Communications Manager

Organization: Vegas Thrill

Position: Communications Manager

Department: Business Operations

Reports To: Team President

Location: Las Vegas/Henderson, Nevada

Team Venue: Lee's Family Forum

Employment Type: Full-time

Openings: 1

About the Vegas Thrill

Vegas Thrill is Las Vegas and Henderson's professional women's volleyball team competing in Major League Volleyball. The organization is entering a new era under local ownership and will return to Lee's Family Forum for the January 2027 season. Our goal is to build a high-energy, community-connected organization that grows women's professional sports and creates an exceptional experience for fans, partners, players, and employees.

Position Summary

The Communications Manager is responsible for executing the Vegas Thrill's day-to-day communications and public relations efforts. This position will protect and strengthen the organization's voice, build productive relationships with local and national media, create accurate and compelling written materials, coordinate interviews and announcements, and help tell the stories of the team, players, coaches, ownership, partners, and community. The Communications Manager reports directly to the Team President and works closely with R&R Partners, the Owner, Social Media Manager, Marketing Managers, volleyball operations, and Major League Volleyball.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Communications Planning and Messaging

• Execute the communications strategy established by the Owner, Team President, and R&R Partners.
• Maintain a communications calendar aligned with player announcements, ticketing campaigns, sponsorships, community initiatives, home matches, league activity, and organizational milestones.
• Develop key messages, talking points, frequently asked questions, briefing documents, and internal communication materials.
• Ensure public-facing information is accurate, consistent, timely, and aligned with the Vegas Thrill brand.
• Identify compelling team stories and recommend proactive opportunities for media coverage.

Media Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with television, radio, print, digital, podcast, volleyball, sports-business, and community media.
• Maintain an accurate media database and targeted distribution lists.
• Respond promptly and professionally to media inquiries in coordination with the Team President and R&R Partners.
• Pitch relevant stories, features, interviews, community initiatives, and business announcements.
• Coordinate media credentials, seating, work areas, interview access, press materials, statistics, and post-match availability for home matches.

Writing and Editorial Responsibilities

• Draft and edit press releases, media advisories, statements, executive remarks, player and coach biographies, website stories, newsletters, award submissions, and organizational announcements.
• Proofread communications and verify names, titles, dates, statistics, quotations, sponsor references, links, and league terminology.
• Maintain approved biographies, boilerplate language, fact sheets, historical information, photographs, logos, and media resources.
• Coordinate approvals from ownership, team leadership, volleyball operations, the league, sponsors, legal counsel, and R&R when appropriate.
• Archive final materials and maintain a reliable record of published communications.

Interview and Event Coordination

• Schedule and prepare players, coaches, ownership, and executives for interviews and public appearances.
• Provide participants with background, likely questions, key messages, logistics, and interview expectations.
• Coordinate press conferences, media availabilities, media day, introductory events, and major organizational announcements.
• Work with volleyball operations to protect competitive priorities, player schedules, and appropriate access.
• Be present at home matches and designated events to manage media needs and communications responsibilities.

R&R, Social Media, and Internal Collaboration

• Serve as a day-to-day communications liaison with R&R Partners for assigned projects, media opportunities, announcements, and issues.
• Give the Social Media Manager accurate messaging, approved quotations, announcement timing, and supporting information.
• Coordinate with the Marketing Managers so paid, earned, owned, and community messaging supports the same priorities.
• Work with ticketing, partnerships, fan engagement, game presentation, merchandise, and volleyball operations to identify stories and communications needs.
• Provide internal staff with approved language and timing before public announcements.

Issues and Crisis Communications

• Monitor media coverage and public conversation for issues that may affect the team, personnel, sponsors, venue, or league.
• Immediately elevate sensitive inquiries, inaccurate reporting, legal concerns, player matters, or potential reputational issues to the Team President.
• Help prepare holding statements, response plans, talking points, and internal notifications in coordination with leadership, R&R, legal counsel, and the league.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow the approved chain of communication during sensitive situations.
• Do not issue public statements or responses on sensitive matters without authorization.

Performance Measures

• Accuracy, quality, and timeliness of communications materials.
• Growth and quality of earned-media coverage.
• Responsiveness to media and internal partners.
• Successful execution of announcements, interviews, press conferences, and match-day media operations.
• Consistency of organizational messaging and readiness during sensitive situations.

Expectations for Success

• Write clearly, accurately, and in the established voice of the organization.
• Develop trusted, professional relationships with media and internal stakeholders.
• Anticipate communications needs and prepare materials before deadlines become urgent.
• Exercise sound judgment with confidential, sensitive, or rapidly developing information.
• Communicate early when facts, approvals, or leadership decisions are needed.
• Represent the Vegas Thrill with professionalism, integrity, responsiveness, and a team-first attitude.

Qualifications

• Relevant professional, agency, internship, volunteer, independent-project, training, or comparable experience will be considered. A college degree is not required.
• Professional experience in public relations, communications, journalism, media relations, or sports communications preferred.
• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, interviewing, and media-relations skills required.
• Experience with press-release distribution, media monitoring, credentialing, and crisis communications preferred.
• Two or more years of relevant experience in professional sports, entertainment, agency, events, marketing, communications, or a related environment preferred.
• Strong organizational, project-management, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining close attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with senior leadership, coworkers, agencies, vendors, and community partners.
• Ability to remain calm, adaptable, and solutions-oriented in a fast-paced live-event environment.
• Knowledge of volleyball and the Las Vegas/Henderson market is helpful but not required.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours based on the team's schedule.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time, schedule-driven position. Regular business hours are expected, along with attendance at assigned home matches, community events, media activities, promotional programs, and team functions. Evening, weekend, holiday, and extended-hour work will be required at designated times throughout the year.

Application Materials

Please submit a resume, brief cover letter, and two or three writing samples or portfolio links through TeamWork Online. Samples may include press releases, media advisories, feature stories, executive remarks, communications plans, or comparable work.

Equal Opportunity

Vegas Thrill is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.