Director of Communications

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Communications serves as a key member of the conference’s communications and external affairs team. The role advances the conference’s visibility and reputation through day-to-day collegiate athletics media relations, strategic storytelling, and premium communications execution for assigned sports and championships. The Director serves as the primary sports communications lead for men’s or women’s basketball and supports conference-wide priorities through writing, content development, digital publishing, and on-site event operations.

POSITION DETAILS

• Department: Communications and External Affairs

• Location: Position is based in Irving, Texas

• Travel: Regular travel required, including nights and weekends during peak seasons and championships

• Supervisory scope: Individual contributor role; may supervise interns or temporary staff as assigned

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to: Senior Director of Strategic Communications

• Key partners: Conference staff; member institution communications and media relations leads; sport committees and coaches; digital and content teams; championship operations and broadcast partners; conference website partners

THE ROLE AND CANDIDATE PROFILE

The conference seeks a communications professional with strong writing and verbal communication skills, organizational discipline, and a service mindset. The ideal candidate brings two to three years of practical experience in collegiate athletics communications or a related field and demonstrates confidence managing multiple deadlines in a high-volume sports calendar. The Director works effectively with diverse constituents, including conference leadership, member institution administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and media. Experience working with Adobe Creative Suite and social media platforms such as X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and video editing is a plus. The role requires regular night and weekend work.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary sport communications leadership

• Serve as the primary communications contact for men’s or women’s basketball, including media relations, season-long planning, and championship execution.

• Serve as the primary communications contact for additional sports, as assigned

• Serve as the primary contact for media and institutional correspondence for assigned sports.

• Implement season-long communications plans for assigned sports aligned with conference brand strategy and priorities.

• Write and distribute press releases, recaps, previews, notes packets, and awards communications for assigned sports.

• Write and publish feature stories and student-athlete storytelling content that supports conference priorities.

• Maintain working relationships with institutional communications leads to ensure consistent information flow and coordinated messaging.

Basketball media days and championship operations

• Work with Senior Director of Strategic Communications in the communications planning and media operations for men’s and women’s basketball media days.

• Work with Senior Director of Strategic Communications regarding on-site communications execution for men’s and women’s basketball championships, including credentialing coordination, media workroom operations, interview management, and awards communications.

• Coordinate with broadcast partners and championship operators to support smooth media workflows and consistent information distribution.

Championship media operations and event support

• Serve as media coordinator at select conference championships and support on-site communications operations.

• Support event operations at championships, including marketing, promotions, staffing, sponsorship fulfillment, television, awards selection, game operations, and media relations.

• Represent the conference at regular-season and postseason events, as assigned.

Digital publishing and content execution

• Contribute content to TheAmerican.org and support the creation and maintenance of sport web pages for assigned sports.

• Monitor and assist in troubleshooting website issues in coordination with the conference’s website partner.

• Draft and publish social media content for assigned sports aligned with conference voice and publishing standards.

• Assist the creation and design of social media graphics using Adobe Creative Suite and support video editing for social content.

Statistics, archives, and reporting

• Process daily statistics updates and maintain season-long and historical archives for assigned sports.

• Support accurate and timely reporting workflows using NCAA Live Stats, Stat Crew, and related conference tools.

Governance, compliance, and member support

• Maintain working knowledge of NCAA and conference compliance issues that impact communications matters.

• Support communication education sessions during coaches’ meetings and other conference gatherings.

• Assist with conference-wide initiatives and duties as assigned by the Senior Director.

Student-athlete engagement and conference initiatives

• Serve as a liaison with the conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and support conference and SAAC initiatives, including Powerful Minds and Together We Stand.

• Coordinate communications support for student-athlete programs and recognition efforts, including content development, releases, and digital promotion.

YEAR-ONE SUCCESS FACTORS

• Delivered consistent, accurate, and timely communications for men’s or women’s basketball, including media days and championship execution.

• Delivered season-long communications plans for sport assignments.

• Enhanced visibility for assigned sports through proactive storytelling and coordinated outreach.

• Executed championship media operations with high service standards for media, member institutions, and stakeholders.

• Maintained clean, current sport pages and archives with reliable daily statistical workflows.

• Supported conference priorities through responsive collaboration and strong editorial standards.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, media, journalism, or a related field required.

• Three years of experience in athletics communications, media operations, public relations, or a related field required.

• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time management skills with the ability to manage competing deadlines.

• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills with strong journalistic writing and editing ability and command of AP style.

• Experience supporting media relations and on-site media operations at athletic events.

• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite is a plus, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Experience with X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and social publishing workflows are required.

• Experience with video editing tools and workflows for social content is a plus.

• Working knowledge of NCAA Live Stats and Stat Crew and the ability to learn conference-specific statistics tools quickly.

• Working knowledge of WSC Sports and how to use the highlight clipping services.

• Experience with SIDEARM Sports websites and how to add, edit and develop website content.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and relevant communications-related software.

• Demonstrated knowledge of intercollegiate athletics administration; conference or athletic department experience preferred.

• Ability to maintain punctual attendance and timely correspondence.

APPLICATION PROCESS

A letter of application, resume, examples of work as appropriate, and a list of at least three professional references should be forwarded via email to:

Lois DeBlois, Executive Assistant for Administration (ldeblois@theamerican.org)

The application deadline is February 17, 2026.

Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes participation in the conference's employee benefit plan.

The American Conference is an equal opportunity employer. The Conference does not discriminate against applicants for employment on the basis of their membership in any protected class under federal or state law.