Assistant Director of Public Relations (HR Title: Athletics PR Specialist I)

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position. This position will pursue media and public relations opportunities within a contemporary media landscape in a Division I athletic department. The role serves as the secondary public relations contact for football and supports the primary football contact with credentials, gameday operations, game notes, research, record books, releases, and other print and digital publications. Additionally, this position will serve as the secondary public relations contact for men’s or women’s basketball, as well as the primary public relations contact for 2–4 additional teams.

Responsibilities:

• Aid in public relations efforts and media services for football and other assigned sports.
• Create and produce print and virtual content including fact books, game notes, press releases, social media content and graphics, game/match recaps, and award nominations for student-athletes and coaches.
• Update the SMU's athletics website and mobile app with created and essential content.
• Manage event operations and essential staff at events, including games/matches and press conferences.
• Manage duties including scoreboard operator, public address announcer, stat keepers and photographers.
• Serve as a liaison for members of the media covering the event.
• Work both home and road events for assigned sports.
• Cook with Creative Services to update and monitor social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, et al.
• Complete assigned projects from coaches and staff for assigned sports.

Requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree is required. A degree in communications, journalism, public relations or similar is preferred. A minimum of one (1) year of experience in the athletics public relations field is required.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies.
• Demonstrate strong written communication skills.
• Identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions.
• Organize, plan, and manage time effectively.
• Have a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), NCAA Live Stats, Adobe Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, etc.), and web publishing.
• Regularly work home and road events on nights and weekends.
• Travel to road games/matches, media events, etc.
• Be on call for coaches, media members, and other athletics staff.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution. SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU. The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.