Position Overview
Hornets Sports & Entertainment are seeking a forward-thinking communications professional who possesses a proactive and strategic approach towards public relations. The Senior Manager of Basketball Communications will work on the day-to-day operations, strategies and objectives of the Hornets communications department, with a focus on basketball-related communication.
This position will be responsible for helping to lead all basketball publicity, including, but not limited to, player/coach interviews, player messaging/branding and team-related events. You will have the ability to work across organizational departments to assist in company-wide initiatives.
Core Values
HSE embodies the following core values:
- Integrity
- Teamwork
- Competitiveness
- Candor
- Accountability
- Resilience
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Ability to consistently incorporate team’s messaging into various communications tactics
- Utilize strategies that develop a proactive and aggressive public relations department
- Generate story ideas involving team personnel and proactively pitch to both internal content and broadcast teams as well as external media members
- Assist in managing all media requests (local, regional and national) for players, coaches and basketball executives
- Help manage all team media availabilities: practices, games, press conferences, etc.
- Travel with the team in a public relations capacity for select road games
- Work with the Hornets Studios to create, plan and advocate content ideas and opportunities for the team’s distribution channels
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with media members and have the ability to respond quickly to all media requests
- Develop outstate media coverage plan and execute on a year-round basis
- Lead and execute new media and non-sports media coverage of basketball personnel
- Develop basketball-related talking points for executives, staff and players
- Oversee Game Night/Media Event hospitality
- Help manage team publicity surrounding annual basketball events: NBA Draft, NBA Summer League, Training Camp, regional preseason games, etc.
- Secondary contact to write and edit press releases
- Work with league communications department as necessary in regards to storylines, statistics, national media requests, etc.
- Other duties as assigned by Basketball Communications leadership
Required Skills, Experience, and Abilities
To perform essential job functions, you should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in public relations, journalism or related field
- Minimum of 3-5 years public relations/media relations experience/player relations
- Ability to work with a wide variety of people and develop strong relationships
- Able to multi-task under time constraints, meet deadlines and work within a fast-paced industry/environment; must be very detail oriented
- Proven ability to proactively pitch stories and develop storylines
- Presents self in professional manner and have ability to interact with all levels of organization and outside contacts
- Previous experience working with athletes required
- Strong teamwork skills and ability to manage your own individual projects
- Excellent communication skills including written and verbal; ability to present ideas clearly and concisely
- Ability to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, holidays
- Ability to travel with team to games, training camps, summer league, etc. is required
Additional Information
This is a full time benefit eligible position. HSE is dedicated to creating and upholding a welcoming environment that celebrates diversity.
HSE provides valuable benefits and competitive time off policies to help you and your family lead healthy, balanced lives.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. All requests for medical or religious accommodations to perform the stated job duties will be considered.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.