Director of Photography

The Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA), founded in 1891, is a nonprofit organization whose objective is to "promote, influence, and assist in financing the varsity athletic programs of the midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy" in accordance with the policy of the Superintendent of the Academy. Through an intercollegiate athletics program that is one of the largest in the country, every midshipman is afforded the opportunity to compete in athletics at the Division I level. The emphasis on physical fitness is borne out in the first line of the mission of the U.S. Naval Academy: To develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically.

Summary

The Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA), home to one of the nation’s most tradition-rich and mission-driven athletic programs, is seeking an innovative, creative and highly motivated Director of Photography to lead the visual storytelling efforts for Navy Athletics.

This position plays a critical role in capturing and communicating the spirit, excellence and impact of 36 varsity athletic programs at the United States Naval Academy. The Director of Photography will create compelling imagery that elevates the Navy Athletics brand across recruiting, marketing, communications, fundraising and fan engagement platforms.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead photographer for Navy Athletics, covering athletic competitions, special events, ceremonies and departmental initiatives.

• Produce high-quality photography content for use across digital, social media, print, advertising and external communications platforms.

• Develop and execute creative visual storytelling strategies that align with the mission and brand identity of Navy Athletics and the United States Naval Academy.

• Manage photography workflows including editing, archiving, metadata organization and distribution of assets, often in real time during live events, ensuring that images are tagged and distributed to digital platforms within minutes of action occurring.

• Collaborate closely with communications, creative services, marketing, recruiting and external relations staff to support departmental objectives.

• Coordinate with the communications team and individual student-athlete photo shoots, studio sessions and special creative projects.

• Coordinate and supervise the work of freelance and student photographers.

• Maintain and manage photography equipment and recommend future technology investments.

• Ensure timely delivery of photography assets for media, social and internal stakeholders.

•  Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Experience, Education, & Certification(s)

  • Bachelor’s degree in photography, visual communications, multimedia production or related field is preferred.

  • Minimum of 3-5 years of professional photography experience, preferably in collegiate athletics, professional sports or a fast-paced content environment.

  • Demonstrated expertise in sports action photography, portrait photography and visual storytelling.

  • Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, including Lightroom and Photoshop.

• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple assignments under tight deadlines.

  • Ability to work nights, weekends and travel as required by athletic schedules.

  • Strong interpersonal and collaborative communication skills.

  • Experience managing creative content for Division I athletics programs or sports organizations.

  • Knowledge of social media content trends and digital engagement strategies.

  • Experience with remote lighting setups, studio photography and multimedia integration.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be eligible to work in the United States of America, without sponsorship.

• Must be eligible to work on a military installation, including a willingness to submit to a background screen.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

• This is an in-person position. 

Work Conditions/Physical Requirements

• Maintain regular office hours in addition to event coverage on nights, weekends and some holidays to align with event schedules.

• Ability to stand for long periods of time, work outdoors in weather conditions and carry photographic gear (up to 40 lbs.).

• Hand and finger dexterity (e.g., typing, using a mouse, handling paperwork)

• Repetitive hand and wrist movements (e.g., keyboarding, data entry)

• Visual acuity (e.g., reading screens, documents)

• Basic upper body movement (e.g., reaching for office supplies, opening drawers)

• Cognitive focus and mental stamina (e.g., prolonged concentration on tasks)

Travel

• Road football games, bowl games, Army-Navy and championship events when necessary.

The NAAA Featured Benefits

• Medical 

• Dental

• Vision

• 403(b) retirement plan 

• Paid holidays

• Paid accrued vacation and sick days

• NAAA paid life/AD&D insurance

Pay Range

$50,000 - $60,000

Application Process

• Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references 

• Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Disclaimer Statement

This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.