Job Summary
The Sports Information Director (SID) is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive athletics communications program that supports college branding and marketing initiatives. The SID’s work focuses primarily on publicizing and promoting the athletics program and student-athletes at LaGrange College, helping create an environment that is conducive to effective recruitment and fundraising. His/her communications program will include maintaining and enhancing the athletics website, writing feature stories and news releases, responding to and coordinating with media outlets, directing the creation of pre-season publicity and programs, contributing to other college publications, providing photography, directing the reporting of statistical information, overseeing sports social media channels and game streaming, and handling other duties as assigned.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the SID operates in a team environment and will have regular interaction with the Athletic Director, coaches, students, faculty, staff, media representatives, parents and visitors. Such interactions will have a significant effect on the perceived image of the college.

Job Duties (but not limited to):

• Maintaining and enhancing the athletics website: This site is maintained and edited by the SID and his/her staff. It will promote all intercollegiate athletics teams, with emphasis on current news, scores and feature material.
• Writing feature stories and game releases: The SID ensures that athletics information is available to the public in a timely and effective manner. This will include producing feature stories and news releases for distribution to media outlets and the Web. Contact with coaches will help provide insight into and direction for these stories.
• Overseeing sports social media channels and game streaming: The SID directs the information shared on official sports social media channels, with an eye toward engaging and lively content. He/she also manages the streaming of college athletic contests, using a team of staff and volunteers.
• Contributing to other college publications: Athletic stories are included in each issue of the college magazine and the weekly e-newsletter. The SID will supply both written and photographic support for these entries.
• Providing photography: The SID is responsible for seeing that the photographs needed to properly market the athletics function are captured. This will involve both taking photographs personally and assigning or contracting the responsibility to others.
• Directing the reporting of some statistical information: The SID ensures that necessary individual and team statistical data for college teams and their opponents are gathered and disseminated as needed by developing and managing a program utilizing coaches, staff members and student interns. This program will include the assigning of scorekeepers, clock keepers and announcers for home contests.
• Creating pre-season publicity: The SID works directly with the coaching staff on previews and other pre-season information to ensure proper promotion of each sport. For certain sports, this pre-season work can include the creation of printed programs and media guides.
• Assisting with events: The SID will help with the planning, coordination and managing of events including press conferences, athletic luncheons and banquets.
• Building media relations: The SID will work to publicize the college’s athletics program by developing and maintaining close contact with regional media and those who cover Troup County sports. He/she will initiate conversations, respond to press queries, coordinate the media’s onsite needs, and organize press conferences and players’ and coaches’ interviews.
• Overseeing game-day responsibilities: The SID manages the press box and scorer’s table for all home games, including the statistics crew, addresses problems of the media and press box crew, and screens all music and public service announcements.
• Managing photography: The SID organizes and supervises photo sessions for all sports to provide head shots of athletes and posed action shots.
• Handling other duties as assigned: The SID contributes to the overall success of the college and the Communications and Marketing and Athletics departments by performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing and Director of Athletics.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably with a concentration in communications, journalism, or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to write clearly and effectively, following Associated Press style and other dictated styles; ability to write creatively and persuasively
• Ability to recognize correct grammar, punctuation, and style. Ability to shape his/her own and others’ work to fit the desired style
• Ability to gather and organize relevant information through interviews, electronic, and paper sources and other resources
• Ability to capture quality images, employing knowledge of proper composition and technical aspects of photography
• Ability to manage several tasks at once; ability to prioritize tasks to ensure goals are achieved and deadlines are met
• Ability to relate well to other people in person, over the telephone and through written correspondence; ability to work well with a team
• Excellent computer skills and ability to utilize web content and social media software; knowledge of Microsoft Office and InDesign programs
• Well-rounded knowledge of individual sports and college athletics in general
• Ability to travel and work a flexible schedule