Job Descriptions – 2016-17 NCAA Postgraduate Internships
______________________________________________________________________
COMMUNICATIONS / Employee and strategic outreach intern
Former interns in this role have gone on to work in corporate communications and in the NCAA
membership.
Desired knowledge, skills and abilities: The intern working in employee and strategic
outreach is exceptionally organized. This individual works well on collaborative projects, but is
also able to work independently with little or no supervision. The ability to thrive in a fast-paced
environment, sometimes under pressure, remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient,
with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality is essential to being successful in this
role. Expert level written and verbal communication skills, strong decision-making ability and
attention to detail are critical.
General position summary: To provide assistance to the Communications staff in advancing
the NCAA brand through internal and external communications; community relations; former
student- athlete outreach; and related projects. Intern must demonstrate strong writing,
interpersonal and digital communication skills.
Essential duties:
1) Assist with administration of the NCAA national office internal website and other employee
communication platforms.
2) Help edit and generate content for employee communication platforms.
3) Support the former student-athlete engagement program called NCAA After the Game by
managing content for the site, marketing the site to respective publics and the membership and
assisting in generating content and amplification efforts.
4) Support the administration of the NCAA former Student-Athlete Career Center and monitor
program effectiveness through analytics and evaluation.
5) Support community events or charities (local, regional and national) connected with the
NCAA.
6) Support the NCAA Woman of the Year and NCAA Convention-related projects as required.
7) Participate on at least one cross-functional communications team, demonstrating
collaboration and performance that enhance team performance.
www.NCAA.org/internship
Page No. 1
Job Descriptions – 2016-17 NCAA Postgraduate Internships
______________________________________________________________________
COMMUNICATIONS / Executive and Strategic Communications intern
The former intern in this role has accepted a job in public affairs for a major athletics conference.
Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The intern working in executive affairs / strategic communications
is exceptionally organized. This individual works well on collaborative projects, but is also able to work
independently with little or no supervision. The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, sometimes under
pressure, remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient, with a high level of professionalism and
confidentiality is essential to being successful in this role. Expert level written and verbal communication
skills, strong decision making ability and attention to detail are critical.
General position summary: Working with both the Office of the President and the Communications
group, the intern supports a variety of initiatives that advance NCAA communication goals through
multiple tools, platforms and audiences. This internship will provide a broad range of experience in
executive communications.
Essential duties:
1.) Support executive communications with NCAA members, national office staff and others.
2.) Engage as a member of the executive staff, collaborating on various team projects, serving as backup for
other team members and delivering on the goals established for the group.
3.) Assist with student-athlete engagement events and other selected presidential speaking engagements,
providing strategic and logistic support.
4.) Perform writing and other duties as assigned by the Chief of Staff and Assistant Director of Executive
Affairs.
5.) Maintain necessary electronic and paper files related to executive business.
6.) Assist with the NCAA speakers program to support and enhance staff speaking engagements.
7.) Support NCAA Woman of the Year events produced by the Communications group, participating in
communication planning and on site execution.
8.) Assist with planning, execution and assessment of other events hat tell the student-athlete story,
communicate the mission and values of the NCAA and provide a positive attendee experience.
9.) As assigned by the Communications group, contribute to content that illuminates the value of college
sports and/or explains NCAA priorities and processes.
10.) As assigned by the Communications group, write stories to tell the student-athlete story and
communicate the mission of college sports.
11.) Participate on at least one cross-functional communications team, demonstrating collaboration and
performance that enhance team performance.
www.NCAA.org/internship
Page No. 2
Job Descriptions – 2016-17 NCAA Postgraduate Internships
______________________________________________________________________
COMMUNICATIONS / Public and media relations intern
Former interns in this role have accepted jobs in public relations for professional sports organizations such as
the Texas Rangers. Additionally, former interns have moved to the membership – either as staff members at
schools or conferences, such as the Big Ten, or as graduate students contributing as staff or interns in their
athletics departments at Ohio State University, University of Illinois, Illinois State University and University of
Missouri.
Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Related work experience in public relations, journalism, or
communications, particularly in high-interest/low-trust settings.
• Excellent writing skills and proven ability to produce materials targeted toward specific
audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and manage stakeholders and related expectations.
• Demonstrated understanding of social media.
• Demonstrated understanding of media relations.
• Proven ability to work with members of the media.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of higher education and collegiate athletics.
• Understanding of the overall branding and messaging goals of the NCAA.
• Strong computer skills.
General position summary: The public and media relations intern works with the PMR group to
effectively and strategically communicate the NCAA’s mission and goals. The intern will help
communicate the NCAA's role as the voice of an association that plays a positive part in the lives of
student-athletes. Audiences include the media, public, member schools, and student-athletes and their
families.
Essential duties:
1) Work with supervisor and others within the department to gain writing experience (i.e. press releases,
talking points) and offer writing support for Public and Media Relations staff.
2) Work with supervisor and Director of Public and Media Relations to provide assistance with issues
management.
3) Work with supervisor and Director of Public and Media Relations to provide assistance with events, projects
or initiatives.
4) Serve as the primary point of contact for student media contacts and strategic outreach to student media.
5) Participate on at least one cross-functional communications team, demonstrating collaboration and
performance that enhance team performance.
www.NCAA.org/internship
Page No. 3
Job Descriptions – 2016-17 NCAA Postgraduate Internships
______________________________________________________________________
COMMUNICATIONS / Web Communications Intern
Former interns in this role have accepted jobs as athletics administrators, reporters, video producers
and web coordinators for conference offices and media outlets, such as America East Conference,
American University, Carnegie Mellon University, Temple University and the Clarion-Ledger
newspaper (Mississippi).
Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Related work experience in graphic / web / infographic
design, social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and producing written content for online
platforms; Competent video editing skills and proven ability to communicate effectively through various
channels; Demonstrated ability to collaborate and manage stakeholders and related expectations;
Demonstrated understanding of social media; Demonstrated understanding of video producing;
Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and tight deadlines, as well as work independently with basic
direction; Strong organizational skills; Strong writing and editing skills, Knowledge of higher education
and collegiate athletics; General understanding of brand management, strong computer skills.
General position summary: The Web Communications intern assists the national office staff in
communicating news and information through NCAA.org, social media, video production and
other digital communication platforms.
Essential duties:
1) Visual Communication: Conceptualize, design and produce infographics help explain the
NCAA's complex structures, legislation and various data points to a public audience.
2) Social media community management: Oversee one to two NCAA social media platforms
to communicate NCAA messages to the general public.
3) Project management: Assist other departments with online initiatives including webinars, videos
and social media projects as assigned.
4) Website management: Update areas of NCAA.org as assigned by web team. This includes
posting stories, keeping content up to date and designing layouts.
5) Conceptualize, shoot and edit video with an eye on messaging, as well as pre-production and
post- production duties. Knowledge of Final Cut Pro or Premiere is not required, but beneficial.
6) Compiling information from multiple sources within the national office, member schools and outside
organizations for use in daily update of membership and personnel records.
7) Participate on at least one cross-functional communications team, demonstrating collaboration
and performance that enhance team performance.
www.NCAA.org/internship
Page No. 4