COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
San Diego FC (San Diego FC) is the newest member of the MLS family. As part of the unique Right to Dream model and the Sycuan Tribe’s deep roots, we are proud to be building a San Diego-centric soccer organization that honours our history and celebrates emerging excellence.
Summary: The San Diego FC (SDFC) Communications Manager serves as a communications lead for the club, managing all internal and external communications. The role serves as a point of contact for all external media and is responsible for disseminating information to the media and public daily, in addition to providing media the access necessary to cover the club. This role requires a creative and strategic thinker with excellent writing skills, a deep understanding of the sports industry, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
RESPONSIBILITES
- Media Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with local, national, and international media outlets. Serve as a point of contact for media inquiries and manage any incoming media requests for San Diego FC players, coaches and executives, including the first team and San Diego FC’s Right to Dream Academy (interviews, site visits, photo shoots, etc.).
- Execute broadcast partner needs, facilitating in-game interviews, disseminating weekly storylines, coordinating broadcast meetings with San Diego FC players and coaches with on-air talent and producers.
- Brand Management: Ensure the consistent representation of the team's brand in all external communications, ensuring a strong, unified image is presented to the public.
- Content Development: Lead creation of all team and venue written materials including press releases, game notes, broadcast notes, matchday program, media kits and other communications materials.
- Create and craft compelling pitches for placement of stories about the team, its players, and the Club.
- Analytics and Reporting: Compile, distribute and track press clippings to showcase and track the team’s media coverage. Monitor and analyze communications metrics to assess the effectiveness of strategies and campaigns. Provide regular reports to senior management on communication activities and outcomes.
- Internal Communications: Develop and execute internal communications strategies to ensure consistent messaging within the organization. Coordinate with different departments to gather and disseminate important information.
- Event Planning: Assist in the planning and execution of San Diego FC events, including press conferences, media events and other public relations activities, such as jersey unveilings, community outreach programs and player signings.
- Coordinate media coverage for events and manage post-event communications.
- Manage media operations for San Diego FC training days and game days, including management of press-conferences, daily training media access and availability, pre/post-game media availability, media credentialing, etc.
- Work with human resources department to hire, train and manage communication department associates and part-time/game day staff.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Candidates can meet the qualifications for this role with a combination of education, experience and skills:
- Prior experience working in the sports industry
- Prior supervisory experience
- Spanish fluency required.
- Knowledge of the sport of soccer and MLS.
- A minimum education level of: BA/BS Degree (4-year) - Area of Study: BA/BS in Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, English, or Journalism is preferred)
- A minimum of 5 years of related work experience in communications.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication
- skills, including the ability to professionally communicate and interact with all levels of management, staff, etc.
- Detail-oriented, highly organized with an ability to think clearly under pressure and manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
- Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment and adapt to change without notice.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign and ability to learn other business systems as necessary.
- Ability to travel and work flexible hours, on numerous weekends, and on various holidays, due to the nature of professional sports.
- Team player with professional demeanor demonstrating responsibility, initiative and dependability, all with a positive attitude.
- High ethical standards and strong sense of confidentiality.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO FC:
We value community, diversity, and acting with purpose. We are looking for leaders at all levels to co-create the culture of a new organization that is built on the premise that you can discover, understand, and re-define excellence by nurturing talent and creating opportunity anywhere – specifically though soccer.
Globally, Right to Dream partners with talented young people to give them a nurturing environment to flourish and thrive. We do this through a holistic model of athletic development, where young people grow as human beings and great footballers. RTD’s promise is set out in their Manifesto: a set of 8 commitments which will be central to the San Diego FC ethos from the front office to the field, when games start at Snapdragon Stadium in 2025.
This is an opportunity to be a part of a great team building something meaningful for San Diego. We offer excellent benefits including health coverages with generous company contributions, over 30 days of paid time off, and a 4% company match on your 401(k).
We encourage all individuals who share our commitment to community and soccer to apply Soccer is humanity and together, we can make a meaningful impact both on and off the field, fostering a culture that embraces excellence and equal opportunities. SDFC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
