General Purpose:
USA Wrestling is seeking a Communications Coordinator to join its Communications Department. This is a full-time position which reports to the Director of Communications. The Communications Coordinator will play a key role in executing organizational communications activities, supporting media relations efforts, creating impactful content, and facilitating strong collaboration across teams and projects. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, have a passion for sports and communications work, be a compelling storyteller through digital mediums, and be a positive influence that elevates team members.
Primary Responsibilities:
Media Relations and Communications
- Coordinate day-to-day media operations including distribution of corporate press releases, U.S. National Team lineups and results for international tours, USA Wrestling event information, and managing media credentialling for USA Wrestling regional and national events.
- Serve as on-site media contact for assigned USA Wrestling events, providing detailed check-in information, smooth credentialling process, and professional hospitality for media members.
- Support logistics surrounding media interviews and content capture, serving as liaison between media members and organizational stakeholders such as national staff, athletes or coaches.
- Apply professional judgement to help the team to plan and execute media strategies and promotional campaigns targeted around key wrestling and business initiatives to drive national media coverage and increase fan engagement.
- Assist in maintaining accurate historical archives of USA Wrestling including event results, athlete and coach biographies, photos, videos and additional press materials as needed.
Content Creation and Digital Channels
- Create original, imaginative multimedia content for USA Wrestling digital platforms including written, photo and video content for website and social media channels.
- Collaborate on social media strategy and channel management, including ownership of select social media projects from concept to execution.
- Develop creative storytelling concepts to feature USA Wrestling athletes, coaches and other relevant stakeholders on USA Wrestling digital properties. Apply multimedia journalism techniques to showcase unique stories within the wrestling community and build star power.
- Assist in the production of USA Wrestling podcast properties including identifying opportunities for the organization to expand in the podcast market, creation and ownership of original podcasts, scheduling guests and recordings, audio review and editing, posting to designated platforms, and promotion of podcasts.
- Oversee USA Wrestling’s Athlete of the Week program including the nomination process, recipient selection and weekly announcement strategy and distribution.
Organizational and Corporate Partnership Support
- Serve as a point of contact for USA Wrestling broadcast rightsholders (FloSports), ensuring alignment on programming, event coverage and content priorities.
- Provide support for USA Wrestling’s digital marketing campaigns through the creation of written, graphic or video assets. Campaign focus areas may include membership engagement, event registration and ticket sales, corporate partnership fulfillment and owned technology platform user acquisition.
- Serve as a resource for USA Wrestling State Association media and communications contacts. Participate in the development of regular educational workshops and networking opportunities for these individuals.
- Consistently track key performance metrics of assigned projects and report to internal stakeholders.
Other duties may be assigned to the Communications Coordinator as deemed necessary by the Director of Communications, Senior Manager of Communications, or Executive Director.
Qualifications:
Required
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Journalism, Communications, Broadcasting, Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, Digital Media, etc.).
- A minimum of one-year relevant professional experience with a focus on corporate communications activities. Experience in journalism, public relations, college or Olympic sports communications or related industries is desirable.
- Proven writing and communication skills are necessary for this position. Types of writing will include feature writing, event-focused previews and reports, and short-form social media copy.
- Must be able to develop and maintain professional relationships and comfortably conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders (athletes, coaches, etc.).
- A working knowledge of and experience with the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro and Audition.
- Experience creating social media content for a business or brand account. Ideal platform experience includes Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.
- A resourceful mentality to think outside of the box and problem solve in a variety of professional situations. Will be required to use professional judgement and take ownership of work on a daily basis.
- Willingness to travel to domestic and international events, and work non-traditional hours, including events held on nights, weekends and holidays.
- The ability to work under deadline, work on multiple projects simultaneously, and possess the ability to work both independently and within a group setting.
- Must be able to successfully pass a USA Wrestling background screening (prior to hire date).
- Must successfully complete SafeSport Certification within two weeks of hire date and prior to interacting with athletes.
Preferred
- Basic knowledge of wrestling (athletes, rules, history, etc.).
- Experience working in content management systems and customer relationship management systems.
- Experience with project management systems and maintaining a content calendar.
- An understanding of current social media trends, what types of content is relevant to each platform, and the different audiences USA Wrestling reaches by channel.
- Hands-on experience operating digital camera equipment (cameras, microphones, lighting, etc.), being comfortable and confident conducting photo and video shoots across a variety of environments and diverse individuals throughout the wrestling community.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to hold and operate a computer, camera, audio/visual equipment, and other office or event technology.
- Occasional lifting, carrying, or moving of items up to 25 pounds (such as event materials, equipment, or supplies).
- Ability to stand or walk for prolonged periods of time at events.
Travel Expectations:
Domestic and international travel including weekends is required.
Hiring Pay Range:
Compensation commensurate with experience.
$57,000-$62,000 per year.
Benefits (only if full-time):
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Approximately 10 paid holidays per year
- 403 (b) retirement plan
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Employer paid life insurance
- Benefits may be modified or discontinued from time to time at the company’s discretion as permitted by law
Other Information:
The USA Wrestling Office is located in Colorado Springs, CO - ability to work from the office is required.
This individual will coordinate closely with staff across all departments at USA Wrestling. The position also includes work with volunteers throughout the organization.
USA Wrestling is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This position reports to the Senior Manager of Communications.
