Head of Communications & Media Relations

About USA Volleyball

Would you like to work in the Olympic & Paralympic movement with one of the most successful organizations serving one of the fastest growing and exciting sports in the world? USA Volleyball (USAV) is the national governing body for beach, indoor, sitting, snow, and para-beach volleyball in the United States with over 500,000 members, responsible for selecting the Olympic & Paralympic volleyball teams. USA Volleyball also supports a network of regional associations, youth and junior programs, national championships, coaching and officials training, grassroots development, and the SafeSport initiative. Visit www.usavolleyball.org for more.

USAV is an equal opportunity employer committed to increasing the diversity of its community. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, gender identity or expression, disability, or sexual orientation in our programs and activities or our employment practices. To learn more about USAV’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, please visit our DEI page at: https://usavolleyball.org/dei/.

Job Description

The Head of Communications & Media Relations leads USA Volleyball’s external and internal communications, media relations, executive communications, and crisis communications. This role develops and executes a proactive communications strategy that strengthens understanding of USA Volleyball’s mission, elevates its teams and athletes, and builds trust with employees, members, media, partners, and the broader volleyball community.

Serving as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership, this leader translates organizational priorities into clear, compelling communications; cultivates influential media relationships; and prepares the organization to respond effectively to sensitive and high-profile issues.

The position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution. The role works closely cross-functionally to coordinate priorities, ensure consistent messaging, and connect media opportunities with compelling athlete, team, and organizational stories.

Essential is the commitment to demonstrate a sense of inclusion, safety, and collaborative behavior across the organization, supporting a culture of integrity, humility and consummate professionalism.

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities include but are not necessarily limited to:

Strategic Communications & Organizational Messaging

• Develop and lead USA Volleyball’s communications strategy, aligning external and internal communications with organizational priorities, national team activities, major events, and key milestones.
• Maintain a rolling multiyear communications roadmap and a detailed 12-month calendar covering major competitions, athlete milestones, organizational announcements, and long-term opportunities, including WVWC and LA28.
• Establish and maintain core organizational messages, positioning statements, talking points, and supporting materials for consistent use across executive, media, employee, member, and stakeholder communications.
• Advise senior leadership on communications opportunities, stakeholder considerations, and the potential implications of organizational decisions.

Proactive Media Relations & Publicity

• Build and lead a proactive media relations program that generates meaningful coverage of USA Volleyball, its national teams, athletes, events, programs, and leadership.
• Cultivate relationships with volleyball reporters, sports editors, and local, national, Olympic and Paralympic, lifestyle, and business media.
• Identify and pitch timely stories, athlete profiles, features, interviews, opinion pieces, and other opportunities that extend beyond competition results and event recaps.
• Draft and oversee press releases, media advisories, press kits, fact sheets, biographies, and announcement materials.
• Serve as the central point of contact for media inquiries, coordinating timely, accurate responses and access to appropriate spokespeople.
• Arrange interviews, media briefings, and executive background conversations, establishing ground rules with participating journalists in advance.

Crisis Communications & Issues Management

• Provide timely strategic counsel to the CEO and senior leadership, including assessments of communications risks, response options, and stakeholder needs.
• Monitor relevant media coverage and emerging issues to identify potential risks and recommend appropriate action.
• Draft statements, talking points, questions and answers, internal updates, and media responses in coordination with leadership, legal counsel, and relevant subject-matter experts.

Executive Visibility & Spokesperson Preparation

• Develop and execute an executive visibility strategy focused on relevant media opportunities, industry speaking engagements, thought leadership, and selective awards and recognitions.
• Prepare executives for interviews, presentations, town halls, speaking engagements, and other internal and external appearances.
• Develop key messages, briefing documents, anticipated questions and answers, scripts, presentation materials, opinion pieces, and executive biographies.

Internal & Stakeholder Communications

• Lead organization-wide internal communications that support clarity, transparency, alignment, and connection.
• Plan and manage the communications components of CEO town halls, including agendas, presentations, talking points, employee questions, and follow-up materials.
• Partner with human resources and functional leaders on sensitive employee communications and change-management messaging.

Event Media Operations

• Lead media relations planning and operations for designated priority USA Volleyball events.
• Coordinate media requirements and oversee press access and procedures
• Manage on-site communications support and external resources as needed, with clear assignments and service expectations.

Function Management, Resources & Measurement

• Develop and manage the communications budget, including media monitoring tools, distribution services, training, agency support, and event-related needs.
• Implement tools and processes for media monitoring, contact management, inquiry tracking, planning, and reporting.
• Produce reporting that assesses coverage quality, relevance to priority audiences, inclusion of key messages, and progress against communications objectives.

Qualifications:

• Significant progressive experience in strategic communications, public relations, or media relations, including senior-level responsibility for communications strategy and execution.
• Demonstrated success developing proactive media programs and securing substantive coverage across relevant sports, national, business, or consumer outlets.
• Experience advising senior executives and handling sensitive, high-profile, or rapidly evolving issues.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex or sensitive information into clear, accurate, audience-appropriate communications.
• Experience preparing executives and other spokespeople for interviews, public appearances, and challenging questions.
• Strong relationships with journalists and a demonstrated ability to build credibility with new media contacts.
• Experience leading internal communications and supporting organizational change.
• Ability to manage budgets, external resources, competing priorities, and deadline-driven work.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and a commitment to accuracy and confidentiality.
• Experience in sports, a national governing body, a membership organization, or another highly visible, stakeholder-intensive environment preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Must successfully pass a USAV background screen (prior to hire date).
• Must complete SafeSport training within two weeks of hire date and keep current as a condition of continued employment.

Salary: 140,000 - $150,000

Benefits:

USAV also offers a comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees to include:

• Paid Time Off- Accrue 10 hours each pay period (up to a maximum cap of 23 days).
• Holidays- Up to 15.5 paid holidays per year
• 403B retirement plan- Employer match up to 8%
• Health Benefits (medical, dental, vision)- No monthly premiums are deducted for employee only health benefit. An opt-out rebate is provided for employees waiving USAV medical coverage should they already have coverage with a qualified group health plan.
• Medical wellness program - Earn up to $1000/year for completing health activities
• Paid Parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer-paid life and AD&D Insurance
• Social and Wellness Committees
• Discounts on sponsored vendor apparel (Mizuno)

Benefits may be modified or discontinued from time to time at the company’s discretion as permitted by law.

Applications accepted online only. Phone calls not accepted. Applications must be received by no later than November 13, 2026. Please ensure your cover letter addresses your interest in USAV and the position.