Assistant AD, Communications and Content

Job Description Summary
Works with internal and external constituents to heighten Wake Forest University’s visibility and brand awareness with an emphasis on men’s basketball and management of the full Athletics Communications team. Develops content for GoDeacs.com and oversees social media strategy for all Athletics-related accounts, including analytics and platform-specific approaches to maximize reach and engagement. Plays an active role in crisis communications and collaborates daily with fan experience, ticket sales, facilities and operations, and creative services to ensure alignment and success. Builds and maintains strong relationships with coaches, student‑athletes, and staff across the department.

Essential Functions

Direct overall Athletic Communications operations for 16 of Wake Forest’s intercollegiate sports and develop effective strategies for publicizing the Wake Forest athletics program.

Organize staff and assign duties for media representatives, athletic staff, and student‑athletes, ensuring appropriate coverage of each contest.

Implement and integrate emerging technologies and ideas on social media.

Manage social media analytics reports and set future goals and benchmarks.

Serve as the public and media liaison for the head coach, student‑athletes, and assistant coaches of men’s basketball.

Promote student‑athletes to local and hometown media to further publicity opportunities.

Advise student‑athletes and coaches in dealing with media representatives.

Maintain and distribute statistics for men’s basketball; collect opponent statistical information to assist coaches and scouting efforts.

Provide media and opponents with statistics and other pertinent information and report results and event information back to local media.

Coordinate publicity (press releases, game notes, programs, statistics, and records) for men’s basketball and write feature stories for GoDeacs.com and WFU publications.

Travel with sports teams to handle all media requests and assist in all social content coverage.

Produce sport‑specific media guides and record books; maintain files of news clippings and photos pertaining to various sports events and projects relating to the intercollegiate athletics program.

Assist the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications & Content with staff management, budget, and other responsibilities as needed.

Serve as part of the official statistics crew for select sports and manage computer statistics program setup.

Work within budgetary guidelines set by the Communications office and assist the Senior Associate AD with budget management, including freelance photography budgeting and stat workers.

Manage the relationship with Learfield for co‑branded/sponsorship content.

Collaborate with Athletics staff on content strategy, process, and protocols to enhance Wake Forest Athletics social media accounts and branding.

Execute growth and execution of the name, image, and likeness program, including content management and implementation of Teamworks/INFLCR partnership.

Create synergy with athletics communications and their creative, fan experience, facility, operations, tiles sales, and other colleagues.

Assist with communications and marketing initiatives to elevate fundraising, revenue generation, and ticket sales.

Write and edit press releases, feature stories, and other publications for local, regional, and national audiences.

Assist in supervising the management of the athletic department’s website (GoDeacs.com).

Serve as media liaison for men’s basketball and assist on other sports as needed, arranging media conferences and defining procedures for interviewing attendees.

Serve as liaison to campus colleagues in University Marketing & Communications and Campus Life for communication‑related promotions and ideation.

Abide by all NCAA, ACC policies, and procedures.

Work at a variety of athletic events held on campus, including ACC and NCAA championship events as needed.

Uphold Wake Forest Athletics branding guidelines and identity standards.

Assist with photography, video shooting, editing, and graphic creation as needed.

Other Functions

Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Bachelor’s degree with at least five years of directly related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Strong working knowledge of the Athletic Communications/sports information profession.

Proficiency in social media platforms promoting the athletic department and its individual sports programs.

Ability to work evenings and weekends.

Ability to travel as required.

Valid driver’s license with a good driving record; must be insurable.

Physical ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, lift boxes, monitors, etc., and perform full range of physical activities.

Knowledge of ACC and NCAA rules as they pertain to Athletic Communications/sports information.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience working with media members.

Experience with computer statistics software such as Stat Crew and Automated Scorebook.

Writing, editing, and proofreading skills with experience preparing press releases.

Proficiency in desktop publishing and Adobe Creative Suite, including Adobe Premiere Pro.

Accountabilities

Supervise Assistant Directors of Communication.

Supervise Post‑Graduate communication interns.

Manage student volunteers.

Equal Opportunity Statement
The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability, and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants
If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758‑4700.

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