<p>Job Description</p> <p>The Assistant Athletics Director for Communications, Football is a reimagined key strategic role at the forefront of Vanderbilt Athletics' evolution toward a pro-caliber communications model. Serving as the primary media strategist for the football program, this role is responsible for driving bold, creative, and proactive communications that elevate the visibility of the program, its student-athletes, and its coaches on a national scale.</p> <p>More than a media liaison, this individual is a strategic operator and storyteller-someone who doesn't just respond to coverage opportunities but creates them. They will craft and execute sophisticated narrative strategies, pitch and place high-profile stories, and identify breakout moments that position Vanderbilt Football among the most visible and compelling programs in college athletics.</p> <p>Reporting to the Associate Athletics Director for Communications and working in close partnership with the Athletics content and creative teams, this role will build upon the football program's momentum, infusing every external communications effort with energy, intentionality, and brand-building impact. It requires deep media instincts, exceptional storytelling skills, and a hunger to innovate.</p> <p>The Assistant Athletics Director for Communications, Football is part of the Athletics Communications team within the Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for developing and implementing communications plans and tactics to advance Vanderbilt's distinctive athletics program, while supporting the university's overall strategic communications plan. This includes leveraging storytelling expertise, gathering news, developing messaging and content, and coordinating the dissemination of story packages across the division.</p> <p>The Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt is a dynamic and deeply collaborative group. The division, with all of its departments and sub-teams, serves as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing, developing and executing strategies that inform, engage and inspire others to participate in Vanderbilt University's global academic and research mission. The division is a key strategic adviser and partner for other divisions in the university, providing comprehensive plans and thoughtful analysis on messaging opportunities and constraints. The Communications and Marketing team continuously seeks innovative solutions to new and emerging challenges in order to deliver results at scale to advance the larger mission, values and priorities of the university.</p> <p>This role requires the ability to report to work in-person on the Vanderbilt University campus.</p> <p>Duties and Responsibilities</p> <ul> <li>Lead the development and execution of proactive, brand-forward communications strategies that elevate the national profile of Vanderbilt Football. </li><li>Serve as the primary media strategist and day-to-day media contact for the football program, including the head coach, coordinators, and student-athletes. </li><li>Identify compelling narratives and breakthrough storylines that align with the program's values, identity, and momentum-and proactively pitch them to regional and national outlets. </li><li>Build and maintain strong relationships with key sports media figures, journalists, and influencers to ensure continued and expanding coverage. </li><li>Write and edit high-impact content including media pitches, press releases, feature stories, game notes, media guides, and player bios-with a focus on compelling voice and storytelling. </li><li>Work in close partnership with the Athletics content, video, and creative teams to ensure integrated, consistent messaging across digital, social, and traditional platforms. </li><li>Develop and manage media strategies around key program milestones (e.g., season openers, rivalry games, signing days, award nominations) to drive targeted coverage and engagement. </li><li>Coordinate interviews, press availabilities, and media events-ensuring participants are well-prepared and aligned on message. </li><li>Serve as a trusted adviser to coaches and senior leadership on communications strategy, narrative positioning, and media engagement. </li><li>Track, analyze, and report media coverage and visibility metrics, using data to inform future storytelling strategy. </li><li>Monitor national and collegiate sports trends to identify opportunities for Vanderbilt to lead or shape the conversation. </li><li>Collaborate with peers across the Athletics Department and Division of Communications to align messaging with university-wide branding and reputation goals. </li><li>Represent the football program during travel and at events as needed; work non-traditional hours including nights and weekends. </li><li>Support other varsity programs and Athletics communications priorities to advance the communications and visibility goals of the Athletics Department, working as a valued, transparent, and collaborative colleague across all sports. </li><li>Think creatively and pragmatically with a willingness to consider many options, problem solve and take directives as necessary. </li><li>Demonstrate excellence in news judgment, written communications skills, and a sense of what is appropriate for the brand. </li><li>Adhere to confidentiality and business ethics; demonstrate outstanding judgment and discretion. </li><li>Demonstrate understanding of the university's mission, values, goals and priorities and an ability to ensure that all are considered in developing communications strategies. </li><li>Communicate and collaborate effectively with a wide range of audiences-including students, faculty, coaches, staff, families, leadership, alumni, donors and vendors. </li><li>Efficiently and effectively manage multiple, complex and results-oriented projects with both quick turn- around requirements and long lead times. </li><li>Operate in a highly organized fashion with attention to detail on all projects. </li><li>Provide overall support as needed and assigned for department priorities. </li><li>Perform other relevant duties as assigned </li></ul> <p>Qualifications</p> <ul> <li>A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is necessary; a degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field is strongly preferred. </li><li>A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in sports communications, journalism, public relations, or media strategy, preferably in a Division I collegiate or professional sports setting, is necessary; experience with football is strongly preferred. </li><li>Demonstrated success in developing and executing communications strategies that drive media coverage and elevate brand visibility is necessary. </li><li>Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with an ability to tailor content for different platforms, audiences, and media outlets, is necessary. </li><li>Proven ability to identify and pitch compelling narratives that result in high-profile local, regional, or national media placements is necessary. </li><li>Deep understanding of the college football media landscape and strong relationships with sports journalists and media influencers is strongly preferred. </li><li>Experience advising high-profile individuals (e.g., coaches, athletes, executives) on media strategy and preparing them for interviews is necessary. </li><li>Comfort operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment with the flexibility to travel and work nights and weekends as needed is necessary. </li><li>A highly collaborative mindset with experience working across teams, including content, creative, digital, and leadership stakeholders is necessary. </li><li>Proficiency with media monitoring tools and data analytics to measure and report on outcomes is necessary. </li><li>Strategic thinking, proactive problem solving, and passion for advocating for innovation in sports storytelling is necessary. </li></ul>