Director, Communications - NBC Sports

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

NBC Sports connects sports fans to the moments that matter most with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports produces, programs, and promotes premier content across numerous linear and digital platforms, including NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering and presenting many of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Big Ten Conference, Big East Conference, Notre Dame, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, USGA, PGA of America, The R&A, Churchill Downs, Premier League, and many more. It is renowned for making big events bigger and has produced some of the most-watched sporting events in U.S. media history, including Olympic Games, Super Bowls, and Sunday Night Football, primetime television’s No. 1 show for 14 consecutive years.

Job Description

As a member of the NBC Sports Communications Department, the Director, Communications is responsible for leading and executing the communications strategy for NBC Sports’ coverage of the NBA and WNBA. It also supports coverage of other sports, particularly college basketball and the Olympics.

By utilizing their significant NBA experience, knowledge, and relationships, the person in this role will work internally and externally to create communications plans that will efficiently maximize publicity; educate the public about all elements of our coverage; manage executive, producer, and talent interviews and preparation; create talking points and message documents; and write press releases among other responsibilities.

The role calls for significant division- and company-wide collaboration, requiring work with NBC Sports’ production, programming, and marketing departments as well as other communications departments within Comcast NBCUniversal. It will also work closely with the communications departments of the NBA, WNBA, their respective teams, USA Basketball, and other external groups.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Through strategic planning, thorough collaboration, and creative storytelling, the Director, Communications will ensure that NBC Sports’ NBA and WNBA coverage is positioned as best in class and an industry innovator with a nod to its impressive legacy.

Utilizing their strong preexisting relationships, the Director, Communications will be one of NBC Sports’ primary executives in dealing with the press about its basketball coverage, both proactively and reactively.

The person in this role will also have major responsibilities leading up to and during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, with a strong emphasis on NBCUniversal’s basketball coverage. Responsibilities include:

• Work with senior NBC Sports Communications executives to create and execute communications plans that achieve the company’s and department’s goals.
• Collaborate with production, programming, and marketing departments to cultivate story ideas and ascertain key dates and initiatives to create and execute comms plans.
• Communicate efforts with necessary parties internally and externally, such as NBCUniversal Corporate Communications and NBA/WNBA Communications.
• Pitch stories to press and handle press requests. Write talking points and message documents to prepare interviewees as necessary.
• Travel to games to facilitate on-site interviews, meet with league and team executives and reporters, and handle additional on-site matters when necessary.
• Write and edit weekly and season press releases and materials to educate the press and public about our news.
• Support other sports and initiatives in the department, primarily college basketball and the Olympics.

Basic Requirements:

• Proactive communications executive with 8+ years of experience, including significant time working in pro basketball.
• Thorough understanding of the NBA and WNBA, including strong relationships across leagues, teams, partners, and reporters. Knowledge of college basketball and USA Basketball a plus.
• Experience in navigating basketball arenas on game days.
• Ability to cultivate and pitch stories, create messaging documents, prepare spokespeople, and handle in-bound press inquiries.
• Solid collaboration skills to work with necessary internal and external groups.
• Proven writing skills, with examples of written work such as press releases, bios, or media guides.
• Extensive travel expected to games presented by NBC Sports and other key events.
• In-office requirement of 3 days a week minimum, Tuesday through Thursday, based in Stamford, CT. Exceptions made for travel.

Desired Characteristics:

• Demonstrated skillset for forward-thinking strategic planning and proactive communication.
• Seasoned decision maker who has excellent multitasking skills and an ability to thrive in a fast-paced working environment.
• Problem solver with ability to build consensus within a matrixed enterprise.
• A collaborative team player who seeks out partnership, while leading and maintaining multiple individual value streams.
• Experience working for a media company or within a large corporation a plus.
• PowerPoint and social media skills.

This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the Stamford, CT office a minimum of three days per week.

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].