Director, Global Media and Strategic Response, Innovative Medicine

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine•New Brunswick, NJ

1d•$150,000 - $258,750•Hybrid

About The Position

Johnson & Johnson is seeking a Director, Global Media and Strategic Response, for its Innovative Medicine business. This hybrid, in-person role is based in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Director will strengthen and protect the reputation of the Innovative Medicine business, serve as a senior advisor and strategist, build and coordinate proactive earned-media efforts on priority topics, and shape responses to issues affecting the company’s global reputation. As part of the Innovative Medicine Communications and Public Affairs HUB, the Director will establish a global earned-media and issues capability and partner with enterprise and Innovative Medicine teams on sector-level engagement strategy. The role leads responses to complex, high-stakes reputational issues, including litigation, product and regulatory developments, data privacy, and other risks. The Director leads a team of 2–3 people and helps determine how, when, and whether the company engages externally on high-profile or reputationally sensitive matters, ensuring communications are strategic, impactful, compliant, and consistent across global markets. The Director develops proactive and reactive trade-media strategies, prepares leaders and subject-matter experts for media opportunities, develops messaging and media materials, monitors emerging risks and opportunities, and builds relationships and systems that support effective media engagement. The position also develops strategic response frameworks and materials, coordinates with enterprise, legal, regulatory, and regional teams, advises leadership during fast-moving situations, manages relevant budgets, vendors, and technology, and embeds external-engagement policies and processes across global teams. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and Legal partners and facilitates cross-functional alignment and timely decision-making.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressive experience in executive, corporate, or business communications.
Proven strategic leadership experience in a complex, global organization.
Demonstrated ability to lead strategically through ambiguity, with expertise in strategic planning, engagement, and crisis communications.
Ability to present plans and concepts to executives and serve as a company spokesperson with trade media when needed.
Proven experience partnering with C-suite executives and senior leadership teams.
Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.
Strong leadership and team-development capabilities and commitment to fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture.
Track record of successfully managing communications.
Proficiency in digital communication platforms and analytics tools.
High integrity, discretion, composure, and sound judgment.
Ability to collaborate effectively and efficiently across global teams.

Nice To Haves

Agility Jumps
Brand Identity
Brand Recognition
Communications Measurement
Competitive Landscape Analysis
Corporate Management
Cultural Competence
Customer Experience Management
External Communication
Product Knowledge
Relationship Building
Tactical Planning
Technical Credibility

Responsibilities

Lead proactive and reactive trade-media engagement for Innovative Medicine topics in coordination with therapeutic-area communications leaders.
Shape proactive media strategies for Innovative Medicine leaders and subject-matter experts, partnering with Global Corporate Media Relations on top-tier media strategy and execution.
Develop and maintain executive messaging, statements, FAQs, briefings, and other materials on priority topics.
Identify and prepare leaders and subject-matter experts for interviews and media opportunities.
Monitor media coverage and the external landscape for emerging risks and opportunities, and elevate insights and recommendations.
Build relationships with key trade media and internal communications and business partners to enable coordinated, timely outreach and responses.
Develop systems and tools to manage trade-media relationships, pitches, and engagement plans efficiently across Innovative Medicine Communications and Public Affairs.
Partner with enterprise colleagues to strengthen strategic frameworks and standard operating procedures for issues affecting the business and its reputation.
Collaborate with Global Corporate Affairs, Regulatory, and the Global Legal Organization to prepare for pending issues and emerging trends.
Develop reactive messaging, talking points, message maps, and communication strategies for sensitive situations while balancing legal and reputational considerations.
Monitor media and stakeholder activity related to risks and advise leadership on response, positioning, timing, and critical issues.
Draft, review, edit, and approve reactive media statements, external-partner Q&A, and other communications for use around the world.
Counsel regional communications teams in real time on priority media requests, approval processes, and executive alignment during fast-moving situations.
Maintain consistency of messaging across markets while allowing appropriate local nuance, particularly on sensitive or legally complex topics.
Create playbooks and guidance to develop colleagues’ skills and support media and issues standards, governance, and guidance.
Manage budgets, vendors, and technology used to monitor the external environment and prepare for emerging issues.
Serve as a sector capability leader for external engagement and embed approved processes for securing, assessing, routing, and approving engagements in accordance with company policies.
Contribute to the development and rollout of enterprise communications policies and guidance, including media engagement procedures and press-release standards.
Operationalize engagement protocols, workflows, and governance structures across global teams.
Advise senior leaders and Legal partners on trade-media opportunities and sensitive reputational matters.
Coordinate with Global Corporate Affairs leadership on whether issues require executive-level review or enterprise escalation.
Facilitate alignment across global, regional, and functional teams to support cohesive, timely decisions under pressure.
Lead a team of 2–3 people.

Benefits

Company consolidated retirement plan (pension), subject to plan terms.
Company savings plan (401(k)), subject to plan terms.
Eligibility to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
Vacation: 120 hours per calendar year, subject to policy and hire date.
Sick time: 40 hours per calendar year, with specified higher allowances for eligible Colorado and Washington residents.
Holiday pay, including floating holidays: 13 days per calendar year.
Work, Personal and Family Time: up to 40 hours per calendar year.
Parental leave: 480 hours within one year of a child’s birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
Bereavement leave: 240 hours for an immediate family member and 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year.
Caregiver leave: 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period.
Volunteer leave: 32 hours per calendar year.
Military spouse time-off: 80 hours per calendar year.