Senior/Executive Associate Athletics Director, External Relations

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Stanford’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation:

Stanford’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (“DAPER”) is the premier intercollegiate athletics program in the country. We are the proud Home of Champions! We lead the nation with 134 NCAA team championships, have won the Women’s Capital One Cup four of the last five years, and have brought home the Learfield Directors’ Cup for 26 of the possible 29 seasons. We also support the university’s physical education, recreation and wellness initiatives. Our dedicated staff embody a culture of excellence, embrace our mission of scholar-athleticism and exemplify a relentless championship spirit. Our actions and staff are guided by the core tenets of the DAPER culture, “The DAPER Way,” which are: Embrace Scholar-Athleticism, Pursue and Revere Excellence, Lead with Courage, and Work Cohesively.

Are you ready to inspire champions? If yes, then this may be the right opportunity for you! .

The Senior/Executive Associate Athletics Director, External Relations reports to the Director of Athletics and manages all aspects of External Relations for the Athletics Department. The External Relations team is comprised of 40+ full-time external relations professionals tasked with publicizing all 36 varsity programs, stewarding the Stanford Athletics brand. Core responsibilities include managing media relations, communications, digital strategy and operations, creative video production, graphic design, marketing, fan experience, corporate partnerships, and ticket sales and service. This position also oversees the Leland Stanford Junior Marching Band. This position serves on the Athletics Department’s Executive Team, which creates and implements the holistic strategic direction of the department. In addition, this position will serve as Sport Administrator for selected varsity sports program(s).

Provide strategic leadership and management of administrative and operational functions for a major University organization exercising delegated authority for policy and programmatic decisions. Achieve goals through managerial staff; typically have multiple levels of professional and supervisory staff.

This position is based on the Stanford main campus with the option of telecommuting/hybrid schedule subject to operational needs.

Manage Overall External Relations Functions

• Supervise groups comprising approximately 45 full-time staff. Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, personal development for direct reports, and accountable for the performance of employees
• Maximize opportunities to generate revenue through corporate partnership agreements and ticket sales
• Serve as liaison to University Communications, Stanford Alumni Association, and other external-facing members of Stanford’s intercollegiate community. Negotiate and influence university leaders on issues that have university-wide impact.
• Direct and coordinate all activity in the development, implementation, and administration of a Stanford Athletics brand identity, covering all aspects of visual communication, material, and media. Make decisions for programs that provide critical support services for the University’s mission of teaching and research. Oversee allocation of all resources.
• Provide appropriate support and leadership to Stanford’s NIL initiatives
• Effectively communicate with DAPER staff, coaches, student-athletes, families, and community organizations.
• Collaborate closely with Stanford Athletics Development.
• Provide strategic direction for multiple areas of the organization; create strategic plans and set long-range direction; propose and manage the implementation of complex and significant programmatic change and establish policies as needed.

Direct and Oversee Marketing, Promotions, and Event Presentation:

• Create new and innovative programs that promote the intercollegiate athletics department as a whole and/or support specific sport programs within the department.
• Fully leverage staff and other resources, utilizing the internet and gostanford.com, the official website of the Stanford Cardinal, in an effort to maximize outreach efforts and enhance marketing opportunities.
• Work with the Director of Athletics and senior management team to achieve broad strategic marketing communications reach. These duties include, but are not limited to directing alumni communications, overseeing prospective student communications, and accomplishing certain special events objectives.
• Serve as the Athletics Department’s brand steward and provide the strategic direction and leadership necessary to ensure adherence to brand standards.
• Lead staff to create first-class game day experiences for fans through all sports supported by the Stanford Athletics
• Work with marketing staff to plan and implement a broad range of publications, special events and marketing communications activities that contribute toward a positive image and reputation for the Athletics Department.
• Foster productive relationships with senior management, other leaders, and members of the university, with alumni, with the external community, and within the marketing communications profession.

Direct and Oversee Media Relations/Communications & Digital/Video:

• Coordinate with University Communications for issues management and crisis communications.
• Manage confidential, complex, sensitive, and/or controversial issues, taking into account various viewpoints and objectives and developing the department’s communication strategies in handling such situations.
• Work with media relations manager to develop quality standards for researching, compiling, writing, and designing promotional, informational brochures, articles, and pamphlets.
• Work with the media relations team to improve the process for arranging interviews and conducting face-to-face press conferences and or teleconferences with coaches and student-athletes.
• Assume leadership position vis-à-vis new technology applications against traditional needs in media relations or sports information management.
• Provide direction, guidance and or other strategic and tactical assistance to the media relations team around game day operation of athletics events.
• Direct digital and social media content creation and distribution strategy, including effective operation of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for all 36 varsity programs and operation of the department’s YouTube channel.
• Oversee the creation and facilitation of feature articles and videos that convey substantive key messages of the department’s ideals and principles.

Direct and Oversee Ticket Operations and Ticket Sales

• Guide the Work with ticket office manager to set ticket prices for nine ticketed sports, as well as numerous one-off events.
• Collaborate with ticket sales manager to develop creative sales and service strategies that generate incremental revenue, while also providing comprehensive customer service to all season ticket members and individual game ticket purchasers.
• Direct multiple ticket-selling venues, including online, box office, automated ticket machine, and community events and including sales of season tickets, individual tickets, pre-purchase and day-of.
• Oversee ticket sales and distribution efforts for significant off-campus events, including NCAA tournaments and Bowl Games.
• Manage development and implementation of ticket promotions to drive purchases and attendance.
• Establish practices and policies to ensure proper tracking, auditing and reporting of revenue
• Manage relationships with outside ticketing software and inventory management vendors.

To be successful in this role, you will have the following:

Bachelor’s degree and ten years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or combination of education and relevant experience.

• Master’s degree preferred and a minimum of five to seven years of experience in sports management and external relations (e.g., sponsorships, ticketing, media relations, marketing), or a comparable position within athletics. Exemplary communication, employee relations/management skills, and a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Occasionally work evenings and weekends.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership, planning and change management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Advanced financial expertise in, budget planning and financial forecasting.
• Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation and political acumen skills. Able to influence people, solve problems, trouble shoot, think creatively and resolve conflicts.
• Expert analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong knowledge of industry standards, trends and/or regulatory requirements.
• Subject matter expertise for area(s) of responsibility.

The expected pay range for this position is $205,000 to $250,000 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.