Vice PresidentSenior Vice President, Football Communications

Atlanta, GA - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 9 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

In order to be considered for this role after clicking Apply Now above and being redirected you must fully complete the application process on the follow-up screen.

About the Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football club and member of the National Football League (NFL). The teams headquarters and practice facility are located on a 50-acre site in Flowery Branch Georgia. The Falcons NFL expansion franchise was awarded in 1965 and acquired by current owner Arthur Blank co-founder of Home Depot in 2002.

Who we are

Our Blank Family of Businesses Core Values serve as the foundation for the way we operate at all levels:

Put People First - Listen & Respond - Include Everyone - Innovate Continuously - Lead by Example - Give Back to Others

We use our core values as a compass to guide our decisions because they are our North Star. If we live our core values daily we know everything else will take care of itself. We enjoy a culture rooted in giving back to others through our time talents labor and financial commitment. We are successful when we collaborate with and value each other like family maintain a hunger to delight guests and continuously innovate listen closely for even the smallest need for improvement stand up for convictions and genuinely own our responsibilities as if our name is on the outside of the building.

Our Ideal Candidates

Actively Listen Take an active role in listening by being present in the moment using healthy body language and ensuring joint understanding. When we read between the lines and hear what others are saying and what they are not saying we encounter amazing opportunities to go the extra mile in serving them.

Collaborate Realize that we are better together than we are alone. We achieve much better results when others have the opportunity to add their diverse perspectives. Be open to feedback and actively seek input from a variety of people at varying levels because the best ideas come from those who are closest to those we serve.

Engage in Servant Leadership Put others ahead of yourself even when its difficult. Find opportunities to lead by example in the way you pitch in and help others. Giving back to others is at the heart of what we do.

Build Relationships Cultivate trust in relationships by showing respect and sensitivity. Invest time in helping others to continuously improve by listening to their ideas and helping them to continuously improve.

Own Results Own issues you encounter even when they are outside of your area of responsibility by taking action or seeking out the needed resolution. You are empowered and expected to take risks aimed at exceeding the expectations of our guests. Take advantage of this rare opportunity by utilizing available resources.

Position Summary

The Atlanta Falcons Vice President of Football Communications is the senior leader responsible for shaping protecting and advancing the teams football narrative and serves as a key piece of the Falcons integrated marketing leadership team. This role oversees all football-related media strategy day-to-day communications operations and proactive storytelling across traditional media owned channels league platforms and community touchpoints. This leader will also work closely with the Falcons CMO VP of digital and other departments charged with fan and community engagement to ensure all external and internal relations are strategic integrated and efficient.

Reporting to the president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons this role plays a wider importance as a part of team senior leadership. The leader will also interact regularly with the Blank Family of Businesses chief brand and communications officer on proactive and crisis communications matters. When necessary this leader will also engage communications leads in the other BFOB businesses to ensure Falcons messaging is correct at all touchpoints and to ensure the Falcons platforms are aligned when necessary with BFOB messaging especially when it comes to Chairman and Owner Arthur M. Blank.

This leader will be the primary communications lead for the president of football head coach general manager the teams executive leadership and our players. The VP will ensure thorough media preparation of all media-facing personnel and will foster accuracy consistency and alignment in how the team communicates with fans media league partners and internal/external stakeholders.

Managing a team of four full-time and one seasonal associate this leader will be responsible for organizing and coordinating their work to support all football activities throughout the calendar year creating and executing plans for their development and ensuring their compliance with all team and league rules including confidentiality of information.

Note: This position will be filled at the VP or SVP level depending on candidate experience and qualifications.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

Develop and execute an annual comprehensive football communications strategy that is aligned with organizational goals
Serve as the primary advisor to the CEO president of football head coach general manager and football leadership on media strategy crisis communication and competitive communication positioning
Lead messaging and execution within all NFL and team guidelines around roster moves injuries game narratives culture and long-term team direction

Media Relations and Press Operations

Oversee all football media availability including weekly press conferences practice access and gameday media operations; orchestrate credentialing of local and national media in coordination with NFL regulations and AMBSE and Mercedes-Benz Stadium security
Create manage and maintain positive working relationships with national and local media ensuring fair access and fostering trust
Manage editorial relationships with the teams local TV and Radio rights holders
Prepare coaches players and executives for interviews through briefing documents coaching and rapid-response messaging; coordinate media training for all football personnel and specialized training for our most high-profile people
Work closely with AMBSE media operations on all gameday needs hosting media in a first-class manner to include all field press box and broadcast booths trucks remotes etc.

Football Storytelling and Content Integration

Collaborate with internal content social and brand teams to elevate football storytelling creating narratives that strengthen the teams reputation and fan engagement
Ensure all football-related content is accurate deliberate and aligned with league guidelines and rules
Drive longform content opportunities including behind-the-scenes shows and documentaries with all local and national partner media as well as NFL Films collaborations
Engage counterparts across the Blank Family of Businesses to leverage the platforms and media contacts of all entities to maximize communication with internal and external audiences when appropriate

Crisis and Issues Management

Work in close collaboration with Falcons CEO and BFOB CBCO coordinating the teams response to emerging issues including player controversies injuries operational challenges and community matters
Create scenario plans and maintain readiness for rapid communications deployment; review annually with football leadership Falcons communications and BFOB communications leadership and key AMBSE communicators
Serve as point of contact for league officials on communicating team or player disciplinary matters; manage narratives around controversial topics

Team Leadership and Operations

Manage develop and mentor a team of football communications staffers including coordinators managers directors and seasonal associates
Oversee all operational elements of the communications department including budgeting staffing media guidelines and gameday execution
Ensure compliance with NFL policies on media access and league communications protocols

Qualifications

12 years of progressive experience in sports or corporate communications preferably in the NFL or at the professional or collegiate level
Proven success managing high-pressure media environments issues management and executive communications
Deep understanding of NFL operations culture and media landscape
Exceptional writing messaging strategic counseling and relationship building skills
Ability to influence at the executive level and collaborate across football and business units
Track record of being a positive culture builder collaborator and teammate
Documented success operating in complex environments and representing high-profile people and brands in a very fast-paced setting

Success Looks Like

Unquestionable trust and confidence of all football leadership CEO president of football general manager head athletic trainer head of security etc.
A clear respected and consistent team narrative across all platforms
Well-prepared and confident football spokespeople
Strong trust and positive working relationships with national media and league communications leaders
Reduced reputational risk and rapid professional handling of sensitive situations
Increased fan understanding of team strategy culture and identity
Communications playing a leading active role in the overall integrated marketing operation day-to-day across the entire football calendar including annual strategic planning

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion national origin sex sexual orientation age disability gender identity marital or veteran status or any other protected class.

Required Experience:

Senior Exec

In order to be considered for this role after clicking Apply Now above and being redirected you must fully complete the application process on the follow-up screen.About the Atlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football club and member of the National Football League (NFL)....