Media Relations Professional (Athletics)

The Athletics Department is dedicated to excellence in collegiate sports, building a modern model of intercollegiate athletics fostering integrity, innovation, and student-athlete success.

The purpose of this position is to assist in the operation of the University’s strategic communications operations, both internally and externally. The successful candidate will produce effective journalistic materials for information dissemination, prepare and edit public information through various news media, publications, social media and Internet strategies, and manage media-related services at athletics events. Applicants must have proven ability to work independently and in concert with colleagues and numerous publics. Candidates must be highly motivated and enthusiastic, and be able to manage a demanding work schedule that includes nights, weekends and holidays, including travel with teams in a strategic communications capacity.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Handle daily communication media-services and story-telling responsibilities for the UA’s baseball program and other sports as assigned, working directly with coaches and student-athletes to produce positive coverage in print, news, and digital media.
• Use creative, innovative approach to generate positive promotion of sport programs. Work with coaching staffs and department promotions team to create publicity plans to reach various audiences through social media and website.
• Write and edit daily, weekly and annual releases, feature stories and publications . Develop ideas, write and post material to Arizona’s official website, arizonawildcats.com.
• Utilize advanced photo editing skills for graphical use on website and social media.
• Coordinate with video department to schedule and produce multimedia materials.
• Maintain archival and records systems.
• Staff events in media-services capacity, while coordinating duties of support staff.
• Respond to written and phone queries from media and others by providing materials, statistics, photos, and information pertaining to sport.
• Assist or direct media operations at league and National Championship events hosted by the University.
• File game reports/statistical summaries to specific or requested news outlets, conference and NCAA offices.
• Assist in daily management of strategic communications for athletics as assigned by director.
• Assist in maintaining compliance with ICA, University, Big 12 Conference and NCAA guidelines and policies.
• Assist with managing student employees.
• Budget Accountability.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task with frequent interruptions.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and has a positive demeanor.
• Critical thinking skills and ability to provide multiple solutions for situations.
• Ability to work nights and weekends as necessary.
• Proficient technology & software skills including Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Photoshop, InDesign.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively and positively manage social media accounts (X, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) that represent official university athletics programs.
• Exceptional interpersonal communications skills including demonstrated writing experience and story-telling ability.
• Knowledge of NCAA rules and compliance issues pertaining to publicity and promotional efforts.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Three years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Previous experience with SIDEARM Sports content management, and/or HTML.
• Previous experience with Photoshop, InDesign and other desktop publishing programs.
• Experience with NCAA Live Stats and its various programs.

1. Describe your knowledge and understanding of NCAA and Big-12 rules and regulations, as they pertain to recruitment and regulations.

2. Please list below any experience you have had since 2015 with high school or college student-athletes. This includes working or volunteering in any capacity with a high school, AAU, sports club, junior college or 4-year institution student-athlete, athletics team or department.

3. Applicants for this position are subject to the following NCAA Bylaws 11.4.2, 11.4.2.1, 11.4.2.2, 11.4.3, 11.4.3.1, 11.4.3.2, 11.4.4, 11.4.4.1, and 11.4.4.2. You may be asked about these Bylaws in an interview, and you may be asked to sign a future affirmation confirming the same prior to or upon your employment by The University of Arizona, if you are selected for employment. Do you understand that by submitting your Application for employment you are affirming that you have read these Bylaws, and that such Bylaws would not preclude your employment by The University of Arizona?

4. Are you the parent, coach, relative or guardian of a prospective student-athlete (i.e., student in 9-12 grade or 7-12 grade for men’s basketball or junior college student) in the sport of men’s basketball, women’s basketball or football or have any other type of association with any prospective student-athlete in the sports of men’s basketball, women’s basketball or football? If yes, please explain.

5. Is your potential employment within the athletic department conditioned upon the enrollment of any prospective student-athlete (i.e., student in 9-12 grade, 7-12 grade for men’s basketball or junior college) in the sport of men’s basketball, women’s basketball or football? If Yes, please explain.

6. Do you understand that failure to disclose any information related to your affiliation with a prospective student-athlete (student in 9-12 grade, 7-12 grade for men’s basketball or junior college) in the sports of football, men’s basketball or women’s basketball might render your application ineligible for consideration?