College Sports Communicators (CSC) is seeking a proven and innovative leader with passion for the college sports communications and content creation industry to serve as its next Executive Director.

This individual will be responsible for strategically building on CSC’s mission to elevate the value of strategic, creative and digital communicators to leaders in college sports across all divisions in the United States and Canada.

CSC’s signature work includes the annual CSC Unite convention, and the administration of the prestigious Academic All-America® program and Hall of Fame. CSC provides year-round leadership, professional development, recognition and advocacy for its more than 4,400 members.

The Executive Director reports to the CSC Executive Board of Directors, leads a full-time staff and guides the not-for-profit organization whose mission is to educate, advocate and communicate with and for the intercollegiate athletics community. It is our mission to engage and empower members, develop exceptional leaders, and promote and enhance our profession. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Lead the implementation of programs, association philosophies and financial initiatives that align with the priorities of CSC’s constitution, Executive Board of Directors and other organizational leaders.
• Provide leadership and influence to everyone who serves in a college sports communications role, including traditional sports communicators, content creators, senior administrators, students, and others within the overall scope of collegiate athletics.
• Act as the main spokesperson for the association and its members on issues of national importance.
• Advance and champion the collective ideas and build alignment across the organization related to communications-based issues and programs of members and stakeholders

Innovation, Vision & Strategy

• In partnership with the executive board and staff, align the organization around a compelling vision, core values and brand strategy for the future, one that we can rally stakeholders, partners and sponsors around to secure human and financial resources to support our work.
• Identify emerging communications trends and develop educational resources that both inform and support CSC membership.
• Grow resources in support of the Academic All-America® core program and Hall of Fame.
• Develop goals, strategies and tactics on an annual basis to support executive board priorities.
• Create an external engagement strategy and plan to ensure CSC is represented and engaged at key events throughout the year.

Management

• Build, lead and retain an effective and inclusive staff dedicated to the mission and with the requisite skills to be successful in their work, operating in a remote setting.
• Establish effective decision making at all levels to ensure that voices are heard and that short and long term goals are met.
• Understanding of the legal framework of managing and doing business as a not-for-profit association.
• Manage a corporate partner program and build alliances with sponsors, stakeholders and donors to ensure financial stability and advancement of CSC’s mission.
• Provide financial management and demonstrate competence in reading, creating and understanding financial documents including budgets, income statements and investment strategies.
• Build, cultivate and nurture a true partnership with the Executive Board of Directors built on mutual respect and trust.
• Provide the Executive Board of Directors with the resources, information and training necessary to fulfill their duties and to be organizational ambassadors

Impact

• Strengthen partnerships with national governing bodies representing collegiate athletics.
• Advocate for CSC and its membership in the field of intercollegiate athletics.
• Lead the development and implementation of programs that embrace equality and an inclusive environment throughout the organizational leadership structure, and throughout the athletic communications and creative profession.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Our ideal candidate will provide leadership and strategic insights to our work through the following skills and characteristics:

• A belief in the value of all communicators and the value our members provide to their campuses, conferences and college sports overall.
• Compelling communicator and storyteller, with strong knowledge of current communication practices, strategies and technologies as they apply to collegiate athletics.
• Has experience as a traditional communicator, creative content communicator, or both, and is a champion of creating synergies between all types of communication roles.
• Has experience in association management or with not-for-profit boards.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Committed to building and modeling an inclusive culture.

• Experience in leading, coaching, developing and evaluating an organizational staff utilizing training, appraising performance, problem-solving, team leadership and situational conflict resolution.
• Demonstrates strong organizational and leadership proficiency in managing a full-time staff, engaging diverse membership constituencies and consensus building.
• Skilled at problem-solving, collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Experience in convention and/or event management.

REQUIREMENTS

• A bachelor’s degree as well as a minimum of 10 years full-time experience within association management and/or intercollegiate athletics or related fields; experience in sports communications is helpful but not mandatory.
• The ability to travel regionally and nationally.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This full-time position will offer a competitive salary and attractive benefits package. The Executive Director will work from a home office setting, with oversight of four full-time staff persons at additional locations. The position will report directly to the CSC Executive Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives.

ABOUT CSC

CSC is a 4,400-plus member organization of strategic communicators within intercollegiate athletics at institutions in the United States and Canada, led by an Executive Board of Directors. The CSC membership is federated into NCAA divisional, NAIA, Canadian and two-year college components, which are represented in tiered and Board membership. CSC holds an annual convention in conjunction with NACDA, and conducts year-round continuing education, Academic All-America and related programs.

TO APPLY

Applicants should apply and electronically submit a cover letter, resume/vitae, a maximum of four references any additional supporting information in PDF format via the form at CollegeSportsCommunicators.com/EDsearch by October 26, 2024.

INCLUSION STATEMENT

CSC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or genetic information.