DESCRIPTION

UC San Diego Athletics sponsors a broad-based program of 23 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports, with approximately 600 student-athletes. It promotes the pursuit of excellence, strength of character, teamwork, ethical conduct, and diversity, and is inextricably linked to the educational mission of the University.

UC San Diego Athletics has a proud tradition of academic and athletic excellence, sponsors 23 varsity sports, and is in transition to NCAA Division I as a member of the Big West Conference.

A premiere NCAA athletics program, our vision encompasses: setting the standard in all aspects of competitive success, academic excellence, ethical conduct, student-athlete experience, campus pride, the development and retention of coaches and staff, and the establishment of lifelong relationships. Athletics enhances campus, alumni, and community pride while fostering collaborations that increase our profile and visibility throughout the region.

UC San Diego sponsors 23 intercollegiate sport programs that currently compete in the Big West Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Western Water Polo Association, Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association.

As of fall 2020 all Triton athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division I level, with the exception of the men's volleyball, men's and women's water polo, and men's and women's fencing programs, which compete at the NCAA "National Collegiate" level. Men's rowing is not sanctioned by the NCAA and competes as a member of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association.During its recently-concluded 20-year affiliation with NCAA Division II, UC San Diego consistently ranked as one of the most successful athletic programs in the nation, ranking among the top 10 nationally in the Learfield/IMG College Directors' Cup in 20 of the last 25 years - five of which were Division III. The program claimed the Director's Cup title as a member of Division III in 1998 and finished as runner-up three times while in Division II, including 2018-19.

UC San Diego intercollegiate athletic programs have claimed 30 NCAA national championships in team sports, while 44 have finished as national runners-up and 49 achieved 3rd-place honors. Individually, 138 Triton scholar-athletes have earned national titles. All told, UC San Diego has won 276 national, regional, and conference championships.The most recent NCAA report indicates scholar-athletes at UC San Diego own a 4-class average graduation rate of 90 percent, the highest among Division II institutions and sixth among all institutions in Divisions I and II.

Triton scholar-athletes have earned an impressive 1,389 All-America honors for athletics achievement over the years, while 82 have been named to Academic All-America teams and 37 have been awarded prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.During its time as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, UC San Diego claimed eight Robert J. Heigert Commissioner's Cup titles, including the 2018-19 season. The award is given to the CCAA member institution with the highest aggregate ranking in eight of the league's 13 championship sports.

The 23-sport athletics program is subject to NCAA regulations and must demonstrate compliance to Title IX which is recorded in the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) annual report to the Department of Education.

The Intercollegiate Athletics program includes multiple funds with an annual operating budget of $23 million. It has a large staff personnel program (86 full-time Career Staff, 140 part-time staff, 100 student employees and 60 volunteers). Facilities used by athletic administrators, coaches and teams are at RIMAC, the Main Gym, Spanos Athletic Performance Center, Canyonview Pool, north campus Softball/Soccer fields and Tennis courts, east campus Baseball fields, Warren Athletic Training Room, and the Coggeshall Boathouse in Mission Bay.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting directly to the Associate Athletic Director for Creative Services and Broadcast Operations, the Social Media Strategist creates and implements a comprehensive strategy for @ucsdtritons social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube), and participates in the implementation of individual team related accounts to promote and protect the UC San Diego athletics brand and to maximize interest, drive attendance, create affinity and revenue opportunities and increase campus engagement. Working collaboratively with athletics staff, the incumbent plans and develops content to nurture and grow our social media channels.

The Strategist is responsible for the daily posting of news, content, and campaigns on @ucsdtritons main accounts and maintains a cross-channel content calendar to post the right content at the right time to maximize interaction and engagement. Builds and nurtures online communities, actively engages with users, identifies brand advocates/influencers, and implements processes and procedures to regularly test, measure and improve digital engagement. The Strategist is a seasoned expert when it comes to the latest social platforms, tools, and technologies. They drive organization-wide social media efforts, stay on the leading edge of trends and technologies, and advocate for new approaches that advance the department and its goals. Serves as a strong facilitator and liaison to ensure alignment with and advance the institutional mission and goals.

