Football Communications Specialist

About the Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football club and member of the National Football League (NFL).  The team’s headquarters and practice facility are located on a 50-acre site in Flowery Branch, Georgia.  The Falcons’ NFL expansion franchise was awarded in 1965 and acquired by current owner Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, in 2002.

Who we are 

Our Blank Family of Businesses Core Values serve as the foundation for the way we operate at all levels:

Put People First - Listen & Respond - Include Everyone - Innovate Continuously - Lead by Example - Give Back to Others

We use our core values as a compass to guide our decisions because they are our North Star.  If we live our core values daily, we know everything else will take care of itself.  We enjoy a culture rooted in giving back to others through our time, talents, labor, and financial commitment. We are successful when we collaborate with and value each other like family, maintain a hunger to delight guests and continuously innovate, listen closely for even the smallest need for improvement, stand up for convictions, and genuinely own our responsibilities as if our name is on the outside of the building. 

Our Ideal Candidates

Actively Listen – Take an active role in listening by being present in the moment, using healthy body language, and ensuring joint understanding.  When we read between the lines and hear what others are saying and what they are not saying, we encounter amazing opportunities to go the extra mile in serving them. 

Collaborate – Realize that we are better together than we are alone.  We achieve much better results when others have the opportunity to add their diverse perspectives.  Be open to feedback and actively seek input from a variety of people at varying levels because the best ideas come from those who are closest to those we serve.

Engage in Servant Leadership – Put others ahead of yourself even when it’s difficult.  Find opportunities to lead by example in the way you pitch in and help others.  Giving back to others is at the heart of what we do. 

Build Relationships – Cultivate trust in relationships by showing respect and sensitivity.  Invest time in helping others to continuously improve by listening to their ideas and helping them to continuously improve. 

Own Results – Own issues you encounter even when they are outside of your area of responsibility by taking action or seeking out the needed resolution. You are empowered and expected to take risks aimed at exceeding the expectations of our guests.  Take advantage of this rare opportunity by utilizing available resources.

Position Summary

The Atlanta Falcons Football Communications Specialist will assist in executing overall media strategy and tactical efforts for both the football communications and digital departments, in alignment with the objectives for both departments. They will work to provide daily support and media coordination in various areas. The Specialist will collaborate regularly with the Falcons Digital Media team in order to ensure all teams are aligned.

This position will drive deeper storytelling and greater media awareness of Falcons efforts. This includes (but is not limited to) developing powerful storylines, proactive media pitching, providing media support at events and serving as the liaison between local and national media on gamedays.

Versatility, passion, relationship building and a strong sense of urgency are critical to the success of this position. This fast-paced and challenging opportunity requires strong organizational, communication and storytelling skills (verbal and written), creative ability and a proactive detail-oriented mindset in order to help create synergy between multiple integrated teams.

The ideal candidate possesses proven media relations skills, strong attention to detail and is an excellent communicator.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate media credential process, working closely with Mercedes-Benz Stadium security team.
• Provide messaging points and preparation for Falcons players and coaches in advance of media availabilities.
• Focus on a team-oriented workflow in providing Atlanta Falcons fans a world-class digital experience.
• Create unique content for Falcons fans, internal media partners and external media.
• Assist in developing content strategies surrounding the team, its players and its activities to support digital and ticket sales efforts.
• Engage in social listening to prepare the team for proper response to external dialogue.
• Maintain an ongoing understanding of industry trends, innovative platforms and emerging media in a rapidly changing profession.
• Assist with written communications efforts in breaking news and department initiatives.
• Independently make decisions regarding the handling of information available to the media.
• Co-lead efforts in providing a world-class media operations experience.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Experience with Accredit Solutions strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of news media, digital communications, digital/social media, marketing and how all work together.
• Strong media relations skills, solid experience in day-to-day account management, media relationship building, and integrated marketing experience.
• Experience utilizing statistical research tools.
• Solid client relations, project management and media outreach skills and the ability to play a primary, independent implementation role.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement when establishing priorities.
• Experience working effectively with external audiences and communities.
• Social media literacy and an understanding of digital media trends.
• Excellent verbal, writing and presenting skills.
• Passion for giving back both personally and professionally.                               
• Provide excellent judgment and discretion in making well-reasoned independent recommendations and decisions.
• Desire and initiative to continuously improve processes and achieve results.
• Superior attention to detail.
• Excellent time management, multi-tasking and organization skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with all levels of associates and media.
• Ability to develop unique content to help articulate the Falcons story.
• Strong strategic thinking capability.
• Proactive, proven ability to anticipate needs.
• Possess an entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative spirit.
• Strong ability to formulate a clear point of view and create a concise and well-written narrative to express it.
• Proficiency in MS Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word; Adobe Creative Suite.
• Ability to maintain and manage work in a fast-paced, sometimes intense environment.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

• One (1) to three (3) years of professional experience in a communications setting; i.e., PR agency, in-house communications department, sports team, etc.
• Flexibility in work schedule; available to work nights, weekends, and holidays according to team needs and schedule.