Director, Strategic Communications - Football (6403C), Intercollegiate Athletics #86745

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.

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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.

Position Summary

The Director, Strategic Communications - Football owns and leads strategic athletics storytelling across multiple mediums as dictated by the message. This position utilizes existing knowledge of the sport to craft strategy around storytelling efforts and immerses itself in the ethos of the sport on a conference, community, college, national and international level. While this role will decide which mediums and content are necessary, there will be a strong focus on digital content and communication utilizing various digital platforms - with the proper channel(s) chosen by the employee based on the message created.

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.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 22, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Team Immersion

• Engage with all members of the football program to learn the student-athletes' personalities, talents and abilities, exploit coaches strengths for public consumption, identify sport influencers and engage to broaden the message and identify and target critical audiences that can amplify the strategies of elevating the sport publicly.

Oversee Content Creation

• As an extension and critical player with the football program, review/approve content and capture content (as needed) in support of and in alignment with the Media plan.
• Content can be in all forms - video, visual, graphic, written, spoken, etc.

Media Plan Creation

• Create, manage, communicate, publish, share and continue to revise a Media Plan.
• The media plan will highlight on a scheduled basis the flow of information, how communication will occur, cadence of messaging, types of required content, intended audiences and other key factors in publicizing the team.

Storytelling Integrator

• Collaboratively work with content creators, Cal Athletics digital ecosystems directors, Cal Athletics fundraisers and game day entertainment employees to synchronize all communication, publicity, and engagement.
• 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 a main, public-facing resource for the football program, 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.

Other

• Facilitate required statistical submissions, written notes or releases specific to the assigned sports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of and/or ability to learn about the program activity and best practices.
• Problem-solving skills; multi-task, work with frequent interruptions, and effective listener.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in the English language.
• Proficiency in the use of computer applications relevant to job duties.
• Creation and execution of a sport-specific Storytelling strategy
  • Create and follow a sport-specific media plan that includes cadence of messaging, audiences, mediums, types of content, and schedules.
  • Ability to learn all facets of a sports program quickly - including personnel, trends, participants, national landscape and critical audiences.
  • Strong ability to create and deliver targeted content in efforts to recruit and retain individuals to the sport represented.
  • Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
  • Strong collaborator that is flexible in adjusting schedules, timelines, content, messaging, mediums, etc. in order to best fit the immediate and impactful needs of a sports program.
  • Strong digital media and content creation skills.
  • Proficient user of social media related to promoting teams and Athletics.
  • Previous experience using Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram and other other social media channels to story tell on behalf of a sports team.
  • Knowledge of NCAA/Power 4 landscape, including recruiting cycles, NIL trends, and student-athlete retention drivers.
  • Working knowledge of concepts and principles of news and media communications.
  • Must maintain current knowledge of and/or ability to learn applicable rules and standards of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as well as other associations and agencies to which the Berkeley campus of the University of California adheres, and, at all times avoid any and all violations of these rules and standards.
  • Leadership skills to oversee the strategic direction of the football program's storytelling over multiple platforms.
  • Strong time and project management skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously from concept through completion.

Education / Training

• 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 $105,000.00 - $115,000.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Driving Required

Required to hold a 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.

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.
• This position will be governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Communications, Marketing, and Sales Professionals, represented by the UAW.

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

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.