Position Function:
The Assistant Athletic Director for Brand Advancement (Creative Strategy) helps drive Mississippi State Athletics’ storytelling, creative direction, and brand presence across all platforms, serving as both a strategic leader and hands-on creator. This position oversees all creative areas, including video, design, and photography, while also contributing directly to the creation of video and digital content. Members of this team collaborate to strengthen the department’s visibility, elevate student-athlete and program recognition, and engage fans through consistent and innovative brand expression. This position plays a key role in shaping, executing, and maintaining the overall brand strategy for Mississippi State Athletics.
Salary Grade: 16
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Support and execute the department’s brand advancement strategy across all sports and platforms in collaboration with the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Content.
2. Manage and lead the creative team consisting of graphic design, photography, videography, and elements of social media in capturing and generating content/stories for all 16 athletic programs.
3. Collaborate with communications, marketing, fan experience, Bulldog Club, Bulldog Athlete Services and Bulldog Sports Properties, and other units to ensure consistent messaging and visual identity.
4. Help plan and deliver creative, digital, and storytelling initiatives that enhance awareness, engagement, and recruiting.
5. Contribute to department-wide campaigns and projects that promote the Mississippi State brand and drive fan connection.
6. Assist External Affairs team with creative content needs in support of ticket sales and attendance.
7. Help determine creative direction, plans, estimates and timetables for projects related to all 16 athletic programs.
8. Maintain brand guidelines and standards across all internal and external touchpoints.
9. Assist with planning and production schedules, creative workflows, and project execution.
10. Attend Mississippi State Athletics related competitions and events.
11. Monitor industry trends and performance analytics to inform ongoing strategies.
12. Represent the Brand Advancement unit in cross-departmental collaboration and planning efforts.
13. Perform other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility
A team of full-time and part-time staff who specialize in brand advancement.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in videography, digital strategy, creative media, or a related field with 3 years of experience in brand management, creative services, digital strategy, communications, or related area.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Strong background in creative video.
• Must ensure compliance with NCAA, SEC and University policies and procedures.
• Excellent communication and team management skills.
• Ability to travel with the team.
• Required to work quickly, efficiently, and with adaptability under strict deadlines.
• Ability to work long hours including nights, weekends and holidays.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of communications, content, creative and digital media.
• Knowledge and experience with Adobe Creative Suite required.
• Work experience and knowledge of content production and storytelling.
• Proven success producing creative and innovative multimedia content.
• Experience in other multimedia production platforms.
• Knowledge of professional and cinematic video camera equipment required, including but not limited to Sony Cinema Line cameras and lenses (Fx3, Fx6, and Fx9), DJI gimbal systems, and Black Magic Design camera systems.
• Knowledge of a collegiate athletics department and the NCAA structure desired.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
• Occasional and/or light lifting required. Limited exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc., but none to the point of being disagreeable. May involve minor safety hazards where likely result would be cuts, bruises, etc.
• Work hours are unpredictable and may require including nights and weekends; frequent interruptions based on changing priorities; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than immediate supervisor.
• Job frequently requires sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
• Job occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
Instructions for Applying:
Please attach your Resume and cover letter to the Application.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
