Senior Associate Commissioner, Brand Strategy & Engagement

The Opportunity

The Southland Conference succeeds only when its member institutions succeed. Our responsibility is to create an environment where every university can enhance its brand, compete for championships, expand its national reach, and deliver an exceptional experience for its student-athletes. Everything we do is built on partnership, trust, and a shared vision for the future.

To help advance that mission, the Southland Conference is seeking a collaborative, growth-minded Senior Associate Commissioner, Brand Strategy & Engagement to lead and evolve the Conference's integrated brand, communications, and engagement strategy while laying the foundation for a modern Commercial Division that creates meaningful opportunities and long-term value for our member institutions.

Reporting directly to the Commissioner, this role will help define how the Southland Conference presents itself to the world, how it serves its member institutions, and how it strengthens the Conference’s brand through strategic communications, fan experiences, storytelling, digital engagement, championship experiences, media events, and collaborative leadership.

Our Leadership Philosophy

At the Southland Conference, we believe our greatest responsibility is serving our member institutions. We do so by leading with integrity, building trust through transparency, embracing innovation, and working collaboratively to create meaningful opportunities that elevate our student-athletes, universities, and Conference. We intentionally seek leaders who challenge conventional thinking, embrace change, and bring fresh perspectives that strengthen our membership and create measurable value.

Mission of the Commercial Division

Strengthen the Southland Conference brand while creating measurable value for member institutions through brand leadership, strategic communications, engagement, innovation, and collaborative growth.

Executive Leadership & Strategic Alignment

• Serve as a member of the Conference’s leadership team, partnering closely with the Commissioner, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer.

• Serve as the Commissioner’s strategic advisor on brand strategy, communications, engagement and organizational storytelling.

• Assist in building the foundation for the Conference’s future Commercial Division while providing day-to-day leadership for the communications and creative content team.

• Contribute to Conference-wide strategic planning and initiatives that strengthen member value and organizational excellence.

• Serve as the Conference’s primary liaison to corporate partners and key external constituents, building trusted relationships that align strategic priorities and create meaningful opportunities for the Conference.

Brand Strategy, Marketing & Storytelling

• Build and lead the Conference’s integrated brand, communications, and storytelling platform that advances the Southland Conference brand while strengthening the value of Conference membership.

• Define and steward the Conference’s brand strategy, voice, and positioning across all external touchpoints.

• Develop annual marketing strategies to support Conference championships, strategic initiatives, and member institutions.

• Ensure compelling storytelling across digital, social, broadcast, and live-event platforms.

• Create the strategic framework for the Conference’s evolving digital engagement strategy.

Serve Our Member Institutions

• Serve as the Conference’s strategic brand, communications, and marketing resource for member institutions.

• Organize and lead regular collaboration with campus leaders responsible for communications, marketing, external affairs and alumni engagement.

• Develop resources, best practices and collaborative initiatives that strengthen institutional brands and create measurable value across the membership.

• Foster an environment of collaboration, innovation and shared success throughout the Conference.

Strategic Communications & Broadcasting

• Provide strategic leadership for communications across assigned Conference sports while ensuring all Conference-facing assets, including the Conference website, online record book, championship records, NCAA selection materials, news releases, statistical reports, feature content and digital communications, accurately reflect and strengthen the SLC brand through timely, compelling and consistent storytelling.

• Monitor media exposure, audience reach, audience engagement and brand impact through meaningful performance metrics.

• Serve as the Conference’s primary liaison to ESPN, CBS Sports and broadcast partners regarding communications, storytelling and production initiatives.

• Establish minimum broadcast standards while collaborating with member institutions to elevate production quality.

Championship Experiences

• Lead brand, marketing and fan engagement strategies for all championships and signature events.

• Partner with Southland Conference championship hosts to create memorable championship experiences for student-athletes and fans.

• Collaborate with corporate partnership representatives to maximize brand integration, storytelling and sponsor activation opportunities at championship events.

Innovation & Future Growth

• Identify emerging technologies, innovative engagement strategies and industry trends that strengthen the Conference’s brand and member value.

• Explore opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence and digital innovation across communications, storytelling and fan engagement.

• Create strategic initiatives that support audience development, sponsorship activation and new engagement opportunities.

Commissioner Initiatives

• Coordinate all post-meeting communications and strategic messaging for the Board of Directors.

• Champion special projects and executive initiatives that advance the Conference’s long-term vision.

• Lead cross-functional initiatives that advance the Conference’s long-term priorities and strengthen collaboration across departments.

Future Organizational Vision

• This position is intentionally designed as the foundational leadership role within the Southland Conference’s evolving Commercial Division. As the Conference continues to grow, this executive will play an integral role in shaping and supporting the broader commercial enterprise while continuing to lead the Conference’s brand, communications, and engagement strategy.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial leader who sees opportunities where others see obstacles, enjoys building from the ground up, and thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments where innovation and execution go hand in hand. They are passionate about college athletics and energized by the opportunity to strengthen the Southland Conference while serving member institutions and the communities across Texas and Louisiana that proudly support them. They lead with integrity, build trust through transparency, and combine innovation with disciplined execution, organizational excellence, and a relentless commitment to delivering results.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications, experiences, and leadership capabilities:

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in brand strategy, communications, marketing, or content within collegiate athletics, professional sports, media, entertainment, consumer brands, or a related industry.

• Demonstrated success building and executing integrated brand, communications, and storytelling strategies across digital, social, broadcast, and live-event platforms.

• Experience leading or working alongside creative services, digital content, graphic design, photography, videography, live event presentation, or broadcast production teams is strongly preferred.

• A demonstrated ability to inspire, mentor, and develop creative, communications, and content professionals while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Other Information

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position requires travel for some championships, regular season competitions, NCAA meetings, and conference events, as well as availability to work on weeknights and weekends.

The Conference provides a comprehensive benefits package. This position is based at the Southland Conference headquarters at the Star in Frisco, Texas, and requires regular in-office engagement.  Applicant reviews will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Deadline for all applicants is July 31, 2026.