Assistant Athletic Director for Communications

About Whittier College and the Position

Whittier College is a small, independent liberal arts institution located eighteen miles east of Los Angeles, with about 1600 undergraduates and recognized for its innovative interdisciplinary programs and diverse community. The Athletics Department seeks an Assistant Athletic Director for Communications to lead its Sports Information, communications, and media programs.

Role Overview

This position involves significant discretion and independent judgment affecting Athletics Department policies, programming, and compliance. The individual will oversee the Sports Information office, manage communications and live event production, and ensure full compliance with NCAA Division III and SCIAC policies for 18 intercollegiate sports.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise the Assistant Director of Sports Communications, a graduate fellow, and over ten work-study students with authority over their tasks, scheduling, and performance.
• Take charge of departmental media contracts, negotiating agreements and managing budgets related to media, branding, and production expenditures independently.
• Develop, interpret, and enforce communications policies including social media conduct, crisis communication, public messaging, and standards for student-athlete representation.
• Represent Whittier College Athletics in dealings with SCIAC and NCAA offices, making authoritative decisions and submissions.
• Ensure accurate and compliant collection, reporting, and dissemination of sports statistics and results according to NCAA and SCIAC requirements.
• Oversee sports media productions such as live broadcasts, press releases, program publications, and major events like championships and award banquets.
• Manage and train staff and students for event coverage, social media, broadcasting, and statistical operations.
• Ensure all branding and communications align with institutional, NCAA, and conference licensing and standards.
• Participate in athletic staff hiring and occasionally represent the Athletics Department at SCIAC meetings in the absence of senior directors.
• Commit to occasional evening and weekend work required by athletic events and duties.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree is mandatory; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Experience with SID, SIDEARM Sports platform, BlueFrame Production Truck, and NCAA statistical systems.
• Familiarity with HTML/CSS and Adobe Creative Suite or Canva is advantageous.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
• CPR/AED certification is a plus.

Additional Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to lift and carry boxes weighing up to 15 pounds.
• Work schedule is irregular, including after-hours and weekends to support athletics events and meetings, with extended consecutive working days during the academic year.
• Office hours to be established in consultation with supervisors.

Compensation and Reporting

This full-time exempt position reports to the Associate Director of Athletics. The salary range is $70,314 to $71,200 annually, commensurate with experience, skills, and knowledge.