Southland Conference Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives Frisco, TX · Full time Company website

Apply for Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives

The Southland Conference was founded in 1963. The 12 current full-time members have an average tenure of 25 years, providing remarkable stability. The Southland comprises 12 schools within driving distance of the states of Louisiana and Texas. The conference celebrates regionality in college athletics, the “Gas Tank League,” making it more accessible and manageable for family, friends, and fans to travel to away contests. Those 12 institutions include Houston Christian University, the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Lamar University in Beaumont, McNeese State University in Lake Charles, the University of New Orleans, Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas A&M University at Commerce, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, and the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.

The Southland Conference is seeking an energetic, organized, and driven Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of conference priorities while supporting the Commissioner and senior leadership on strategic, operational, governance, and organizational initiatives.

Reporting directly to the Commissioner, this role is deliberately broad by design and will serve as a trusted extension of the Commissioner’s Office. One day may involve preparing briefing materials for a Board of Directors meeting, while the next may involve assisting with Championship Week activations, coordinating sponsorships, planning meetings and events, or supporting strategic conference initiatives.

The Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives will gain hands-on experience in brand strategy, revenue development, championship operations, ticketing, partnerships, marketing, and executive leadership within a fast-moving Division I conference environment. The position is designed for a highly organized, proactive, and ambitious individual eager to grow quickly and make a meaningful impact across the Conference.

 

 

Duties & Responsibilities:

 

Commissioner’s Office Support

·     Provide high-level support for the Commissioner’s day-to-day priorities, including management of the Commissioner’s calendar, expenses, and other administrative responsibilities, while helping advance key initiatives and ensuring timely follow-through across internal teams.

·     Provide direct support to the Commissioner by serving as the primary point of contact for the Southland Conference Board of Directors and Athletics Directors. Coordinate day-to-day engagement, stakeholder communications, meeting planning, action item tracking, strategic initiatives, and special projects. Prepare briefings, talking points, presentations, meeting materials, and background research to support Board of Directors meetings, Advisory Council meetings, stakeholder engagements, and partner discussions.

·     Serve as an additional project coordinator for high-priority Conference initiatives, including strategic operational projects and the continued development of the Southland Conference headquarters.

·     Coordinate with Conference partners, vendors, and internal staff to support office operations, executive meetings, and special events.

·     Serve as a reliable point of contact for Commissioner-led meetings by tracking notes, action items, timelines, and follow-up communications.

Strategy and Conference Initiatives

·     Assist in the development and tracking of Conference-wide strategic initiatives and long-range planning efforts.

·     Help coordinate across departments to ensure Commissioner priorities are communicated clearly and advanced efficiently.

·     Conduct research and analysis to support decision-making related to membership strategy, operations, commercial opportunities, and conference initiatives.

·     Support special projects tied to governance, championships, membership engagement, and Conference growth opportunities.

Commercial Strategy and Revenue Development

·     Support the development and execution of commercial strategies across sponsorships, partnerships, championships, ticketing, media, and digital platforms.

·     Help track revenue performance, prepare reporting summaries, and assist in identifying new revenue opportunities tied to Conference events and content.

·     Assist in evaluating partnership opportunities and preparing materials for sponsor, partner, and stakeholder conversations.

·     Support activation planning and execution for Conference sponsors and strategic partners.

 

Marketing, Brand Strategy, and Storytelling

·     Support the execution of Conference marketing campaigns for championships, membership initiatives, and commercial partners.

·     Help maintain consistent brand standards and storytelling across digital, social, broadcast, and live event platforms.

·     Assist with digital marketing coordination, including social media support, email campaigns, and website updates.

·     Contribute to student-athlete storytelling initiatives highlighting leadership, academic achievement, performance, and community engagement.

Championships & Special Events

·     Support marketing and operational execution for Conference championships and signature events, including Media Days, Fan Fest, and Championship Week initiatives.

·     Assist in coordinating fan engagement efforts, in-venue branding, signage, and sponsor activations across championship sites.

·     Help manage timelines, vendors, logistics, and operational coordination in partnership with championship administration staff.

·     Support the execution of a consistent, high-energy championship environment aligned with Southland Conference brand standards.

Ticketing & Fan Engagement

·      Assist with ticketing coordination for Southland Conference championships and marquee events.

·      Serve as an additional point of contact for ticketing partners and distribution platforms.

·      Support pricing, packaging, and promotional strategies in collaboration with marketing and operations teams.

·      Help track attendance, fan engagement, and ticketing performance metrics to inform future strategies.

Strategic Partnerships & External Relations

·     Assist in managing relationships with athletics department external teams, alumni associations, sponsors, vendors, and Conference partners.

·     Help coordinate sponsor activations and partnership integrations aligned with Conference storytelling and brand initiatives.

·     Support the preparation of partnership proposals, recap reports, presentations, and external communications.

Student-Athlete, Membership & Community Engagement

·     Help develop campaigns that elevate member institutions, academic programs, and Conference-wide initiatives.

·     In collaboration with the SLC SAAC Liaison, provide support for NIL-aware, community-focused marketing efforts that connect Conference athletics to youth programs, education, and civic engagement.

·     Assist in promoting student-athlete engagement initiatives, highlighting leadership, service, and the overall student-athlete experience.

Qualifications

·     Minimum of three years of experience in collegiate athletics, professional sports, marketing, communications, event management, business operations, or a related field.

·     Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

·     Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to produce professional materials in a fast-paced environment.

·     Curious, proactive, resourceful, and eager to take initiative in a collaborative environment.

·     Comfortable operating within a small-staff, team-oriented environment where flexibility and adaptability are essential.

·     Experience or exposure to sponsorships, ticketing, CRM platforms, digital marketing, championship operations, or event coordination is preferred.

·     High degree of professionalism, discretion, and maturity when working within a senior executive office environment.

·     Required to work out of the Southland Conference headquarters in Frisco, Texas, at The Star.

·     Bachelor’s degree required.

Other Information

Base salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. The Conference provides a comprehensive benefits package.

The position requires travel for championships, meetings, and partner engagements, as well as the ability to work on weeknights and weekends.

Applicant reviews will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.