Position: Director, Team Communications
Reports to: Sr. Director, Communications
Location: Columbus, Dallas, DC, Louisville, or Orlando (Hybrid)
ABOUT THE ROLE
Shape the stories that define our teams-turning football, players, and community stories into media moments that grow visibility, command attention and move the brand forward. The Director, Team Communications will be responsible for developing and implementing football and business communications and media relations strategy on a local and regional level for two UFL teams. The Director will proactively cultivate relationships with the media and local influencers that drive opportunities to increase league, team and player visibility in their respective markets. He/she will leverage consumer and trade communications, public relations and marketing initiatives across all media, digital and social platforms.
This role will be critical in ensuring our teams are building their visibility and affinity in the market and growing their fan bases. The Director will collaborate with Team and League staff to align on business priorities and cross-functional initiatives, partnering closely with Marketing, Ticket Sales, Sponsorship, Social Media and other verticals. This position will sit in one of the following markets - Columbus, DC, Dallas, Louisville, Orlando but will be responsible for a second market to be determined.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Integrated Communications & Media Relations
- Create and execute earned media strategies that elevate the team's visibility, its leadership position, and its revenue generating capabilities.
- Build and foster positive relationships with local, regional and national media outlets to position the team as a valuable business and community relations vehicle.
- Act as the primary liaison for players, coaches and the football staff with media and other business functions.
- Support local communications surrounding League football initiatives including the UFL Showcase, UFL Draft, training camp, schedule release, awards program, playoffs, championship and UFL pro football development.
- Identify business and football storylines that position coaches, players, team executives and the organization positively in the public eye.
- Collaborate with the partnership and marketing teams to integrate football and business communications into partner activations and branded campaigns.
- Work closely with all business functions to coordinate consistent, on-brand messaging that creates engagement with the community and relevant stakeholders/constituents
- Support corporate initiatives and events where football presence or player participation enhances brand and business outcomes.
- Identify human interest related storylines to garner local and national media attention.
- Develop and distribute all football-related press materials.
- Leverage UFL programs, current events, players, fans, employees, community, philanthropy and special events to develop opportunities for storytelling.
- Monitor daily media coverage in print, radio, television and social media channels, while preparing recurring market communications report highlighting performance, emerging issues, story opportunities, to keep league and departmental team informed on a timely basis with consistent reporting practices.
Marketing, Digital & Content
- Support the Brand functions to drive the UFL and team brands through consistent and clear messaging across local and regional consumer, trade media, and corporate marketing/communications plans.
- Explore, evaluate and act upon multiple strategies in support of marketing programs to increase the UFL's fan base and viewership.
- Create content for digital and social platforms in coordination with creative and marketing teams.
- Provide direction on football storytelling, player features, and community content to strengthen fan connection and drive engagement.
- Develop and maintain a local editorial calendar aligned with League communications priorities, ensuring coordinated promotion of football, business, community and League initiatives throughout the season.
Player, Coach and Community Engagement
- Work closely with local teams, marketing and community relations teammates to design and execute community programs and activations that align with the team's brand and mission.
- Collaborate with marketing to partner players and coaches with local organizations, youth programs, and charitable initiatives to build brand growth and build fan base.
- Pitch stories about team involvement in the local community that generate positive earned media and deepen fan engagement.
- Represent the team at local community events, serving as a connector between players, staff, and business partners.
- Cultivate relationships with local influencers, youth football organizations, civic leaders and community partners to expand the team's visibility and community impact.
Game Day Media Operations
- Coordinate media access to players and coaches in alignment with team and league policies.
- Support Football Communications in educating local media on League rules, football innovations, officiating initiatives and competition updates as appropriate.
- Support broadcast partners with player storylines, team community activations, production information, and interview coordination.
- Manage gameday communications, including media credentialing, press box operations, statistics distribution, and postgame press conferences.
- Prepare game day credential requests, media kits, presentations, and other material as required
- Write, develop, produce, and distribute accurate team materials, player bios, game notes, weekly updates, statistics/records, media guide, and all other communications collateral necessary for game day, while supporting for further use
- Oversee press box and game day media operations while servicing the home and visiting media and supervise game day staff of statisticians, runners and interns
- Manage game day player appearances and media interviews and/or photo shoots
OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING
- Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field required.
- 8+ years of experience working in Corporate/ Marketing Communications, Public Relations or Marketing roles with specific experience in the sports, media and/or entertainment industries.
- Knowledge of football and experience in football communications is preferred.
- Experience developing integrated communications plans that support football operations, business priorities and community engagement.
- Strong knowledge of the local sports entertainment and media landscape.
- Knowledge of pop culture and trends with the ability to bring them to marketing campaigns and promotional plans.
- Proven ability to execute a strategic marketing and communications plan aimed at growth and closely aligned with the company's goals and vision.
- Solid relationships with relevant media contacts across all mediums.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills including ability to take creative approaches to internal and external marketing and communications platforms.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented with excellent project management skills while exercising flexibility and adaptability to change.
- A self-starter, energetic and resilient leader with enthusiasm and determination to ensure consistent achievement of deliverables, timelines and objectives across multiple stakeholders.
- Team player who can think outside the box and work across all essential team and league verticals (Marketing, Ticketing, Partnerships, Community Relations, Football Operations, etc.).
- Creative strategist and proactive communicator.
- Strong relationship builder with media, partners, and community stakeholders as well as team and league executives.
- Experience utilizing communications measurement, media monitoring and reporting to inform communications strategy and demonstrate performance.
- Detail-oriented execution with a team-first mindset.
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships across Football Operations, Marketing, Partnerships, Ticket Sales, Community Relations and League leadership while balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced sports environment.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
- The location of this role must be in one of the following markets: Columbus, OH; Washington DC; Dallas, TX; Louisville, KY or Orlando, FL.
- This role works in a hybrid environment, with an expectation of in-office collaboration 2-3 days per week.
- Moderate travel (30% travel); will be required to travel to market events.
- Must attend all team home games for the respective markets you are leading (unless they are playing on the same day) and will be required to attend select games and events in other UFL team markets.
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule inclusive of weekends, nights, and holidays required.
- Must be able to lift 25+ pounds at times.
- Other duties as assigned by the Sr. Director, Communications.
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $125,000. This role is eligible for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life insurance, a 401(k) plan, unlimited PTO and offers a discretionary bonus. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.
