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Director Issues Management

University Communications is seeking aDirector of Issues Management who will be a key leader within the strategic communications team in the Office of Communications, responsible for developing and executing strategic plans to enhance the reputation of the institution, prepare for and respond effectively to crises, and manage complex communications moments in ways that advance the university’s mission of research, education, patient care, and service to our communities. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications, the Director of Issues Management must be comfortable navigating highly confidential, sensitive information and issues, confident in providing strategic counsel to leaders and directing tactical implementation of plans across teams, and enjoy being on the frontlines of reputational opportunities and challenges in a fast-paced environment.

This role requires substantial experience in the strategic management of sensitive, high-stakes, reputation management-related communications; the ability to maintain a cool head and good humor under pressure; exhibit sound judgment and sensitivity to organizational dynamics; ability to provide confident, proactive counsel to leadership and stakeholders; and be readily available and flexible as needs arise outside of business hours. The ideal candidate will have an established record of successfully mitigating crises and reputational threats for high-profile organizations, and extensive experience in strategic planning, advancing organizational change agendas, and engaging with diverse stakeholders in a highly decentralized environment.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Lead the development and implementation of communications playbooks and strategic plans; partner with the AVP of Strategic Communications and stakeholders across the institution to structure crisis and issues management processes, systems, and protocols.
  • Draft messaging and other written content for university leadership, spokespeople, and stakeholders.
  • Work with the office’s digital analytics team to manage media monitoring and social media listening tools to monitor emerging issues, andbenchmark and track reputation.
  • Regularly conduct vulnerability assessments and develop contingency plans to address the most pressing potential scenarios.
  • Provide expert communications counsel to leaders and stakeholders on highly complex issues, including both institutional opportunities and challenges.
  • Engage subject matter experts and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to develop in-depth understanding of complex reputational issues and advance institutional priorities.
  • Produce rapid content and messaging support for communications aimed at diverse internal and external audiences.
  • Demonstrate excellent news judgment and adherence to appropriate tone and brand parameters.
  • Develop materials and strategies that reflect a fluent understanding of the university’s mission, values, culture, and priorities.
  • Efficiently and effectively manage multiple, complex and time-sensitive projects with quick turn-around requirements.
  • Anticipate and work to proactively to address leadership and institutional needs and concerns.
  • Work outside regular business hours as needed.

Minimum Qualifications (Mandatory):

  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • At least 7 years of communications, public relations or media relations experience, preferably in a large, complex and decentralized environment.Background in politics, government, or higher education strongly preferred.
  • Additional education (graduate degree) may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Exercise a high degree of diplomacy, discretion and confidentiality at all times; maintain a cool head and good humor under pressure.

Special Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

  • Demonstrated success in media relations and strategic communications.
  • Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to work quickly and with precision within a collaborative process.
  • Mastery of the analytical tools used to determine the effectiveness of issues and reputation management programs – and an ability to communicate the ROI of such work to leadership.
  • Understanding of the issues facing higher education today and a passion for the mission of a world‐class research institution.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate controversial or complicated concepts clearly and concisely and the ability to make public presentations before a wide variety of audiences.
  • Ability to thrive in a large, decentralized, and fast‐paced organization, and to manage multiple complex projects and initiatives simultaneously. Close collaboration within the communications team and with divisional communications professionals is essential.
  • Appreciation of the unique responsibilities and challenges of working at an elite university.
  • A level of experience and confidence to build credibility and collaborate with the most senior university leadership.
  • Excellent project management skills.
  • Ability and willingness to keep abreast of the latest developments in communications technology and to integrate them into the unit’s work.
  • Demonstrated success as both a strategist and tactician.

JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience.  Additional related experience may substitute for the required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Classified Title: Director Issues Management
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PG
Starting Salary Range: Commensurate with Experience
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: M-F, 8:30am-5:00pm with occasional nights and weekends required on an as-needed basis
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: JH at Keswick
Department name: University Communications
Personnel area: University Administration

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office atjhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.

Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons or because the individual is pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Note: Job Postings are updated daily and remain online until filled.

EEO is the Law
Learn more:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

JH at Keswick


The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

During the Influenza ("the flu") season, as a condition of employment, The Johns Hopkins Institutions require all employees who provide ongoing services to patients or work in patient care or clinical care areas to have an annual influenza vaccination or possess an approved medical or religious exception. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination of employment.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Note: Job Postings are updated daily and remain online until filled.

EEO is the Law
Learn more:
https://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf
Important legal information
http://hrnt.jhu.edu/legal.cfm

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