University of Kentucky
Communications Director
🇺🇸 Lexington, KY
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $47K - $78K
💻 Communications
🗓️ August 1st, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
- Lead crisis communication planning, protocols, and emergency response.
- Support issues management and rapid response communications.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to mitigate issues and monitor emerging situations.
- Ensure messaging continuity and establish public trust.
- Report to the Executive Director of Issues Management and Strategic Operations.
- Requires expertise in public relations, internal communication, and experience in large, complex organizations.
- Proficient with MS Windows, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Asana or similar work management software.
- Supervisory responsibilities included.
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree.
- Minimum 4 years of related experience.
- Salary range: $47,278 to $78,000 per year.
- Work schedule Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional nights, weekends, and on-call duties.
- Department: PR and Strategic Communications.
- Must submit a writing sample related to public relations, internal communications, or crisis communications.
Communications Director Full Description
Toggle navigation
Requisition Number | RE51141
Working Title | Crisis and Issues Communications Director
Department Name | 3R100:PR and Strategic Communications
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 45
Salary Range | $47,278-78,000/year
Type of Position | Staff
Position Time Status | Full-Time
Required Education | BA
Click here for more information about equivalencies: | https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience | 4 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Shift | Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Occasional nights and weekends if an emergency. Serve as on-call four or five times a fiscal year.
Job Summary | The Crisis and Issues Communication Director leads crisis communication planning, protocols, and response during emergency situations. Reporting to the Executive Director of Issues Management and Strategic Operations, the position also supports issues management, particularly rapid response communication needs, and collaborates with stakeholders to mitigate issues and proactively monitor emerging issues. The position plays a critical role in establishing public trust and ensuring messaging continuity informed by a variety of viewpoints and stakeholder needs. The ideal candidate should be someone who can work in high-stakes, fast-moving situations, with expertise in both public relations and internal communication and experience in large, complex organizations.
Writing Sample Instructions:
In the Applicant Documents section, a writing sample is required. Please submit a sample of public relations, internal communications and/or crisis communications writing that you wrote. This could include, but is not limited to, press releases, community messages, talking points, media statements, and/or communications plans.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities | MS Windows/Teams/OneDrive/SharePoint, Asana or similar work management software
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | Yes
Preferred Education/Experience |
Deadline to Apply | 08/21/2025
Our University Community | We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
- * Please describe your experience communicating during crises or sensitive situations. How did you maintain trust among varied stakeholders while ensuring consistency and accuracy in your messaging?
(Open Ended Question) - * How many years of experience do you have in writing key messages, public statements, talking points and communication plans?
- None
- More than 0, up through 1 year
- More than 1 year, up through 3 years
- More than 3 years, up through 5 years
- More than 5 years
- Resume
- Writing Sample
- Cover Letter
- © University of Kentucky
- Lexington, Kentucky 40506
- An Equal Opportunity University
- Accreditation
- Directory
- Privacy Policy
.
Any data not saved will be lost.
Click 'OK' to keep your session active.
Similar Jobs
Communications/Curriculum Specialist
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
🇺🇸 Chapel Hill, NC
Director of Visual Media Atlanta
Savannah College of Art and Design
🇺🇸 Atlanta, GA
Assistant Dean for JSOM Communications
The University of Texas at Dallas
🇺🇸 Hybrid - Richardson, TX
Communications Manager
Villanova University
🇺🇸 Villanova, PA
Science Communication Writer / Communications Manager II
Michigan State University
🇺🇸 East Lansing, MI
