduates who are the first in theirfamily to attend college. UNC is also committed to providing our faculty and staff with the support they need to succeed as professionals, educators, and in life. Please visit UNC's Career Hub,to learn more about UNC's strategic plan, school programs, and employee benefits. Go Bears!
EEO StatementThe University of Northern Colorado offers an educational and workingenvironment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the UNCcommunity. In accordance with federal and state law, UNC prohibits unlawfuldiscrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, national origin,religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, geneticinformation, and/or veteran status. UNC also prohibits discrimination based ongender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who opposea discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for,assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating todiscrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally protected expression will not beconsidered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is theresponsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure UNC'scompliance with this policy.
ADA AccommodationsThe University of Northern Colorado is committedto providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If yourequire reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewingor otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please directyour inquiries to 970-351-2718 or human.resources@unco.edu.
Background Check
Satisfactory completion of a background check, educational check, and authorization to work in the United States is required after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The successful candidate must submit original transcripts within one (1) month of hire.
This position is contingent on funding from the Colorado State Legislature, approval by the Board of Trustees, and subject to the policies and regulations of the University of Northern Colorado.
Clery Act
In compliance with the Clery Act, the most recent University of Northern Colorado Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. A paper copy can be requested at the UNC Police Department. This report contains crime statistics and policy statements related to safety, conduct processes and Title IX investigations.