The incumbent will follow operating philosophies consistent with that of UC San Diego, the Athletic Department, the NCAA, and all related governing organizations, and maintain a deep commitment to diversity in all of its forms. Triton Athletics promotes the pursuit of excellence, the strength of character, teamwork, ethical conduct, and diversity and is inextricably linked to the educational mission of the University.

• Work schedule will include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Must be able to travel to out-of-town meetings and athletic competitions.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of design and user experience, including skill to design in an appealing, lively and relevant way. Knowledge and proficiency in digital media content creation and administration. Thorough knowledge/understanding of current sports design tactics and industry best practices. Experience creating content for both wide and segmented audiences to help increase attendance and revenue, as well as enhance the fan experience and game day atmosphere for home contests. Keen knowledge of digital media trends and best practices.

• Thorough understanding of technical language and requirements of the assigned work. Extensive skills in audience targeting and paid promotion of digital media posts.

• Thorough knowledge of content management systems and / or relevant web applications used for web production and organization-specific computer application programs. Demonstrated skills in utilizing social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., and strategies to leverage these channels.

• Strong skills to create clear, easy-to-navigate, informative, accurate, well-designed, and functional web sites that provide web content consistent with the organization's message and in keeping with management directives and client objectives. Experience assessing digital media performance. Ability to draw insight from data and communicate recommendations to management. Demonstrated ability to convey technical information and provide guidelines in a clear and professional manner, using diplomacy, tact and discretion in all interactions.

• Thorough understanding of organization's processes, procedures, and applicable rules and regulations for web communications. In-depth understanding of maintaining brand equity and demonstrated ability to adhere to brand guidelines. Knowledge of effective storytelling principles and ability to write succinct, evocative and engaging digital media posts.

• Strong technical skills in computer applications for web production, image handling, publishing and design, illustration, presentation preparation, animation, web interaction, and / or other state-of-the-art web communication capabilities. Knowledge of content management systems and/or relevant web applications used for web production and organization-specific computer application programs. Experience with Outlook, Canva, Sprout Social, and other business and digital media tools and other business and digital media tools.

• In-depth technical skills in computer applications for web production, image handling, publishing and design, illustration, presentation preparation, animation, web interaction, and / or other state-of-the-art web communication capabilities. Experience in photo, graphic, and video production and publishing.

• Proven skills to develop and implement original ideas and correctly identify and effectively solve problems. Problem-solving skills; multi-task, work with frequent interruptions, and effective listener. Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects and deadlines in a fast paced environment. Ability to identify and implement methods, procedures, and policies. Ability to use good judgment for problem solving.

• Demonstrated supervisory skills, including the ability to train, motivate, and evaluate student employees, interns and volunteers; to delegate tasks; to schedule sufficient staffing for simultaneous athletic events based on knowledge of all schedules and the needs for sporting events.

• Effective interpersonal skills including assertiveness, tact, flexibility, attentive/reflective listening, respectfulness, diplomacy, flexibility and patience. Ability to interact effectively with individuals across the range of academic and professional backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, cultures and other personal factors, both inside and outside the organization. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to provide information with content that is concise and appropriate for the intended audience. Ability to maintain composure while under the stress, pressure and time-sensitive demands of the job.

• Demonstrated the ability to follow the athletic philosophy consistent with that of the UC San Diego Athletic Department and NCAA, and a commitment to diversity in all of its forms.

• Knowledge and strong interest in college athletics, game production, social media, and digital marketing.

• Must maintain current knowledge of applicable rules and standards of the affiliated athletic conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as well as other associations and agencies to which the campus adheres, and, at all times avoid any and all violations of these rules and standards. Understanding and adherence to all Big West Conference and NCAA rules and regulations.

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training with a college-level program.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

• Valid Driver's License required. May participate in the DMV Pull program and maintain a clean DMV record.

• This position is a mandated reporter of known or suspected child abuse or neglect, according to the California law, Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).

• This position is a campus security authority (CSA) for the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which is a federal law requiring disclosure of information about crimes on and around campus.