Senior Advisor, Crisis Communication & Issues Management, University Marketing and Comm(R0007160)

Job Description Summary:

The Senior Advisor, Crisis Communication and Issues Management is responsible for safeguarding and enhancing Wake Forest University’s ability to fulfill its mission and its reputation as a leading academic institution and a community committed to compassion and wellbeing. This role develops and implements proactive and reactive communication strategies, ensuring a coordinated and centralized approach to issues management. The Senior Advisor provides strategic counsel, crafts communication plans and protocols, and drafts key messages while actively collaborating with the leadership team to maintain consistent, high-quality communication with internal and external stakeholders.

*Applications for this position will be accepted through September 30, 2024, 11:59 PM EST

Essential Functions:

• Manages and refines a comprehensive crisis communications strategy to reinforce the University’s image and reputation and ensure alignment with its mission and values.
• Drafts and edits communications for senior leadership, ensuring clarity and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Provides timely, accurate information to all stakeholders during a crisis, overseeing and coordinating communications to ensure consistency and alignment.
• Develops and maintains internal workflows, decision-making structures, and monitoring/reporting systems for crisis management.
• Leads preparedness efforts, including developing communication tools (templates, guidelines) and conducting regular training sessions and simulations. Collaborates on maintaining University messaging systems and ensuring their integrity and effectiveness.
• Manages relationships with the University’s Messaging Committee, Incident Management team, and other key stakeholders, including University Police, to ensure a unified crisis response.
• Oversees relationships with external communications partners, including Public Information Officers (PIOs) of emergency response partners. Serves as the University’s spokesperson during crises when necessary.
• Identifies potential risks and vulnerabilities, develops proactive plans, and recommends initiatives to enhance the University’s reputation and build trust.
• Analyzes goals and implements programs to enhance and shape the Wake Alert brand. Works with teams to monitor media and social media effectiveness.
• Conducts ongoing and annual assessments of communication strategies and their effectiveness in maintaining brand reputation and achieving communications goals. Reports key outcomes and performance indicators.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Get excited about the prospect of joining a team that is making a difference in people’s lives every day.
• Have a passion for workplace diversity and inclusion.
• Have high standards for your work and are proud to contribute to a mission-driven organization.
• Contributes to a transparent and equitable organizational culture where ethical and equity policies and practices are understood and lived out by all staff. 

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years in crisis communications, corporate communications, public relations, reputation management, or related fields. Proven experience working with high-level leaders and managing diverse communication strategies.
• Strong belief in truth and transparency as key communication principles.
• Ability to lead with empathy, emotional intelligence, and patience in high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic decision-making, especially under stress; adaptability, resilience, and risk management. Strength to assume risk and deal with consequences.
• Exceptional ability to craft and deliver strategies and messaging on sensitive issues for diverse audiences, both internal and external, under tight deadlines.
• Strategic thinker with a track record of developing and executing multi-faceted communication plans, including optimal channel usage and timing.
• Strong news judgment with an understanding of brand alignment in response strategies.
• Deep understanding of news and social media dynamics, including stakeholder interactions across various channels.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and proactively troubleshoot.
• Experience in project management, including drafting multi-faceted communications plans and monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on outcomes.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication and relationship management abilities. Ability to gain buy-in from project stakeholders.
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to connect information, objectives, and stakeholders across the organization.
• Familiarity with relevant laws and regulations related to crisis management.
• Willingness to work nights, weekends, and holidays if required, including regularly being on-call.
• Commitment to the mission and values of University Advancement and a commitment to equity, particularly racial equity, with a willingness to proactively learn about it and integrate it into all aspects of the work.
• Respect for the dignity and abilities of all people.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Master’s degree and/or related certifications preferred.
• Experience working in higher education environment preferred.

Accountabilities:

• Responsible for own work only.
• The Senior Advisor is also accountable for the work of advisory groups and task forces and the work of external contractors.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:

Sedentary work primarily involving sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned. No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Note: This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by the employee’s supervisor.

To help provide a safe learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.

Wake Forest University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in employment for individuals with disabilities.