Executive Associate Athletic Director for Marketing

Position Summary

Stanford University is seeking an experienced, innovative storyteller to serve as Executive Associate Athletic Director for Marketing (Exec Assoc AD) for the Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (DAPER). This pivotal leadership role will be responsible for defining and executing a brand vision that cultivates a deeper emotional connection to Stanford athletics, resulting in increased attendance, higher fan engagement, stronger donor affinity, and a larger Cardinal fanbase. Reporting directly to the COO, the Exec Assoc AD will be a key cross-functional partner tasked with strengthening and growing diverse audiences. Working collaboratively, this proactive and data-driven leader must translate the unique academic and athletic excellence of Stanford into compelling narratives that resonate locally, nationally, and globally. The Exec Assoc AD will be tasked with aggressively acquiring new audiences while stewarding the holistic development and experience of student-athletes. This creative marketing leader will embrace high expectations for themselves and others. They will bring a data-driven approach, bias for action, and strong results orientation.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the Marketing and Storytelling Vision

• Define and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that is deeply aligned with Stanford's organizational goals and brand identity.

• Own the development and maintenance of the brand identity, ensuring consistent, innovative storytelling and creative standards throughout the organization.

• Lead the content team in developing compelling marketing materials, including long-form and real-time digital content that highlights the student-athlete experience.

• Fan and Community Engagement

• Directly oversee the Social Media and content teams to develop strategies that acquire new fans and foster a genuine emotional bond with the existing base.

• Collaborate with Community Relations and Events to align marketing initiatives with community engagement goals.

• Serve as a bridge builder to various parts of the university campus, including Student Life and the broader San Francisco Bay Area community.

• High-Performing Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor an impactful marketing team of creators, providing clear goals and professional development opportunities.

• Provide exceptional mentorship to DAPER’s sport- and operationally-focused employees to ensure a unified brand voice.

• Serve as an active participant in strengthening and driving the culture within the DAPER leadership team.

• Stakeholder Management and Partnerships

• Maintain brand integrity across disparate groups of stakeholders, including the Admissions Committee and University Cabinet-level members.

• Support the Chair of Athletics and development leadership in fundraising activities by adding value through creative marketing initiatives.

• Serve as a liaison to academics and staff to service and evolve student support functions and academic excellence narratives.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or an advanced degree in Marketing or a related field is highly desirable.

• Experience: 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in athletics administration, marketing, or strategic execution.

• Content Leadership: 5+ years of supervisory experience leading diverse creative teams and content creators.

• Industry Insight: Deep familiarity growing audiences; prior experience within the college athletics space and increasing fanbases is ideal.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Master Storyteller: 10+ years of storytelling and marketing experience with a proven ability to translate engagement data into innovative narratives.

• Emotional Intelligence: Keen understanding of how to build deep relationships and foster a magnetic atmosphere for fans and student-athletes.

• Cultural Stewardship: Thoughtful approach to the "new world" of college athletics, including NIL, while maintaining strict adherence to "Cardinal" values.

• Collaborative Mindset: Superior influencing skills with the ability to connect dots across silos and remove friction.

• Strategic Grit: Rigor, grit, and a relentless work ethic to balance multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment.