Athletics Communications Specialist, West Plains
Missouri State University
Posting Details Position Information Position Title Athletics Communications Specialist, West Plains Work Location West Plains Campus Department West Plains Athletics HR Home Department 040500 WP ATHLETICS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Pay Grade 41 Proposed Salary $19.23 hourly Sponsorship Information Applicants must be currently authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States on a full-time basis. This position is not eligible for work visa sponsorship. Position only available to current, regular, full-time Missouri State University employees? No, Position is available to all applicants. Appointment Type Full Time Regular Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt General Function The Athletics Communications Specialist – West Plains is responsible for providing information to the public on specific and assigned intercollegiate athletics programs, assists the Director of Athletics – West Plains with public relations activities within intercollegiate athletics, and serves as a liaison between intercollegiate athletics and the media as required. The Athletics Communications Specialist – West Plains assists in the development and distribution of various publications for intercollegiate athletic programs, helps develop and maintain an effective presence with web and social media, and implements marketing, public relations, and promotional efforts in support of Grizzly Athletics. Description of Primary Duties ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensures that information about the Campus’s intercollegiate athletics programs is available to the public in a timely and effective manner by assisting in the planning, development, and execution of a comprehensive program of sports coverage which focuses on both competitive and non-competitive activities and includes information on student-athletes and teams in the University’s intercollegiate athletics program.
2. Expands the opportunities for publicizing the University’s intercollegiate athletics program by serving as a liaison between the University and the media, responding to requests from the media, as directed by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications and the Director of Athletics – West Plains, for information regarding individuals and teams, initiating communications, as appropriate, with the media and providing information which could result in additional coverage of athletics, and coordinating media needs and reporting functions for assigned events so that material for publication or broadcast is available as desired.
3. Works with event coverage and promotion by performing duties as assigned in game analysis commentary on radio and/or television game broadcasts as well as streaming equipment for University athletic events.
4. Provides a comprehensive package of materials for public dissemination by assisting in the planning, development, and distribution of publications for men’s and women’s sports, including game-day programs for each sport which contain schedules, rosters, statistics, results, records, season outlook, and/or sketches on individual student-athletes, individual event programs containing an update of the material published in the respective media guides, schedule cards, schedule posters, ticket flyers, newsletters, alumni publications, special event publications, and other materials as needed.
5. Assists with a comprehensive and timely presence on the internet, including social media, for Grizzly Athletics programs.
6. Ensures that necessary individual and team statistical data for University teams and their opponents are gathered and reported on Presto as required by NJCAA, by communicating with sport coaching staff members, as necessary, for those competitive events which occur on or away from campus.
7. Assists in the maintenance of a close and effective working relationship between the coaches and other staff personnel within intercollegiate athletics by establishing priorities for completion of tasks in a wide variety of areas.
8. Promotes a positive image of the University by responding to inquiries and requests for materials from individuals and organizations, formulating replies or providing materials appropriate and consistent with University policies and guidelines presented in a manner favorable to the University, and serving as a spokesperson for the University on athletics related matters under the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications and the Director of Athletics – West Plains.
9. Promotes a positive image of the University through maintaining credible relations with various news media and other collegiate athletics communications offices.
10. Abides by and complies with National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the NJCAA Region 16, and National Junior College Athletics Association Esports (NJCAAE) as well as the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and NIRA Ozark Region rules, academic standards, requirements, and policies of the University, and all guidelines and policies of the Athletics department and reports any concerns of compromise or violation of rules, standards, guidelines or policies to the Director of Athletics – West Plains or the Associate Vice-Chancellor for Athletics and Community Engagement.
11. Maintains competency and professional currency through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as directed by the Director of Athletics.
12. Contributes to the overall success of Grizzly Athletics by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned. Minimum Acceptable Qualifications Education: An associate’s degree is required, with an emphasis in English, Business, Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations preferred.
Experience: At least one year of experience in a position performing related communications work; may include cumulative work experience as a graduate assistant, intern, or student assistant, preferably in athletics communication at the college level. An understanding of and experience with the web and social media is required. Experience in printing and publication design, and knowledge of radio and television sports broadcasting is preferred.
Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills, and effective interpersonal skills are required. Computer literacy, particularly in word processing, websites (Presto or similar), is required. Established sports journalism skills, particularly in the intercollegiate area, are preferred.
Effort: Frequently required to lift and carry equipment and materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
Other: The scope of the position frequently requires extended workdays and work weeks, including weekends, and may include overnight, out-of-town travel, particularly during the fall and spring semesters to attend athletics events, league meetings, and workshops. Additional Qualifications Link to Job Description https://www.missouristate.edu/Human/JobDescriptions/5023.htm Open Date 09/12/2025 Close Date (If Close Date is blank then the posting is considered open until filled) Special Instructions to Applicants First date of consideration is September 26, 2025. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Official transcripts will be required at time of hire.
Equal Opportunity Statement Non-Discrimination Statement
Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Inquiries concerning the complaint/grievance procedure related to discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, should be addressed to the Director, Office for Institutional Compliance, Carrington Hall 205, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65897, Compliance@MissouriState.edu, 417-836-4252. Background Check Statement Employment will require a criminal background check at University expense. Posting Detail Posting Number 20250197FTS Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/83475 Supplemental Questions
1. Ensures that information about the Campus’s intercollegiate athletics programs is available to the public in a timely and effective manner by assisting in the planning, development, and execution of a comprehensive program of sports coverage which focuses on both competitive and non-competitive activities and includes information on student-athletes and teams in the University’s intercollegiate athletics program.
