Director, Strategic Communications - Football Intercollegiate Athletics

Apply for Job Job ID 85621
Location Main Campus-Berkeley
Full/Part Time Full Time
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About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of more than 275 staff members and coaches and sponsors 30 varsity sports programs. These 30 programs include more than 850 student-athletes who participate in the various sports programs annually within the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is April 29, 2026

Responsibilities

This position will lead strategic communications efforts for the digital ecosystem of Cal football. Will utilize existing knowledge to craft strategy around storytelling efforts and immerse themselves in the ethos of the football program both on a conference, community, college, national and international level. With a strong emphasis on brand awareness, broad-reaching messaging, recruiting and retaining student-athletes and providing entertainment to all consumers of Cal Athletics, this position is critical in supporting the storytelling for these areas. This position allows a narrowed focus of communication excellence needed for football to thrive in the existing college athletics ecosystem.

Guided by the overarching Athletics strategic plan, the employee will create and lead the planning and execution of communications related to digital content. This position will demonstrate competency in establishing relationships with key stakeholders involved with the sports they are assigned - including, but not limited to media members, governing body heads, conference resources, NCAA employees, and sport-specific influencers and content strategists. These relationships will be critical in ensuring optimal coverage, attention, brand recognition, and publicization for external audiences. This role requires collaborative work and sport-specific media plan leadership across the department, including with coaches, senior leaders and campus entities. Internally, there is an emphasis on integrating with other content creators, Athletics digital ecosystems directors, Cal Athletics fundraisers and game day entertainment. Other duties include arranging and conducting interviews, maintaining and compiling records and statistics and serving as a team historian for football.

This role will also manage one Assistant Director, Strategic & Creative Communications.

Football Team Immersion:

• Engage with all members of the football team to understand student-athletes' personalities, talents, and strengths.
• Translate these insights into compelling narratives for public consumption.
• Identify key sport influencers and target audiences to expand reach and amplify visibility strategies.

Football Media Plan Creation:

• Develop, manage, and continuously refine a comprehensive media plan.
• Define messaging cadence, communication channels, content types, audience targeting, and timing.
• Ensure consistent and strategic promotion of teams.

Storytelling Integrator:

• Collaboratively work with content creators, Athletics digital ecosystems directors, Cal Athletics fundraisers and game day entertainment employees to synchronize all communication, publicity, and engagement specific to football. Keep a firm working knowledge of the overall strategy shared by these groups that in totality make up the external engine of Cal Athletics.

Strategic Communications Project Manager:

• Serve as the main, public-facing resource for football, specific to all storytelling aspects of the position. Project manage requests, coverage, and alterations or additions to the media plan and maintain historical knowledge of each sport.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Facilitate required statistical reporting, written materials, and sport-specific releases.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Athletics communications and engagement efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of program activity and best practices.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively with frequent interruptions.
• Strong active listening skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in the English language.
• Excellent written communication skills in the English language.
• Proficiency in the use of computer applications relevant to job duties.
• Ability to create and execute a sport-specific storytelling strategy.
• Ability to create and follow a sport-specific media plan.
• Ability to define cadence of messaging.
• Ability to identify target audiences.
• Ability to select appropriate communication mediums.
• Ability to determine types of content.
• Ability to establish and manage schedules.
• Ability to quickly learn all facets of a sports program.
• Ability to understand personnel, trends, participants, and the national landscape.
• Ability to identify and engage critical audiences.
• Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast-paced, and dynamic work environment.
• Strong ability to create targeted content to support recruitment and retention.
• Strong digital media and content creation skills
• Experience using Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms for storytelling.
• Strong collaboration skills.
• Ability to adjust schedules, timelines, content, messaging, and mediums as needed.
• Ability to respond to immediate and high-impact needs of a sports program.
• Knowledge of the NCAA and Power 4 landscape.
• Understanding of recruiting cycles, NIL trends, and student-athlete retention drivers.
• Working knowledge of concepts and principles of news and media communications.
• Ability to maintain current knowledge of applicable rules and standards of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
• Ability to comply with all rules and standards applicable to the Berkeley campus of the University of California and affiliated organizations.
• Demonstrated leadership skills to guide the strategic direction of storytelling across multiple platforms.
• Strong time management skills.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously from concept through completion.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
  
  

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $80,000 - $110,000.

• This is a full-time (40 hours/week), career position that is eligible for UC Benefits.

• This is an exempt monthly-paid position.

Other Information

This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Referral Source info

This job is part of the Employee Referral Program. If a UC Berkeley employee is referring you, please ensure you select the Referral Source of " UCB Employee ". Then enter the Employee's Name and Berkeley E-mail address in the Specific Referral Source field. Please enter only one name and email.

Driving Required

Required to hold valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Misconduct Disclosure

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.