Position Summary
The Senior Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communication is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing communications, promotions, fan experience, and revenue-generating efforts, resources, and programs in support of LMU Athletics. This individual sets the strategic direction and vision for Athletics marketing and communications and leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals responsible for execution. The role provides executive counsel, advice, and thought partnership to the Athletics Director, Athletics leaders, and senior leaders in MarComm while ensuring seamless alignment and integration between the university’s MarComm policies and direction and the strategies, tactics, deliverables, and outcomes from the LMU Athletics MarComm team that they oversee. The incumbent mobilizes and professionalizes assigned resources to deliver compelling, memorable, engaging communications and marketing products that accomplish university and Athletics quarterly and annual objectives. The Senior Associate AD inspires and ensures excellence, tracks key performance indicators of progress, and manages team dynamics characterized by accountability, creativity, and ambitious goal setting to achieve goals that support a nationally esteemed Athletics organization within the context of LMU’s mission, identity, and brand.
Position Specific Responsibilities/Accountabilities
- Provide strategic leadership for all Athletics marketing, branding, and communications efforts, ensuring alignment with institutional identity, reputation goals, and revenue-generating priorities.
- Develop and execute data-informed, integrated marketing and communications plans that elevate LMU Athletics’ visibility, drive fan engagement, and support departmental objectives through clear benchmarks and KPIs.
- Serve as the principal convener between Athletics and the university’s Marketing, Communications, and External Relations leadership, facilitating executive coordination, shared planning, and alignment across priorities.
- Shape and oversee sophisticated storytelling and promotional strategies that showcase LMU Athletics’ competitive success, student-athlete achievements, and commitment to values-based collegiate athletics.
- Lead and mentor a high-performing team of marketing and sports information professionals, fostering collaboration, professional development, and operational excellence across functions.
- Ensure all Athletics marketing and communications efforts adhere to university-wide standards and policies, including brand guidelines, accessibility requirements, and institutional voice and tone.
- Advise on the planning and deployment of Athletics marketing and communications resources, supporting strategic alignment and effective use of available budgets.
- Serve as a strategic partner to the university’s central Communications and Marketing teams to align Athletics messaging, brand expression, campaign planning, and audience engagement strategies with institutional standards, enterprise objectives, and shared research insights—while ensuring coordinated execution across proactive initiatives and responsive communications.
- Collaborate closely with Athletics leadership on strategic initiatives, supporting priorities such as ticketing, fan experience, and external partnerships through coordinated communications.
- Steward key relationships with institutional leaders, media, sponsors, broadcast partners, and conference affiliates to amplify Athletics’ visibility and advance key objectives.
- Oversee compliance with NCAA regulations and university policies related to marketing, promotion, and communications activities, particularly in areas involving student-athletes and recruitment.
- Identify and implement forward-looking strategies that leverage emerging technologies, digital platforms, and data insights to increase reach, relevance, and audience engagement.
- Represent LMU Athletics at university-wide leadership forums, committees, and events as required.
- Perform additional senior-level duties as assigned.
Loyola Marymount University Expectations
Exhibit behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the university. Communicate and employ interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct. Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service.
The incumbent must have the ability to supervise creative, communications, and technical personnel and manage complex projects with dependencies, deadlines, budgets, and outside resources. The incumbent must possess the ability to implement marketing and communication principles and strategies in the execution of a variety of communications and promotional products. The incumbent must be able to assess the needs of internal clients and suggest appropriate measures to meet those needs. The incumbent is able to work effectively and independently with internal and external constituencies and can operate in an environment where skilled relationship management and consensus-building are required to deliver successful outcomes.
NCAA, Conference, and University Rules Compliance
Conduct all responsibilities in accordance with NCAA, West Coast Conference, and LMU policies and procedures:
- Conduct all aspects of program in accordance with the rules and policies established by Loyola Marymount University, the Athletics Department, all Sports Conference Affiliations, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Complete all rules compliance information as required.
- Participate in an annual evaluation of adherence to rules compliance (LMU, Athletic Department, Sports Conference Affiliations, NCAA).
- Conduct evaluation of adherence to rules compliance (LMU, Athletic Department, Sports Conference Affiliations, NCAA) with all assigned personnel on an annual basis.
Reporting Structure
The Senior Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Communications works closely with and as an executive partner to the LMU Athletic Director, supervising team members, budgets, strategies, and priorities within LMU Athletics. As part of a cross-functional, matrixed organization, this leadership position reports to Marketing, Communications, and External Relations, assigned to and embedded within LMU Athletics, ensures synchronicity and alignment with university policies, practices, and standards. A primary measure of the position’s successful tenure is the incumbent’s capacity to ensure that these organizations remain mutually supportive and unified in their priorities, outlook, and operations.
Requisite Qualifications
- Typically a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, sports management, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
- Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in athletics marketing, communications, or sports information, preferably within an NCAA Division I context.
- Minimum 5 years of experience supervising full-time staff and managing cross-functional teams at the Associate Athletic Director level or above, with demonstrated outcomes and institutional impact.
- Demonstrated success in developing and implementing integrated marketing and communication strategies that drive audience growth, engagement, and visibility.
- Proven leadership in brand management, digital marketing, campaign strategy, game day operations, and content production across traditional and emerging platforms.
- Deep familiarity with NCAA rules and university policy compliance, particularly related to student-athlete promotion, communications, and recruitment.
- Experience advising on budget planning and resource alignment in a complex, high-profile environment.
- Strong collaboration and partnership skills; ability to work effectively with central Communications teams on media relations, crisis response, and coordinated messaging.
- Exceptional writing, editing, interpersonal, and executive communication skills.
- Proven ability to balance competing priorities, foster a high-performing team culture, and deliver results in fast-paced, mission-driven settings.
- Strong analytical skills; ability to interpret performance data, manage budgets, and drive continuous improvement.
- Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays in support of Athletics programming and high-profile events.
Salary range
$135,000.00 - $140,000.00 Salary commensurate with education and experience.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position.
Staff Regular
Salary range
$100,100.00 - $135,100.00 Salary commensurate with education and experience.
Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Loyola Marymount University, a Carnegie classified R2 institution in the mainstream of American Catholic higher education, seeks outstanding applicants who value its mission and share its commitment to inclusive excellence, the education of the whole person, and the building of a just society. LMU is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment as defined by federal, state and local law. We invite all persons in the full diversity of their being, life experience, and beliefs to apply. (Visit www.lmu.edu for more information.)
Read Full Description