Job Description

The Atlanta Dream is a professional Women’s Basketball Team based in Atlanta Georgia and is a place where our team, our fans and our great city come together to represent the community we seek to serve. With new ownership and new leadership in 2021, the organization has made a commitment to investing in and building the best place to work and play in all sports and has seen exponential growth over the last 4 years. We celebrate diversity, represent Atlanta, reward innovation and imagination and aim to empower women both on and off the court.

Position Overview: The Atlanta Dream is looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Director of Communications to manage the image and public perception of the team and serve as the primary communications contact for the organization.

This role will lead all strategic cross-functional communications for the team, the Dream brand, and the organization, focusing on helping the Dream shape and implement the brand voice. This includes developing communication strategies as well as proactive story mapping / pitching that will help build the Dream’s presence in Atlanta and on a national scale. S/he will need to build deep relationships with media and influencers, produce consistent positive local and national media coverage, develop and integrate key messaging across all spokespeople and platforms.

We are not looking for someone who is solely trained in sports communications. Our ideal candidate for this position understands the headwinds and tailwinds in women’s sports but also looks at our opportunity for impact across all relevant industries – sports, lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, women’s interests, Atlanta community, etc. S/he will be able to help strategize and shape our narrative to help build our brand and reputation in truly innovative and authentic ways.

S/he will be a values-based leader and serve as a part of the senior leadership team reporting directly to the President & COO.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and drive a multi-channel communications strategy for the team, the business, and the Dream brand.
• Prepare, manage, and review communications materials including but not limited to media-related briefing documents, press releases, newsletters, advisories, impact reports, pitches, etc. This also includes working closely with marketing, strategic partnerships, community impact and others to ensure all brand, team and business messaging is aligned.
• Act as a corporate spokesperson to a wide range of media outlets where necessary.
• Build comprehensive communications plans that share objectives, timelines, customer information and data and key performance indicators
• Implement the brand voice and maintain brand integrity across all platforms
• Create business and brand guidelines and ensuring all team members follow proper messaging techniques before publishing marketing or sales materials
• Plan, coordinate all media related events, interviews, etc. together with communications staff.
• Assist in implementing all public facing events, including but not limited to tip off events, ticket member events, community events, speaking events by approved leadership/ownership, etc.
• Oversee full time communications staff and gameday communications staff to execute game day media relations, and league media requirements, while also leading laterally across the organization as a strategic and collaborative brand steward.
• Establish, maintain, and foster deep relationships with media members, influencers, and community leaders to help raise the Dream’s profile both locally and nationally.
• Work with the Marketing, Content and Creative team to assist in the creation of digital, video, audio, and print content for media purposes.
• Develop crisis communications strategies and plans and to manage foreseeable issues.
• Assist Marketing team with large scale event production, branding, extensive content creation for all channels.
• Develop and manage Communications budget.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Minimum 7 years of proven work experience in public relations, communications management, comms strategy, brand management, or similar role
• Experience responding to emergencies such as crises or setbacks with an eye on accuracy, consistency, and organizational values
• Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency with all communications technologies, tracking, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to assess cross-industry landscape and potential business challenges, while provide proactive strategic council to position our brand, our team and our business in the best light.
• Demonstrated ability as an accomplished storyteller with impeccable copywriting and copy-editing skills, understanding on graphic design, layout, and publishing
• Full understanding of broadcasting and video production, media rights deals at both team and league level, and movie/documentary production and editing.
• Extensive web/social media experience as well as working with radio, print, TV producers, reporters, etc.
• Clear understanding of the importance and timing of the message, delivery, and setting.
• Clear understanding of sports, entertainment, fashion and mainstream industry news cycles including organizational headwinds and tailwinds
• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or a related discipline is required; Master’s degree or related experience preferred.

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