Nature & Purpose:

The Director of External Operations for IMC Athletics will provide strategic leadership and oversight for key functions including marketing, communications, broadcasting, digital media, ticketing, sponsorships, and fan engagement. Reporting to Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Branding in Integrated Marketing Communications leadership and collaborating closely with Athletics administration, this role will drive program growth, revenue generation, and community engagement efforts.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader experienced in managing cross-functional teams and third-party partners, fostering innovation and operational excellence. This position requires a forward-thinking individual skilled in delegation and delivering measurable outcomes that enhance the student-athlete experience while supporting the university’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Team Management: Leads, mentors, and empowers a multidisciplinary team across marketing, communications, creative services, digital media, broadcasting, and ticketing, delegating operational tasks to maximize efficiency and impact. Sets clear strategic priorities and fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability aligned with departmental and university goals. Collaborates with third-party partners (e.g., Learfield Amplify, Van Wagner), ensuring seamless integration and alignment with objectives.

Marketing, Communications & Storytelling Develops and oversees integrated creative and written marketing, advertising, and communication strategies that elevate the varsity sports brand, increase fan engagement, and drive attendance growth while ensuring brand consistency with university standards. Delegates the production and timely delivery of sports information—including game stats and athlete highlights—while guiding compelling storytelling and dynamic content creation.

Broadcasting & Digital Media Provides strategic oversight of athletics broadcasting (livestream, digital, radio, television) and digital media initiatives, delegating day-to-day operations to qualified staff. Identifies and capitalizes on opportunities to enhance production quality, expand digital reach, and generate revenue through media partnerships.

Fan & Community Engagement Shapes and oversees game-day fan experience strategies and student engagement programs, delegating execution to staff and building relationships with campus partners. Leads and delegates the execution of community outreach initiatives connecting athletics with local schools, families, and businesses.

Revenue & Business Operations Directs ticketing strategies and sponsorship development to drive sustainable revenue growth, delegates implementation and analysis while maintaining financial oversight. Establishes and monitors goals for ticket sales and revenue growth. Manages budgets and utilize performance analytics to inform strategic decision-making and resource allocation.

Compliance & Institutional Alignment Ensures all external operations comply with NCAA, conference, and university policies, delegating compliance monitoring to staff as appropriate. Collaborates with athletics leadership and university stakeholders to align athletics initiatives with institutional priorities and represent the department on relevant committees.

Education and Experience Requirement:

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, sports management, broadcasting, business, or a related field. Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in athletics external operations, or a related role, with team leadership responsibilities. Demonstrated success in revenue generation, sponsorship development, and strategic planning. Familiarity with fan engagement best practices, digital marketing, and sports broadcasting. Understanding of NCAA compliance and the role of athletics within higher education. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to lead collaborative teams and manage multiple stakeholders.

Preferred:

Master’s degree in a related field. Experience in Division I – FBS Collegiate Athletics. Experience working with third-party partners (e.g., Learfield, Van Wagner, Amplify). Knowledge of digital fan engagement platforms (such as Sidearm), CRM systems, ticketing platforms (such as Paciolan), and performance analytics tools.

Other Duties

Performs other related duties and delegates additional responsibilities as assigned by senior leadership to support the department’s overall success.

Other Specifications:

Frequent evening and weekend work is required in support of home and some away athletic events and community initiatives. Fast-paced, collaborative environment that requires effective multitasking and problem-solving under pressure.

This position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA).

EEO Statement:

Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or protected veteran status. The University takes seriously the initiative to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce and to comply with Title VII as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Sam Houston State University is an “at will” employer. Employees with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security-sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code §51.215.

About Sam Houston Athletics - IMC

Named for Texas’s greatest hero, Sam Houston State University (SHSU) continually honors its historical roots through academic excellence. For more than 140 years, SHSU has been preparing students for meaningful lives of achievement. Its motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service,” resonates among its 22,000 students, eight colleges and well beyond its Huntsville roots. Sam Houston State offers top-ranked degree programs and was named No. 3 among the ‘2020 Best Valued Online Colleges.’ With over 90 bachelor degrees, 50 master’s, and 11 doctoral programs—including the nation’s first Ph.D. in forensic science, SHSU provides an exceptional college experience for every student: traditional or non-traditional; first generation; international; or online. In the fall of 2020, SHSU welcomed its inaugural class of student doctors into the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the third college of osteopathic medicine in Texas. Its mission is to train physicians who will serve the healthcare needs of rural and underserved Texans. Service to self and others is paramount at SHSU and reflected in all university organizations and programs. In fact, the university was named to USA Today’s Top 50 in t...he U.S. for “commitment to civic engagement and global awareness,” in addition to being classified a "Community Engaged" by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. This honor, bestowed to only 311 public institutions nationwide, acknowledges the university's significant commitment to service. At SHSU, the student-athlete experience is defined by Bearkat Athletics, with 17 teams competing at the NCAA Division 1 level in Conference USA. With SHSU’s array of recognized academic programs, exceptional student support services, volunteer opportunities and more, Bearkats are not only well-prepared to think and respond to the workforce needs of a rapidly changing world but stand ready to serve their community.

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