Communications Consultant (Public Relations and Communications) (Athletics)

Arizona Athletics is redefining the future of college sports-and we're looking for a bold, brand-savvy communicator to help lead that charge. This is not a traditional university PR role. You'll serve as a senior strategic advisor to the Athletic Director, influence high-level decisions, and craft stories that resonate nationally. This is a high-trust, high-impact role at the center of a $150M athletics enterprise with championship ambitions and a fast-evolving landscape.

You will lead a cross-platform communications strategy that builds brand heat, galvanizes our fan base, and drives national relevance. You'll shape the voice of a brand that spans 22 sports, millions of fans, a global alumni network, and one of the most passionate student communities in the country.

You'll work closely with the AD, executive team, coaches, student-athletes, and creative teams to tell breakthrough stories, manage high-pressure moments, and build a brand that demands attention.

This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends, and travel as needed.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

• Own the Narrative: Shape
  and lead an integrated PR and storytelling strategy that reflects our bold
  vision and values-across earned media, digital platforms, and live
  environments.
• Be a Strategic Advisor: Serve as a trusted
  counselor to the Athletic Director and senior leadership team. Help shape
  internal and external messaging on key initiatives, sensitive issues, and
  brand-defining opportunities.
• Build Buzz: Secure national,
  regional, and digital media coverage that generates attention and builds brand
  relevance. Pitch like a pro. Create moments that cut through.
• Lead with Strategy: Craft
  clear, compelling messaging for initiatives that drive competitive success,
  brand equity, recruiting, and fundraising. Ensure consistency across press,
  social, and in-house messaging.
• Crisis-Proof the Brand: Lead messaging during
  high-stakes moments, acting as a rapid-response strategist and spokesperson
  when needed. Develop and maintain proactive crisis communications frameworks in
  collaboration with HR, Legal, and University Relations.
• Drive
  Fan Impressions & Monetization: Collaborate
  with revenue and marketing teams to translate brand awareness into fan
  impressions, sales, and donor touchpoints. Leverage strategic communications to
  support monetizable initiatives-ticketing, merchandise, and content campaigns.
• Monitor the Landscape: Lead social listening
  and reputation intelligence efforts. Provide actionable insights on public
  sentiment, media coverage, and emerging risks or opportunities.
• Support the Team: Collaborate
  with leadership to elevate key messages and ensure clarity and alignment across
  channels.
• Coach Voices: Provide media
  and message training to coaches, student-athletes, and staff. Elevate brand
  presence and message discipline across all platforms.
• Align the Ecosystem: Partner
  with creative, digital, donor relations, marketing, and game day teams to
  ensure unified storytelling across the fan journey.
• Budget Accountability.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A track record of success with a consumer-facing brand, agency, entertainment company, media platform, or professional sports organization.
• Deep understanding of what makes a story catch fire-media instincts, fluency, and creative pitch craft.
• Ability to navigate public-facing crises with clarity, discretion, and strategic calm.
• Ability to create a year-round storytelling strategy that inserts Arizona Athletics into a variety of sports, lifestyle, and business moments across the calendar.
• Strong network of media contacts in sports, entertainment, or lifestyle journalism.
• Ability to work fluidly across teams and levels, balancing strategy, speed, and precision.
• High emotional intelligence, executive presence, and ability to operate with discretion.
• Experience as a translator of complexity, a steward of trust, and a master of timing-capable
  of shaping narratives before they form and making bold stories impossible to
  ignore.
• Experience in communications, PR, brand strategy, or content leadership-or equivalent experience.
• The ability to measure, aggregate, and analyze fan and media impressions-and
  translate those into actionable insights that support sales, fundraising, and
  strategic growth.
• Comfort with AI tools and digital
  monitoring platforms for brand tracking, media measurement, and content
  amplification.

Why
Arizona Athletics:

We're
a Power 4 athletics department with national reach, deep tradition, and a
transformative vision. Our mission is to win championships, graduate
student-athletes, and galvanize the Wildcat community. With 22 teams, a dynamic
culture, and a loyal fan base, we are not just adapting to the new era-we're
shaping it.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Experience working with athletes, influencers, or high-profile executives.
• Background in journalism, creative direction, law (Juris Doctor), or entertainment PR.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Familiarity with NIL, college athletics governance, and donor-facing storytelling.
• Four or more years of experience in communications, PR, brand strategy, or content leadership-or equivalent experience.

1. Describe your knowledge and understanding of NCAA and Big-12 rules and regulations, as they pertain to recruitment and regulations.

2. Please list below any experience you have had since 2015 with high school or college student-athletes. This includes working or volunteering in any capacity with a high school, AAU, sports club, junior college or 4-year institution student-athlete, athletics team or department.

3. Applicants for this position are subject to the following NCAA Bylaws 11.4.2, 11.4.2.1, 11.4.2.2, 11.4.3, 11.4.3.1, 11.4.3.2, 11.4.4, 11.4.4.1, and 11.4.4.2. You may be asked about these Bylaws in an interview, and you may be asked to sign a future affirmation confirming the same prior to or upon your employment by The University of Arizona, if you are selected for employment. Do you understand that by submitting your application for employment you are affirming that you have read these Bylaws, and that such Bylaws would not preclude your employment by The University of Arizona?

4. Are you the parent, coach, relative or guardian of a prospective student-athlete (i.e., student in 9-12 grade or 7-12 grade for men's basketball or junior college student) in the sport of men's basketball, women's basketball or football or have any other type of association with any prospective student-athlete in the sports of men's basketball, women's basketball or football? If yes, please explain.

5. Is your potential employment within the athletic department conditioned upon the enrollment of any prospective student-athlete (i.e., student in 9-12 grade, 7-12 grade for men's basketball or junior college) in the sport of men's basketball, women's basketball or football? If Yes, please explain.

6. Do you understand that failure to disclose any information related to your affiliation with a prospective student-athlete (student in 9-12 grade, 7-12 grade for men's basketball or junior college) in the sports of football, men's basketball or women's basketball might render your application ineligible for consideration?