Senior Associate Athletics, Chief Marketing Officer

Syracuse University Athletics is seeking a bold, innovative, and fan-centric leader to serve as Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Serving as a member of the Athletics Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Marketing Officer will lead the strategic vision, brand positioning, fan experience, storytelling, and audience growth efforts for Syracuse Athletics.

This role will oversee all aspects of marketing, fan experience, branding, communications, creative services, digital/social media, content strategy, and game presentation with a primary focus on transforming Syracuse into one of the premier fan and entertainment brands in college athletics.

The Chief Marketing Officer will serve as the central steward and strategic custodian of the Syracuse Athletics brand, ensuring alignment across marketing, fan engagement, storytelling, game presentation, digital platforms, and the overall public presentation of the department.

The ideal candidate will possess a modern sports and entertainment mindset with the creativity, urgency, and vision to elevate the Syracuse game-day atmosphere and digital presence. Syracuse Athletics seeks a leader capable of creating one of the premier fan experiences in college athletics through innovative storytelling, elite game presentation, immersive live entertainment, dynamic student engagement, and fan-first thinking.

The Chief Marketing Officer will play a central role in "weaponizing the Dome" and building one of the most electric and engaging atmospheres in college athletics while helping modernize the Syracuse Athletics brand nationally.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, sports management, business, entertainment management, or a 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.
• Preferred qualifications -master's degree in related field.
• Experience in Power Four athletics, professional sports, live entertainment, media, agency, or major event production environments.
• 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.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Brand Development

• 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.

Fan Experience, Atmosphere & Game Presentation

• 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.
• Develop initiatives designed to create one of the premier student sections and home-field advantages in college athletics.
• Build fan-first experiences that increase attendance, loyalty, student participation, retention, and game-day energy.

Marketing, Revenue Generation & Audience Growth

• Oversee all athletics marketing strategies designed to increase ticket sales, attendance, premium experiences, sponsorship value, and revenue generation.
• Collaborate with ticket sales, development, NIL, sponsorship, and premium seating units to drive integrated revenue initiatives.
• Utilize CRM, analytics, fan insights, and consumer behavior trends to inform strategic decision-making.
• Lead advertising strategy, media buying, promotional planning, and audience acquisition efforts across digital, broadcast, print, and experiential channels.
• Collaborate with merchandise, licensing, and brand management partners to ensure consistency, alignment, and strategic growth of the Syracuse Athletics brand across all consumer touchpoints.
• Develop measurable KPIs and performance metrics for marketing effectiveness, fan engagement, and audience growth.

Digital Media, Creative Services & Communications

• Oversee digital media, social media, creative services, branding, photography, videography, athletics communications, and content strategy.
• Establish a unified and innovative storytelling strategy across all Syracuse Athletics platforms.
• Drive innovation in behind-the-scenes content, athlete storytelling, digital engagement, and emerging media platforms.
• Ensure consistency in visual identity, messaging, and brand standards across all sports and units.
• Collaborate with broadcast partners, the ACC, and external media partners to maximize visibility and exposure.

Leadership & Personnel Management

• Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction for marketing, fan experience, creative services, communications, digital media, and related external units.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing, creative, and collaborative teams.
• Foster a culture of innovation, urgency, accountability, and fan-centric thinking.
• Manage departmental budgets and staffing plans for assigned units.

External Relations & Collaboration

• Represent Syracuse Athletics with campus leadership, media partners, conference offices, sponsors, vendors, and community stakeholders.
• Collaborate with campus units including Newhouse, Falk, Whitman, and Enrollment Marketing to develop innovative partnerships and experiential learning opportunities.

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.