Edtech.com's Summary

The Pennsylvania State University is hiring an Assistant Director of Media Relations and Issues Management. This role leads crisis and issues communications by researching, planning, executing, and evaluating strategies, providing University leadership with guidance to manage reputational challenges, and developing communications aligned with institutional priorities. The assistant director collaborates across the University to identify issues proactively and reactively, crafts messaging and materials, and responds to media inquiries.

Highlights

Lead development and implementation of crisis and issues management communication strategies.
Identify and address reputational challenges at local, regional, national, and global levels.
Create key messages, news releases, FAQs, communications plans, and provide post-event analysis.
Monitor news media, social media, and websites to assess public and media perceptions.
Advise University leadership and draft briefings for reputational topics and institutional priorities.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders across the University to maintain consistent messaging.
Experience in issues and crisis communications with senior leadership advising preferred.
Strong writing, editing, oral presentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills required.
Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and 8+ years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Salary range from $86,300 to $129,500 annually with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid time off, and a 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible family members.

Assistant Director of Media Relations and Issues Management Full Description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

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.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

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

In addition to working effectively with diverse stakeholders, the ideal candidate must be highly organized; pay strong attention to detail; be able to manage multiple priorities; and possess a solid work ethic, sound judgment, and strong problem-solving skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience

The ideal person for this position will:

Have experience in issues and crisis communications and advising senior leaders on communications
Possess superior writing, editing, and oral presentation skills
Be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and respond quickly and professionally under pressure and in crisis situations
Have the creative and political acuity to develop messaging and tactics suitable for executive-level communications
Be able to work independently and as part of a team
Have the ability to consistently reinforce University messages across all media and audiences
Be adept at working with others across the University to address, develop, support, and implement messaging and positioning for Penn State

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONSBachelor's Degree8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

acceptedRequired Certifications:None

About Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications

As Penn State's central public relations and marketing division, the Office of Strategic Communications is a fully integrated, award-winning, best-in-class marketing and public relations team defined by innovative strategy and breakthrough creative driven by measurable goals. We advance the University by strengthening and protecting the institution's reputation in regional, national and international spheres of influence in ways that serve recruitment, resource and leadership goals.

Spanning Penn State's large-scale enterprise—including campus locations across Pennsylvania, nearly 90,000 students, and an alumni base exceeding 800,000—the Office of Strategic Communications' work encompasses all forms of communications and engagement, ranging from branding, marketing, and trademark and event management to internal communications, proactive and social media, research communications, and crisis and issues management. We've attracted talented and diverse team members from private and public sectors at all levels of our division, giving us the ability to build a strategic program of excellence recognized throughout the University.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $86,300.00 - $129,500.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

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Original Job Description