Assistant Director - Athletic Communications
By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.
Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.
Job Description
Job Summary:
This position plays a key role in publicizing select Varsity sports for the Department of Athletics, which has a 42-sport Division I athletics program. Handles sports public relations, media relations, and communications and information for assigned sports. Promotes positive branding, press coverage, strategic communications, social media, multimedia and messaging to various constituents, using a variety of traditional media as well as new media outlets. Constituents include prospective student-athletes; game-day attendees, alumni/ae, fans, and the entire University community. Works with select sports to ensure that appropriate Athletics storylines are created and communicated; statistics, schedules, rosters, game recaps and other information is communicated to the proper media outlets. Handles media interview requests. Assists with archiving historical records. This position greatly enhances both the external and internal image of the Department.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
1. Manages media and public relations functions for select sports as well as key Department initiatives.
- Proactively communicates with media about, and solicits media coverage for, events and feature stories on Harvard athletes, teams, and other Department milestones/accomplishments.
- Conceives and creates content for a dynamic Department website (including graphics and video content), which serves as a primary source of information regarding Harvard Athletics (www.GoCrimson.com).
- Directly responsible for publicity efforts in assigned sports. Media point-of-contact for assigned sports.
- Designs, writes and edits printed game programs, special event publications and press releases, including the creation of graphic designs and video content.
- Informs and educates athletes, coaches, administrators, and other Department of Athletics constituents about effective methods of media interaction. Oversees media relations at home events and travels with varsity teams to cover select competitions.
2. Effectively utilizes multimedia, digital, new and social media strategies for promoting the department and select sports.
- Stays abreast of and proficient with emergent social media best practices, strategies and platforms, in order to promote Department programs and increase fan engagement.
- Coordinates social media/networking initiatives among the department with effective strategy and foresight for information delivery protocols.
3. Manages student employees, volunteers, and game day event staff.
- Recruits, hires, trains, schedules, supervises, and evaluates game-day staff, volunteers, student workers. Ensures compliance with applicable University, NCAA and Ivy League policies, procedures and regulations.
- Provides guidance to interns and game-day staff.
- Manages payroll functions for game-day and office staff. Ensures that appropriate time-keeping and Human Resources procedures are followed. Resolves payroll issues.
- Develops and maintain positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and the community.
4. Actively plans and implements the historical archiving of content for assigned sports and projects.
- Directly responsible for maintenance of current and historical team information (rosters, statistics, records, photos, videos) in assigned sports including proper naming and meta data assignments.
Working Conditions:
- A valid driver's license is required.
- The position requires extensive evening, weekend and holiday hours and ability to handle last-minute schedule changes.
- Occasional local and regional travel is required, about 20% of the year.
Physical Requirements:
Job occasionally requires strenuous physical activity, including the climbing of steps and moving of heavy boxes and equipment (~50 lbs); ability to work extended stretches, both within a day and over several consecutive days.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required (preferably in communications/sport management/journalism/ audio-visual communications or related field). At least 3 years of work experience in athletic communications/sports media. Internships and education may count towards this experience.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Master's degree desirable.
- Seasoned user of wide range of social media platforms, including Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
- Seasoned user of SideArm Sports, NCAA Live Stats/Stat Crew software and Adobe Creative Suite, including graphic design and video editing platforms
- Demonstrated knowledge of web design and digital storytelling, including the use of content management systems and digital analytics.
- Demonstrated experience with graphics design
Additional Information
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): N/A
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, and DMV
- Other Information:
Harvard is a highly selective liberal arts college whose mission is to educate citizens and citizen-leaders for our society. The College is a residential institution of nearly 7,000 undergraduates and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard is deeply committed to the intellectual, social and personal transformation of its undergraduates during their four years at Harvard.
The Department of Athletics offers 42 varsity programs for men and women, more than any other Division I school in the United States. We also offer extensive recreational and intramural programs.
Harvard employees have access to a competitive benefits package that includes multiple options for the health and well-being of our employees as well as ongoing professional development.
All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources. We regret that, due to the number of responses we typically receive, we may be unable to respond to phone calls or contact personally those applicants not selected for an interview.
We actively seek and welcome applications from diverse candidates and from those with a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society.
Work Format Details
This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generous paid time off including parental leave
- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
- Retirement plans with university contributions
- Wellbeing and mental health resources
- Support for families and caregivers
- Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
- Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.