Marketing & Communications Manager - College Rugby

Location:

Glendale, Colorado (Open to Hybrid or Remote)
Department:

USA Rugby - College
Reports to:

GM, College Rugby
FLSA Status:

Part-Time or Full-Time
Position Summary

The Marketing & Communications Manager is responsible for promoting, marketing, and communicating all aspects of USA College Rugby. Reporting to the General Manager of College Rugby, this position leads marketing initiatives that increase participation, strengthen member engagement, elevate the visibility of collegiate rugby and support the commercial growth of the collegiate game.
Working collaboratively with the USA Rugby Marketing & Communications Department, CRAA, collegiate conferences, member institutions, sponsors and media partners - the Marketing & Communications Manager develops and executes marketing strategies that showcase collegiate rugby, promote national championships and events, celebrate student-athletes, and strengthen the USA College Rugby brand.
Primary Responsibilities

Marketing Strategy

Develop and implement an annual marketing and communications plan that supports the strategic goals of USA Rugby College, including:
Membership growth
Community engagement
Championship promotion
Fan engagement
Student-athlete recognition
Brand awareness
Commercial activation
Communications

Serve as the communications lead for USA College Rugby by:
Developing regular communications to member institutions and conferences
Preparing newsletters, announcements, and competition updates
Supporting executive communications
Maintaining communication calendars
Ensuring timely and consistent messaging across the collegiate community
Digital Media

Manage USA College Rugby digital presence, including:
Website
Content creation and social media platforms
Email and database marketing
Digital campaigns
Photography and videography coordination
Digital storytelling
Develop engaging content that highlights student-athletes, championships, coaches, referees, alumni, and collegiate programs.
Championships & Events

Support the promotion of collegiate events by:
Developing event marketing plans
Creating promotional materials
Coordinating event communications
Managing media relations
Supporting livestreams and broadcasts
Coordinating photography and videography
Producing championship recaps and feature stories
Work closely with the Events Manager to deliver a professional event experience
Brand Management

Ensure that all collegiate marketing materials align with USA Rugby and CRAA brand standards:
Graphic design
Promotional materials
Merchandise concepts
Championship branding
Event signage
Presentation materials
Maintain a consistent and professional visual identity for USA College Rugby
Storytelling & Content Development

Develop compelling stories that promote the collegiate game by highlighting:
Student-athletes
Coaches
Referees
Alumni
Member institutions
Championships
Community impact
Athlete development
High Performance pathways
Promote the positive impact of collegiate rugby throughout the United States.
Membership & Community Engagement

Support membership growth through:
Recruitment campaigns
Institutional outreach
Alumni engagement
Student engagement
Women's rugby promotion
Men's rugby promotion
Small college initiatives
Youth-to-college pathway promotion
Commercial Support

Work collaboratively with USA Rugby's Commercial Department to support:
Sponsor activation
Championship partnerships
Promotional campaigns
Hospitality initiatives
Digital advertising
Merchandise promotions
Assist in maximizing the value of collegiate commercial partnerships.
Media Relations

Coordinate media opportunities relating to USA Rugby College by:
Preparing press releases
Coordinating interviews
Supporting local and national media
Managing championship media operations
Developing media guides
Promoting positive media coverage
Administration

Assist with:
Annual marketing plans
Marketing budgets
Content calendars
Website management
Photography archives
Asset management
Performance reporting
Marketing analytics
Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Sports Management, Journalism, or a related field preferred.
Three to five years of experience in sports marketing, communications, collegiate athletics, or nonprofit marketing.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and project management abilities.
Experience managing social media and digital marketing platforms.
Experience in content creation platforms including Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and similar tools
Experience developing marketing campaigns and promotional materials.
Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in collegiate athletics or rugby.
Knowledge of digital marketing analytics.
Experience with graphic design platforms (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar).
Experience managing websites and content management systems.
Photography and video production experience is a plus.
Core Competencies

Marketing Strategy
Communications
Storytelling
Digital Marketing
Social Media Management
Brand Management
Project Management
Customer Service
Collaboration
Creativity
Organization
Attention to Detail
Reporting Relationship

Reports to: GM, College Rugby
Works closely with:
USA Rugby Marketing & Communications Department
Men's Competition Manager
Women's Competition Manager
Events Manager
CRAA Leadership
USA Rugby College Council
Commercial Partnerships
Membership Department
Conferences
Member Institutions
Media Partners
Sponsors
Performance Measures

Success in this position may be evaluated based on:
Membership growth
Website traffic and engagement
Social media growth and engagement
Championship attendance and visibility
Quality and consistency of communications
Sponsor activation success
Media coverage
Student-athlete and member engagement
Delivery of annual marketing initiatives
Brand consistency across collegiate programs
Position Philosophy

The Marketing & Communications Manager serves as the voice and storyteller of USA Rugby College. This position is responsible for building awareness, celebrating the collegiate rugby community, and increasing participation through creative, strategic, and engaging communications. Success requires collaboration across USA Rugby, CRAA, member institutions, conferences, and commercial partners to ensure that collegiate rugby is presented professionally and consistently while advancing the mission and strategic objectives of USA Rugby.
Compensation & Benefits (Colorado EPEWA-Compliant)

Compensation Range:

$35,000 - $65,000 annually. The following represents the good-faith salary range and will be based on full or part-time status of the position.
Incentive Opportunities:

This role is eligible for annual performance bonus.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

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