General Description
The Assistant Commissioner, Strategic Communications will provide the vision, guidance, and leadership for MW’s strategic communications team serving thirteen member institutions (11 all sport, two single sport). As an integral member of an eight member external communications strategy team, this position will be the primary media contact for football and men's and women's golf. The Assistant Commissioner, Strategic Communications will be the event planner for football and basketball media days and the MW Basketball Championships. The position also will oversee messaging, timing, and production of all publicity materials, focusing on initiatives designed to elevate the MW to the highest possible levels of performance and exposure. This position will report to the Associate Commissioner, External Communications Strategy.

Responsibilities
- Extensive relationships with national media.
- Leadership and staff oversight experience.
- Expertise in project management and event planning.
- Event planning and execution from venue selection, contract negotiations, transportation, budget management/forecasting, lodging management, media production, and volunteer management.
- Media coordinator for the MW Football Championship Game, and Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships and NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds.
- A high degree of creativity in developing communications content. Develop new strategies for promoting the Conference to support the MW’s strategic plan.
- Fluent with the following software – Adobe Creative Suite programs such as InDesign and Photoshop. Microsoft Office Suite such as Word and Excel. NCAA Live Stats, StatCrew, and Golfstat.
- Primary media contact and liaison to member institution’s communications staff for football, men’s & women’s golf, and  other sports to be determined.
- Write and produce press releases, social media graphics, media guides, and championship materials.
- Oversee the messaging, timing, and production of all publicity materials, including but not limited to: Weekly Releases, Media Guide, Superlatives (annual honors), Broadcast Announcements, Schedule Announcements, Statistics, General Press Releases
- Travel to MW championships and serve in the media coordinator role.
- Prepare materials for and participate in College Football Playoff committee calls.
- Maintain and develop various aspects of the MW website at TheMW.com.
- Maintenance of historical and statistical files.
- Collaborate with MW’s Digital & social media and Mountain West Network teams to provide comprehensive and accurate coverage of the league.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with communication departments throughout MW.

General Management
- Demonstrates understanding of the Mountain West Conference’s core values of collaboration, inclusion and equity, innovation, integrity, personal growth, and performance.
- Working knowledge of Division I intercollegiate athletics, the MW, and its institutions’ programs and/or higher education.
- Acts with member institutions in mind and is dedicated to promoting the academic missions of member institutions.
- Leads and facilitates group meetings.
- Organizes teams to problem solve and execute agreed upon resolution.
- Able to exercise sound judgment to handle sensitive and confidential information/material with discretion.
- Recognizes and escalates complex problems and issues with proposed solutions.

Staff Management
- Provide daily oversight and direction for Associate and Assistant Directors, Strategic Communications and Manager, Digital and Social Media.
- Participate in selecting and evaluating staff, ensuring efficient operations internally and externally.
- Participate in setting expectations and providing feedback.
- Provide direction to individual contributors and independent contractors.
- Communicate effectively, upwards and downwards, within the organizational structure.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in public relations, technical journalism, mass communications or related field.
- Minimum of eight (8) years of experience (10 years preferred) of full-time experience at a college, university, conference, or professional sports franchise involving media or public relations.
- Excellent written, oral, social media, and interpersonal and organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong and diplomatic communication skills and solid decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to multi-task in a high-paced, deadline-driven environment. Familiarity with Associated Press style.
- Knowledge of maintaining and overseeing official online and social media channels for assigned sports. Experience with and knowledge of existing social media platforms and emerging channels are required.
- Ability to work non-traditional hours (weekends, weekdays, nights, and holidays).
- Aptitude to research and analyze statistical data; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of constituents, including student-athletes, coaches, university and athletic administrators, and members of the media.
- Familiarity with Conference office operations will be highly valued.

About Mountain West

From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the Mountain West continues cultivating opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. Now in its 24th season, the MW has been assertive in its involvement with the NCAA governance structure and has taken a leadership role in the overall administration of intercollegiate athletics. The Mountain West membership is comprised of 11 all-sport members: the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State University, UNLV, Utah State University and University of Wyoming. In addition, the University of Hawai‘i and Colorado College participate in the Mountain West as single-sport members in football and women’s soccer, respectively.

Connections working at Mountain West