Director of Fan Experience

Advertising Summary: The Director of Fan Experience works closely with all facets of gameday and non-gameday fan event planning and implementation. Reporting to the Associate AD of Ticket and Engagement Operations and the Chief Revenue Officer, the Director's efforts will support all ticketed VCU Division I intercollegiate athletic programs, with an emphasis on Men’s & Women’s Basketball, as well as the overall VCU Athletics brand.

Unit: Athletics MBU

Department: Athletics Office

Department Summary: VCU Athletics’ mission is to win conference and national championships, provide a first-class student-athlete experience, serve as a source of pride for the University and community and cultivate graduates who excel as leaders.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Positive Overview

The Director of Fan Experience works closely with all facets of gameday and non-gameday fan event planning and implementation. Reporting to the Associate AD of Ticket and Engagement Operations and the Chief Revenue Officer, the Director's efforts will support all ticketed VCU Division I intercollegiate athletic programs, with an emphasis on Men’s & Women’s Basketball, as well as the overall VCU Athletics brand.

Tasks include pre-event planning, theme development, target audience identification, event preparations, marketing set up and tear down, game day script writing, in-game production, and management. Additionally, this role will oversee all operations involving student section including building traditions, driving attendance and engagement with student life on campus.

This position will work both cooperatively and independently with administrators, coaches, and athletics department staff, as well as other University personnel and student organizations.

Work closely with the VCU Athletics Engagement & Revenue Staff to strategically communicate fan experience elements and promotional campaigns to the public through various external mediums.

All duties and responsibilities will be assigned with the end goal of increasing attendance at VCU athletic events, representing and promoting the VCU athletics brand and increasing revenue for the department.

Communications and marketing professionals will collaborate closely with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications to align content, storytelling and brand positioning with institutional priorities and standards.

Core Responsibilities

Game Day Experience

Essential

• Overseeing all game day experience responsibilities of across all VCU sports, with an emphasis on tickets games especially Men’s & Women's Basketball;
• Creating game themes and identifying associated target audiences to increase attendance;
• Coordinating of band/spirit squad involvement on game day;
• Managing of all aspects of game presentation (scripts, promotions, entertainment, giveaways, music, etc.):
• Directing any pre- or post-game fan engagement activities (block parties, autographs, etc)
• Developing and implementing marketing plans, promotional schedules and ticket sales campaigns as well as all aspects of game presentation (scripts, promotions, entertainment, etc.);

Non-Game Day Fan Events

Essential

• Develop calendar of events throughout the year to keep fan base engaged outside of gamedays
• Lead all event operations including planning activations, staffing, setup & tear down, coordination with outside vendors and facilities staff
• Identify specific target audience (season ticket holders, students, families, etc.) and developed tailored events for the respective segments

Student Engagement

Essential

• Establish effective on-campus marketing efforts aimed at increasing student attendance;
• Build relationships with key VCU Department of Student Affairs and student organization leaders on campus
• Develop innovative student specific gameday experiences, traditions and themes

Department Support

Essential

• Support colleagues across the VCU Athletics Engagement & Revenue team; with emphasis on integrated communications and community engagement

 Other Duties

Essential

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree, preferably in marketing, mass communications or related field or an equivalent combination of education and related experience;
• Ability to use MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Basecamp or similar project management software;
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the creative process, graphic and web design, and production capabilities;
• Experience handling Game Day experiences, with an emphasis on ticketed games;
• Strong ability to provide effective direction in managing the flow of work;
• Ability to handle multiple projects and prioritize deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Knowledge of marketing principles;
• A professional demeanor;
• Resourceful and solution oriented;
• Demonstrated creative ability;
• Project management and organizational skills;
• Strong verbal and written communications skills; and
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

●Experience working in a marketing office of a professional or intercollegiate sports program/ franchise;
●Advanced degree;
●Demonstrated experience in a marketing agency or in-house shop, with traffic coordination preferred; and
●Experience managing social media.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $58,000

Priority Application Deadline: September 29, 2026

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40+

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: 13221- 13223

Contact Information:
Contact Name:  Catherine Policastro
Contact Email: capolicastro@vcu.edu