Assistant Director of Media Relations and Issues Management
About The Position
Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications—the University’s central public relations and marketing division—is looking for an assistant director to join its issues and crisis communications team. Reporting to the team’s director and working closely with the vice president for strategic communications, the person in this position will research, plan, execute, and evaluate communications focused on crisis and issues management. This is a hybrid position that combines remote and on-campus working. Evening and weekend hours will be required as needed. This individual will be part of a talented team that provides University leadership with advice, guidance, and materials on issues of critical reputational importance to Penn State. The successful candidate will be a strategic leader who can work individually and as part of a team to proactively identify issues and assess their potential impact; respond to reputational challenges; provide direction and leadership to others; and develop and implement a communications strategy that is aligned with institutional priorities and provides accurate messaging on behalf of Penn State.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree
- 8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
- Current Penn State employees (faculty, staff, technical service, or student) must apply internally through Workday.
- Current Penn State students (not previously employed) must apply internally through Workday.
- External applicants must click “Apply” to complete the application process.
- Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in issues and crisis communications and advising senior leaders on communications
- Superior writing, editing, and oral presentation skills
- Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and respond quickly and professionally under pressure and in crisis situations
- Creative and political acuity to develop messaging and tactics suitable for executive-level communications
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to consistently reinforce University messages across all media and audiences
- Adept at working with others across the University to address, develop, support, and implement messaging and positioning for Penn State
Responsibilities
- Working with others across the University to proactively and reactively identify and address issues; conduct research; and craft key messages, news releases, FAQs, communications plans, and other written materials
- Developing and implementing an issues management strategy that proactively identifies challenges on a local, regional, national, or global scale and can potentially impact the University or its constituents
- Creating communications plans, associated materials, and responses and providing updates, summaries, and post-event analysis and recommendations
- Monitoring news media, social media, and websites to identify issues and evaluate public/media perceptions
- Using strong analytical and issues-management skills to identify options, recommend tactics, and draft clear, concise responses and briefing communications for University leadership and others
- Working with news media and social media platforms to provide appropriate information and responses to inquiries and online conversations related to reputational topics and institutional priorities
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Robust retirement plans
- Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
- 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
