Director of Athletics Communications
National Collegiate Athletic Association, Shawnee, OK, United States
Position Overview
The Director of Communications will be responsible for gathering and providing information to the public on specific sports and assisting with public relations activities within the athletics department. The incumbent will work together with the other Director of Athletics Communications in the management and operations of the department. This position is anticipated to commence on June 1, 2026.
Responsibilities
Create compelling content to proactively publicize OBU Athletics, specifically the teams/programs assigned.
Plan, organize and direct all communications efforts including news releases, features, photography, statistics, press box/game day operations, publications, graphics, video and other creative content for assigned sports.
Manage game day operations for assigned sports, including maintaining official statistics.
Design graphics for print and electronic use to promote OBU student‑athletes, coaches and teams.
Assist in maintaining OBU’s official athletics website, OBUBison.com, ensuring accurate and up‑to‑date information for assigned teams (rosters, bios, statistics, records, etc.).
Write and edit articles for various publications, including OBUBison.com.
Supervise staff of paid and volunteer student workers and interns.
Nominate and promote OBU student‑athletes from assigned sports for all conference, regional and national academic, regular‑season and postseason honors and awards.
Collaborate regularly with the other Director of Athletics Communication, Assistant AD for Fan Engagement, and Associate Athletics Director for External Operations to generate new and relevant content publicizing OBU student‑athletes, coaches, teams, and the department as a whole.
Manage broadcast (video and audio) content while collaborating with the other Director of Athletics Communication and the Video staff on the Bison Sports Network.
Build and maintain positive, service‑oriented relationships with local, regional and national media and organizations to generate coverage of OBU Athletics.
Travel as necessary with select OBU teams.
Other Duties As assigned by the Director of Athletics or Associate Athletics Director for External Operations.
Required Qualifications
Demonstrated ability for strategic thinking and strong public relations sensibilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Familiarity with AP style.
Sound editorial judgement.
Understanding of graphic design principles and experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
General video production skills including editing and webcasting capabilities.
General photography and photo editing abilities.
Cursory understanding of HTML and basic web design principles.
Ability to monitor and manage multiple social media accounts and platforms.
Comfortable with Microsoft Office software.
In‑depth, sport‑specific knowledge to serve as an official scorer.
Technical knowledge and experience with Genius Stats or other statistical software.
Broad working knowledge and familiarity with NCAA and Great American Conference rules and policies.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in journalism or related field.
Five years of experience in a collegiate/professionally related field.
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
Experience Required: Minimum of one year working in a collegiate or professionally related field.
Physical Requirements
Must be able to carry up to 50 lbs up four flights of stairs on a regular basis.
Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
Special Requirements
Must be a member of a local evangelical Christian church. *Evangelical is a broad term referring to a segment within Christianity which maintains the authority of the Bible and the belief in salvation by faith in Jesus alone.
Benefits Full‑time employees receive comprehensive health and dental coverage with premium contributions, free life insurance matching salary, optional ancillary benefits such as vision and critical illness coverages, and education benefits at OBU and other institutions. Generous paid time off includes vacation, sick leave, six annual holidays, and week‑long breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Employer matching is provided for retirement investments in a 403(b) plan. Additional perks include free family membership to the OBU Recreation and Wellness Center, global outreach university mission trips, cafeteria discounts, and parking privileges.
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Responsibilities
Create compelling content to proactively publicize OBU Athletics, specifically the teams/programs assigned.
Plan, organize and direct all communications efforts including news releases, features, photography, statistics, press box/game day operations, publications, graphics, video and other creative content for assigned sports.
Manage game day operations for assigned sports, including maintaining official statistics.
Design graphics for print and electronic use to promote OBU student‑athletes, coaches and teams.
Assist in maintaining OBU’s official athletics website, OBUBison.com, ensuring accurate and up‑to‑date information for assigned teams (rosters, bios, statistics, records, etc.).
Write and edit articles for various publications, including OBUBison.com.
Supervise staff of paid and volunteer student workers and interns.
Nominate and promote OBU student‑athletes from assigned sports for all conference, regional and national academic, regular‑season and postseason honors and awards.
Collaborate regularly with the other Director of Athletics Communication, Assistant AD for Fan Engagement, and Associate Athletics Director for External Operations to generate new and relevant content publicizing OBU student‑athletes, coaches, teams, and the department as a whole.
Manage broadcast (video and audio) content while collaborating with the other Director of Athletics Communication and the Video staff on the Bison Sports Network.
Build and maintain positive, service‑oriented relationships with local, regional and national media and organizations to generate coverage of OBU Athletics.
Travel as necessary with select OBU teams.
Other Duties As assigned by the Director of Athletics or Associate Athletics Director for External Operations.
Required Qualifications
Demonstrated ability for strategic thinking and strong public relations sensibilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Familiarity with AP style.
Sound editorial judgement.
Understanding of graphic design principles and experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
General video production skills including editing and webcasting capabilities.
General photography and photo editing abilities.
Cursory understanding of HTML and basic web design principles.
Ability to monitor and manage multiple social media accounts and platforms.
Comfortable with Microsoft Office software.
In‑depth, sport‑specific knowledge to serve as an official scorer.
Technical knowledge and experience with Genius Stats or other statistical software.
Broad working knowledge and familiarity with NCAA and Great American Conference rules and policies.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in journalism or related field.
Five years of experience in a collegiate/professionally related field.
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
Experience Required: Minimum of one year working in a collegiate or professionally related field.
Physical Requirements
Must be able to carry up to 50 lbs up four flights of stairs on a regular basis.
Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
Special Requirements
Must be a member of a local evangelical Christian church. *Evangelical is a broad term referring to a segment within Christianity which maintains the authority of the Bible and the belief in salvation by faith in Jesus alone.
Benefits Full‑time employees receive comprehensive health and dental coverage with premium contributions, free life insurance matching salary, optional ancillary benefits such as vision and critical illness coverages, and education benefits at OBU and other institutions. Generous paid time off includes vacation, sick leave, six annual holidays, and week‑long breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Employer matching is provided for retirement investments in a 403(b) plan. Additional perks include free family membership to the OBU Recreation and Wellness Center, global outreach university mission trips, cafeteria discounts, and parking privileges.
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