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AVP, MEDIA & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Job Title: AVP, MEDIA & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Job Code: 3763
FLSA: E
Job Level: 17
Revised Date: 01/01/2021
Job Family: JF 28
Occupational Summary
The Assistant Vice President for Media and Public Affairs serves as member of the Public Affairs & Government Relations senior leadership team, oversees communications strategy and operations with respect to on-campus and off-campus media, and serves as the University's deputy spokesperson.
Work Performed
Identify, analyze, and collaborate on managing complex issues and developing strategies to ensure that accurate and timely messages are communicated by the right people to the right audiences, both internally and externally, and through a range of channels.
Counsel the vice president for public affairs and government relations, university leaders, faculty and communications officers on the reputational risks and public relations implications of current events, issues, actions and/or policies contemplated by the university
Serve as deputy university spokesperson and represent Duke in other public settings.
Manage the university's crisis communications activities. - Work the vice president in mobilizing the university's crisis communications and issues management response - Lead and collaborate with subject matter experts from across the university to anticipate and manage issues or events that could affect the university's reputation. - Lead efforts to disseminate accurate information and serve as an advocate and principal for addressing misinformation. - Research and prepare briefing materials as well as press releases and campus statements. - In consultation with schools, units and departments, develop effective background materials on issues related to Duke, higher education, research, health care, athletics and other university activities and priorities.
Lead a team that handles media relations matters including but not limited to: - Developing strategies to advance university priorities and initiatives through earned media coverage; - Cultivating and maintaining relationships with local, regional, national, and international media organizations, journalists and influencers; - Monitoring and reporting of coverage of the University, its students, faculty and staff; - Producing and distributing news releases and other pertinent media materials; - Coordinating media access to campus and providing media management for special events.
Advise faculty, administrators, and school/unit communications officers on media engagement and effective messaging. Provide media training and coaching for groups and individuals in their fulfillment of media relations roles.
Collaborate with University Communications colleagues, Duke in DC team, school and unit communicators, and others to identify and shape stories that could have external media potential and develop a coordinated media relations strategy.
Benchmark best practices in higher education and other industries to ensure an innovative and contemporary approach to public affairs, issues management and crisis communications.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Bachelor's degree in marketing, journalism, communications, English or related field. Master's degree preferred.
Experience
Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in communications strategy and execution in a complex, high profile setting, such as higher education, health care, government, corporate, political, advocacy or nonprofit organization in a role that includes identifying and managing issues and media relations.
Skills
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
