General Summary
Missouri State University, a NCAA Division I institution and member of the Missouri Valley Conference invites applications for the position of Graduate Assistant in Athletics Communications. This nine-month position includes full tuition and fee waivers and a monthly stipend.  The position would begin in August 2023. The successful applicant must also meet the admission requirements for Missouri State's Graduate College. 

Duties / Responsibilities:
1. Under the direction of the Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, the position will serve as primary contact for nationally-ranked men's soccer program as well as serve as the primary contact for cross country, track and field and beach volleyball. The position will also assist with game-day operations for home football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball games as scheduled.
2. Document assigned teams through the compilation of statistics, stories, records and photos
3. Update season and career records, media guides, programs and printed materials
4. Write press releases, athlete bios, feature stories, event previews and event recaps
5. Coordinate all team social media content creation and scheduling
6. Other duties as assigned.

Additional Information
The graduate assistantship is a two-year appointment and covers tuition and fees, plus a monthly stipend for the nine-month academic year. It is expected that the selectee would hold the position for two years while completing his or her master’s degree and serve a three-month summer appointment between the first and second academic years with the same benefits as above.

Missouri State University is located in Springfield, which has a population of about 160,000 and is Missouri’s third-largest city. MSU has an enrollment of 26,000 and competes in the Missouri Valley Conference.  

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Prospective applicants should email a cover letter, resume, writing / design samples to:

Rick Kindhart 
rkindhart@missouristate.edu
Director of Athletics Communications
Missouri State University
901 South National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5402

Required Qualifications
1. Eligible for appointment per University requirements (3.0 undergraduate GPA)
2. Hold a bachelor's degree in Communications related major (i.e., public relations, mass communication, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, communication studies, etc.)
3. Minimum of 2 years of experience in communications, journalism, media relations or sports information.
5. Strong communication and time management skills
6. Experience in journalistic-style writing and editing
7. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite products (InDesign, Photoshop, etc.)
8. Experience in sports statistics and/or statistical software such as NCAA Live Stats, StatCrew, Hy-Tek and others is preferred. 

About Missouri State University

Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict nondiscrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

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