2. Expands the opportunities for publicizing the University’s intercollegiate athletics program by serving as a liaison between the University and the media, responding to requests from the media, as directed by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications and the Director of Athletics – West Plains, for information regarding individuals and teams, initiating communications, as appropriate, with the media and providing information which could result in additional coverage of athletics, and coordinating media needs and reporting functions for assigned events so that material for publication or broadcast is available as desired.
3. Works with event coverage and promotion by performing duties as assigned in game analysis commentary on radio and/or television game broadcasts as well as streaming equipment for University athletic events.
4. Provides a comprehensive package of materials for public dissemination by assisting in the planning, development, and distribution of publications for men’s and women’s sports, including game-day programs for each sport which contain schedules, rosters, statistics, results, records, season outlook, and/or sketches on individual student-athletes, individual event programs containing an update of the material published in the respective media guides, schedule cards, schedule posters, ticket flyers, newsletters, alumni publications, special event publications, and other materials as needed.
5. Assists with a comprehensive and timely presence on the internet, including social media, for Grizzly Athletics programs.
6. Ensures that necessary individual and team statistical data for University teams and their opponents are gathered and reported on Presto as required by NJCAA, by communicating with sport coaching staff members, as necessary, for those competitive events which occur on or away from campus.
7. Assists in the maintenance of a close and effective working relationship between the coaches and other staff personnel within intercollegiate athletics by establishing priorities for completion of tasks in a wide variety of areas.
8. Promotes a positive image of the University by responding to inquiries and requests for materials from individuals and organizations, formulating replies or providing materials appropriate and consistent with University policies and guidelines presented in a manner favorable to the University, and serving as a spokesperson for the University on athletics related matters under the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications and the Director of Athletics – West Plains.
9. Promotes a positive image of the University through maintaining credible relations with various news media and other collegiate athletics communications offices.
10. Abides by and complies with National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the NJCAA Region 16, and National Junior College Athletics Association Esports (NJCAAE) as well as the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and NIRA Ozark Region rules, academic standards, requirements, and policies of the University, and all guidelines and policies of the Athletics department and reports any concerns of compromise or violation of rules, standards, guidelines or policies to the Director of Athletics – West Plains or the Associate Vice-Chancellor for Athletics and Community Engagement.
11. Maintains competency and professional currency through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as directed by the Director of Athletics.
12. Contributes to the overall success of Grizzly Athletics by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned. Minimum Acceptable Qualifications Education: An associate’s degree is required, with an emphasis in English, Business, Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations preferred.
Experience: At least one year of experience in a position performing related communications work; may include cumulative work experience as a graduate assistant, intern, or student assistant, preferably in athletics communication at the college level. An understanding of and experience with the web and social media is required. Experience in printing and publication design, and knowledge of radio and television sports broadcasting is preferred.
Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills, and effective interpersonal skills are required. Computer literacy, particularly in word processing, websites (Presto or similar), is required. Established sports journalism skills, particularly in the intercollegiate area, are preferred.
Effort: Frequently required to lift and carry equipment and materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
Other: The scope of the position frequently requires extended workdays and work weeks, including weekends, and may include overnight, out-of-town travel, particularly during the fall and spring semesters to attend athletics events, league meetings, and workshops. Additional Qualifications Link to Job Description https://www.missouristate.edu/Human/JobDescriptions/5023.htm Open Date 09/12/2025 Close Date (If Close Date is blank then the posting is considered open until filled) Special Instructions to Applicants First date of consideration is September 26, 2025. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Official transcripts will be required at time of hire.
Equal Opportunity Statement Non-Discrimination Statement
Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Inquiries concerning the complaint/grievance procedure related to discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, should be addressed to the Director, Office for Institutional Compliance, Carrington Hall 205, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65897, Compliance@MissouriState.edu, 417-836-4252. Background Check Statement Employment will require a criminal background check at University expense. Posting Detail Posting Number 20250197FTS Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/83475 Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* How did you hear about this vacancy? Indeed Linkedin Missouri State University Website Google Employee Referral Job Alerts HigherEdJobs.com Personal Contacts / Networking Job Board (CareerBuilder.com, Monster, etc.) Other * Please specify the recruitment source where you located this posting. If you selected Employee Referral above, please list the name of the current MSU employee who referred you.(Open Ended Question)
* Are you a current full-time regular Missouri State University employee? Yes, I am a current full-time faculty/staff University employee. No, I am not currently employed by the University. No, I am a current per course faculty member. No, I am a current part-time staff University employee. No, I am a current University graduate assistant or teaching assistant. No, I am a current student University employee. Applicant Documents Required Documents Resume Cover Letter Unofficial Transcripts - 1 Optional Documents Letter of Recommendation-1 (Non-confidential) Letter of Recommendation-2 (Non-confidential) Letter of Recommendation-3 (Non-confidential) Other Documents -1 Unofficial Transcripts -2 Unofficial Transcripts -3
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