Associate Director, Design (5174U) Intercollegiate Athletics #85599

The Associate Director, Design - Basketball is a key member of the Athletics Department’s Strawberry Creek Studio and leads the conceptualization and execution of high-impact visual assets primarily for Basketball and helps define the Cal identity across various sports, amplifying Cal’s brand narrative consistent with the external strategy that overlays the unit. You will capture the energy of live sporting events, produce access-driven content, and develop personalized digital content tailored for recruiting and retention of student-athletes and staff and to promote external revenue generation. This position requires a fast-paced, solution-oriented mindset to achieve brand storytelling that resonates across all of Cal Athletics' digital platforms, traditional marketing, and in-venue videoboards.

This role will work independently and proactively to pitch high-level storytelling concepts with leadership and be responsible for bespoke execution on tight timelines.  You will be innovative in your approach and leverage emerging technologies like AI to achieve speed and scale while also maintaining brand guidelines.

This role is responsible for recruiting, building, and supervising a consistent workforce of students and interns to scale digital content creation across the department.  It also requires the creation of a comprehensive digital content creation program for student staff, mentoring them in the execution of professional-level storytelling, ensuring a consistent brand story across Athletics.

Content Conceptualization & Strategic Pitching:

• Working independently and proactively to pitch high-level storytelling concepts to Cal Athletics leadership. This includes developing content calendars that align with specific recruiting cycles, retention goals, and revenue-generation windows. 

Multimedia Production & High-Impact Execution:

• Leading the end-to-end execution of visual assets, including cinematic video, photography, motion graphics, and visual design. This involves capturing the energy of
  live events and producing behind-the-scenes features that define the Cal brand identity for social platforms and in-venue videoboards. 

Recruitment & Retention Content Specialized Delivery:

• Developing AI-generated personalized digital content and templates specifically tailored to attract elite recruits and enhance the student-athlete experience. This ensures a consistent brand narrative that aids in both player acquisition and internal program loyalty.

Revenue Generation:

• Developing AI-generated personalized digital content and templates specifically tailored to attract elite brands and elevate the Cal Athletics brand. This ensures a consistent brand
  narrative that aids in both traditional and new revenue streams, and builds fan loyalty.

Technological Innovation &  AI Integration:

• Leveraging emerging technologies, such as Generative AI and advanced editing tools, to achieve speed and scale in content production. This responsibility focuses on maintaining
  University brand guidelines while modernizing the studio's workflow for faster digital turnaround.

Budgeting & Strategy:

• Manage content creation budgets, track expenses, and evaluate the content effectiveness via feedback and data to improve future work.

Quality Control &  Post-Campaign Analysis:

• Govern the post design review process by analyzing feedback and performance; implement continuous improvements to maintain Power 4 conference excellence.