Associate Director for Communications

The Associate Director for Communications serves as the primary communications strategist for several programs, including volleyball, cross country, track, and bowling, and is responsible for driving bold, creative, and proactive communications that elevate the visibility of these programs, their student-athletes, and their coaches on a national scale.

As the strategic lead for social and traditional media, this individual is a storyteller—someone who doesn't just respond to engagement opportunities but creates them. They will craft and execute sophisticated narrative strategies, develop and execute creative and innovative social media campaigns, pitch and place high-profile stories, and identify breakout moments that position these programs among the most visible and compelling programs in college athletics.

This role requires the ability to report to work in-person on the Vanderbilt University campus.

Reporting to the Associate Athletics Director for Communications and working in close partnership with the Athletics and University content and creative teams, this role will build upon the programs' and Vanderbilt's overall momentum, infusing every external communications effort with energy, intentionality, and brand-building impact. It requires strong social media experience, solid media instincts, exceptional storytelling skills, and a hunger to innovate. 

The Associate Director for Communications is part of the Athletics Communications team within the Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for developing and implementing communications plans and tactics to advance Vanderbilt's distinctive athletics program, while supporting the university's overall strategic communications plan. This includes leveraging storytelling expertise, gathering news, developing messaging and content, and coordinating dissemination of story packages across the division.

The Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt is a dynamic and deeply collaborative group. The division, with all of its departments and sub-teams, serves as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing, developing and executing strategies that inform, engage and inspire others to participate in Vanderbilt University's global academic and research mission. The division is a key strategic adviser and partner for other divisions in the university, providing comprehensive plans and thoughtful analysis on messaging opportunities and constraints. The Communications and Marketing team continuously seeks innovative solutions to new and emerging challenges in order to deliver results at scale to advance the larger mission, values and priorities of the university.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of proactive, brand-forward communications strategies that elevate the national profile of Vanderbilt Athletic programs.
• Serve as the primary media strategist and day-to-day media contact for their program, including the head coach, coordinators, and student-athletes.
• Identify compelling narratives and breakthrough storylines that align with the program's values, identity, and momentum—and proactively develop content showcasing them on social media and in regional and national media pitches.
• Work in close partnership with the Athletics content, video, and creative teams to ensure integrated, consistent messaging across digital, social, and traditional platforms.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key sports social media leaders, media figures, journalists, and influencers to ensure continued and expanding coverage.
• Write and edit high-impact content including media pitches, press releases, feature stories, game notes, media guides, and player bios—with a focus on compelling voice and storytelling.
• Develop and manage social and traditional media strategies around key program milestones (e.g., season openers, rivalry games, signing days, award nominations) to drive targeted coverage and engagement.
• Coordinate interviews, press availabilities, and media events—ensuring participants are well-prepared and aligned on message.
• Serve as a trusted adviser to coaches, student athletes, and senior leadership on communications strategy, narrative positioning, social media, and media engagement.
• Track, analyze, and report social and traditional analytics, using data to inform future storytelling strategy.
• Monitor national and collegiate sports trends to identify opportunities for Vanderbilt to lead or shape the conversation.
• Collaborate with peers across the Athletics Department and Division of Communications to align messaging with university-wide branding and reputation goals.
• Represent the programs during travel and at events as needed; work non-traditional hours including nights and weekends.
• Support other varsity programs and Athletics communications priorities to advance the communications and visibility goals of the Athletics Department, working as a valued, transparent, and collaborative colleague across all sports.
• Think creatively and pragmatically with a willingness to consider many options, problem solve and take directives as necessary.
• Demonstrate excellence in news judgment, written communications skills, and a sense of what is appropriate for the brand.
• Adhere to confidentiality and business ethics; demonstrate outstanding judgment and discretion.
• Demonstrate understanding of the university's mission, values, goals and priorities and an ability to ensure that all are considered in developing communications strategies.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with a wide range of audiences—including students, faculty, coaches, staff, families, leadership, alumni, donors and vendors.
• Efficiently and effectively manage multiple, complex and results-oriented projects with both quick turn-around requirements and long lead times.
• Operate in a highly organized fashion with attention to detail on all projects.
• Provide overall support as needed and assigned for department priorities.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is necessary; a degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in sports communications, journalism, public relations, or media strategy, preferably in a Division I collegiate or professional sports setting, is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing social media communications strategies that drive engagement and elevate brand visibility is necessary.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with an ability to tailor content for different platforms, audiences, and media outlets, is necessary.
• Proven ability to identify and pitch compelling narratives that result in high social media engagement and high-profile local, regional, or national media placements is necessary.
• Experience advising high-profile individuals (e.g., coaches, athletes, executives) on social and traditional media strategy and preparing them for interviews is necessary.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment with the flexibility to travel and work nights and weekends as needed is necessary.
• A highly collaborative mindset with experience working across teams, including content, creative, digital, and leadership stakeholders is necessary.
• Proficiency with media monitoring tools and data analytics to measure and report on outcomes is necessary.
• Strategic thinking, proactive problem solving, and passion for advocating for innovation in sports storytelling is necessary.