Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer

Job title: Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer

About the Role Syracuse University Athletics is seeking a bold, innovative, and fan-centric leader to serve as Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). As a member of the Athletics Senior Leadership Team, the CMO will lead the strategic vision, brand positioning, fan experience, storytelling, and audience growth for Syracuse Athletics, with a primary focus on transforming the program into a premier fan and entertainment brand.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute a comprehensive enterprise-wide marketing, branding, fan engagement, and storytelling strategy aligned with the vision and goals of Syracuse Athletics.
• Serve as the department’s lead strategist for audience growth, fan experience innovation, and brand positioning.
• Elevate the Syracuse Athletics brand nationally through innovative campaigns, digital storytelling, live entertainment concepts, and content strategy.
• Build a modern, experience-driven approach to college athletics marketing focused on atmosphere, emotion, culture, and authentic fan connection.
• Collaborate with athletics leadership, campus partners, and external stakeholders to align messaging and maximize institutional impact.
• Lead the strategic vision for all in-venue entertainment, game presentation, and fan experience initiatives across all athletic venues, with an emphasis on football and basketball.
• Reimagine the JMA Wireless Dome experience & atmosphere through cutting-edge entertainment concepts, technology integration, lighting, audio, video, traditions, student engagement, and crowd activation.
• Create immersive, high-energy game environments that redefine the standard for college athletics entertainment and home-field advantage.
• Oversee game presentation strategy including music direction, scripting, pacing, promotions, halftime entertainment, crowd engagement, and in-game activations.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, sports management, business, entertainment management, or related field.
• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in sports marketing, branding, fan experience, communications, live event production, entertainment, digital media, or related industries.
• Experience driving measurable revenue growth through marketing, fan engagement, and audience development initiatives.
• Knowledge of emerging trends in sports entertainment, digital media, fan behavior, content monetization, and live event presentation.
• Experience working collaboratively across ticketing, sponsorship, NIL, fundraising, premium seating, and revenue generation functions.
• Demonstrated ability to create innovative student engagement and atmosphere-building initiatives.
• Skills and Knowledge: Demonstrated success leading innovative fan engagement, branding, content, or live entertainment strategies; Experience leading teams and managing complex, high-profile projects or initiatives; Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; Ability to think creatively, execute with urgency, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment.

Nice to Have

• Master’s degree in related field.
• Experience in Power Four athletics, professional sports, live entertainment, media, agency, or major event production environments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $118,000 - $150,000 per year.
• On-campus, in-person role with standard university business hours (8:30am – 5:00pm academic year; 8:00am – 4:30pm summer). Hours may vary; evening and weekend hours may be required.
• Exempt position (FLSA Status Exempt).
• Pay rates determined by responsibilities, education, experience, and external market analyses.