Communications Manager IV (Athletics)

Communications Manager IV (Athletics)

Posting Number
req25766


Department
Administration and Athletics


Department Website Link
arizonawildcats.com


Location
Tucson Campus


Address
1 National Championship Drive, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA


Position Highlights


The University of Arizona Athletics Department invites you to apply to the role of Communications Manager IV.

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 Communications Manager will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Strategic Communications department for Arizona Athletics including developing and strategizing communication efforts for the department. Direct and coordinates all communication efforts, managing a strategic communications plan and delivering messages to all stakeholders and managing all messages internally and externally. This position manages sensitive and critical messages requiring press releases and crisis communication.

Ability to work nights, weekends, and travel as needed.

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

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here .

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages and coordinatesall strategic communications efforts which includes managing and implementing astrategic communications plan, delivering timely and key messaging to allinternal and external stakeholders.
• Manages all public relations efforts for the Athletic Departmentincluding daily messaging and crisis management messaging as well.
• Oversees and maintains crisis communication plans andefforts, serving as department spokesperson as needed.
• Build and maintain relationships with campus, local, regionaland national media. Building relationships with print and social media toshowcase the Arizona Athletics story.
• Responsible for maintaining a communication strategy that isreflected in all communications and showcases the Athletics brand.
• Creates a philosophy of collaboration between StrategicCommunications and other internal units within athletics to maximize theexperience for student-athletes, fans, alumni and students. Works inpartnership with external facing units on campus to strategize communication plansand efforts maintaining University policies and procedures in communicationefforts.
• Leads efforts to proactively promote student-athletes'stories. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with membersof the media to generate stories that highlight significant achievements of thedepartment, students, coaches, and staff.
• Leads all communications, public relations, and messagingefforts for Vice President and Director of Athletics.
• Manage and direct budget for units, including overseeing allexpenses related to area of responsibility. Ensuring all staff complies withcampus policies for expenses and reimbursements.
• Oversee budgets for all 22 sports working alongside sportsstaff to ensure highest quality of information is communicated both internaland externally keeping in mind fiscal responsibility to the department andcampus.
• Develops and maintains operational plans and systems thatimpact the unit and department, working with campus leadership to comply withstrategic vision for the university.
• Supervise staff responsible for hiring, performancemanagement, promotions and day-to-day operational tasks.
• Provides strategic and professional developmentopportunities for staff to enhance their skills, leadership, and expertise.
• Oversees staff training and development in areas of expertise.
• Provide daily leadership and supervision for the Strategic Communications Department. Oversees, develops, strategizes, and executes communication efforts across the unit, departments, and athletics.
• Recommend policies and plans that help modernize thedepartment and move unit forward in its modernization efforts.
• Budget accountability.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of various communication theories, concepts, techniques, mediums, and strategies.
• Ability to writefor various audiences and in various formats.
• Knowledge of NCAA, Conference, and University polices and procedures asthey relate to this position.
• Ability to work and provide feedback to high-profile individualssuch as head coaches and student-athletes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task with frequent interruptions.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Fosters a collaborative work environment through respectful and effective communication.
• Critical thinking skills and ability to provide multiplesolutions for situations.
• Knowledge of news productions, both written and broadcastmedia, strategic social media marketing and informational experience.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Nine years of related work experience, including 5 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree.
• Ten years of experience.
• Management and/or leadership experience.
• Experience with a college or university's strategic communications operations.

FLSA
Exempt


Full Time/Part Time
Full Time


Number of Hours Worked per Week
40 + nights and weekends


Job FTE
1.0


Work Calendar
Fiscal


Job Category
Communication and Marketing


Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits


Rate of Pay
Depends on Experience


Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)


Grade
13


Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.


The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.


Career Stream and Level
M4


Job Family
Communications


Job Function
Communications & Marketing


Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)


Number of Vacancies
1


Target Hire Date

Expected End Date

Contact Information for Candidates
Tony Daniel
View email address on click.appcast.io

Open Date
4/21/2026


Open Until Filled
Yes


Documents Needed to Apply
Resume, Cover Letter, and One Additional Document


Special Instructions to Applicant
Please submit Resume, Cover Letter, and the answers to the following questions as the Additional Document. Thank You.
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?

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at View email address on click.appcast.io.