Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

August 30, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

1281-YN_ADMINPRO - Public Relations/Communication Coordinator

Business Title:

Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

As the Assistant Director, Athletic Communications you are responsible for developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies for assigned varsity sport programs that advance the mission, visibility, and strategic priorities of Washington State University Athletics. Serving as the primary communications contact for assigned sports, you will develop integrated storytelling campaigns, manage media relations, and collaborate across Athletic Communications, Marketing, Creative Services, Digital Strategy, NIL, Development, and external partners to elevate the Cougar brand and enhance the student-athlete experience.

You will work under the direction of the Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Communications, your role provides strategic communications counsel to coaches and administrators, develops compelling content across multiple platforms, manages earned media opportunities, and supports department-wide communications initiatives, championship communications, and crisis communications efforts. Your role will require exceptional project management, collaboration, creativity, and the ability to execute communication strategies in a fast-paced Division I athletics environment.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime-eligible.

Monthly Salary: $4,508.70 - $4,583.34 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, marketing or other relevant field AND either two (2) years of professional experience in print OR broadcast news media, public relations, marketing including the use of electronic media or two (2) years of other relevant professional experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

• Strong creative, conceptualization, communications, public relations, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrated project management skills.

• Strong planning, organization, and time management skills.

• Excellent written/oral communication skills.

• Demonstrated editing and proofreading skills.

• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite applications including Word, Outlook, and Excel programs; Adobe Creative Suite experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Sport Management, or related field.

• Two (2) or more years of Division I Athletics Communications experience in a full-time or part-time capacity.

• Demonstrated experience developing integrated communications strategies and digital storytelling campaigns.

• Experience working collaboratively with Marketing, Creative Services, Digital Media, NIL, and Development.

• Experience supporting NCAA Championship and Conference Championship events.

• Experience in crisis communications, reputation management, and executive communications.

• Experience utilizing web content management systems, social media analytics, and media monitoring platforms.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

About Department - https://wsucougars.com/

Area/College: Athletics, Intercollegiate
Department Name: Athletics Communications
Location: Pullman, WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume
2) Cover Letter

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/