Associate Athletic Director - Marketing & Fan Engagement

Associate Athletic Director - Marketing & Fan Engagement

Division of Intercollegiate Athletics

Job Summary

Duties & Responsibilities

• Senior Staff Strategic Leadership • Be an active member on DIA’s Senior Leadership Staff, engaging in critical group think, committee work and completing special projects; • Serve as a senior advisor to the executive staff on all fan development initiatives; • Through tireless collaboration, create a unified environment encompassing all DIA units to appropriately demonstrate DIA’s commitment to a life changing student-athlete experience; • Demand a championship mindset from staff focused on integrity, individual contribution and accountability, collaboration, and competitive urgency; • Serve as a visible, positive ambassador for University of Illinois and DIA in all public-facing responsibilities, creating stronger partnerships with our various communities (local, regional, state, campus, and industry-specific) • Provide strategic leadership and supervision to assigned staff by fostering professional growth, setting clear performance expectations, promoting accountability, and cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement; • Collaborate across all levels of DIA to build strong partnerships, align departmental priorities, facilitate effective communication, and drive cross-functional initiatives that advance the Division's strategic goals and enhance the student-athlete experience
• Marketing and Fan Engagement Administration
  • Supervise a marketing staff of full-time employees and the strategic plans associated with all 21 sports in the Illinois Athletics Department;
  • Manage the marketing and promotions for football, including all advertising and messaging strategy for sales of tickets and attendance growth. Responsible for the revenue generation of Illinois football and the required budgetary goals and milestones.
  • Oversee the department’s digital advertising revenue generation strategy, including but not limited to email campaigns, website, mobile app, mass texting, and social media paid inventory.
  • Serve as primary liaison with Paciolan, Illinois’ ticketing partner and the Illinois ticket office.
  • Manage the day-to day fan engagement for football, including but not limited to gameday promotions, script creation and game presentation. Oversee programs that develop fan engagement outside sporting events – Illini Tours, Kids Club, student programming, and rewards programs.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Required: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications, public relations, or a closely related field. Experience: Required: A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in college or professional athletics marketing, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree preferred
Experience:
Preferred: Seven (7) years’ experience in college or professional athletics marketing or related field.
Experience working with variety of gameday stakeholders including music operators, band, spirit teams, performers, pyrotechnics, lights, sponsorship activations and more. Experience with email marketing and digital advertising

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Maintain knowledge of, and compliance with, specific NCAA, Big Ten Conference, and institution rules that relate to this position is required.
• Championship Mindset and Expectations Understands and displays professionalism and integrity that builds and maintains trust between student-athletes and fellow DIA staff; Prioritizes and contributes to the life changing student-athlete experience; Adheres to University, DIA, Big Ten, and NCAA rules and regulations; Commitment to the Athletics Department and University’s mission and values; Flexible to various scheduling to include nights, weekend work and some holidays, team travel; and Maint