Career Center

Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine seek an accomplished and effective communications leader to develop and execute the communications strategy of the institutions' Office of Public Safety. The Strategic Communications Director, Public Safety reports directly to the Vice President for Public Safety and JHU & JHM Vice Presidents for Communications. This position is a member of the Public Safety leadership team and works closely with communications professionals across Johns Hopkins.

The ideal candidate in this role will be able to operate on both strategic and tactical levels to promote the work and reputation of the Office of Public Safety; communicate vital information to our community and neighbors; and lead the office's engagement with traditional and social media. This role will have direct and intentional collaboration with members of the institution's communications offices to ensure widespread, consistent, and effective internal and external communication efforts. This position requires strong and demonstrated written and conversational communications skills and the ability to influence outcomes. The incumbent will be highly effective at building credibility and relationships at all levels of the institution and externally.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of internal and external communication strategies for Johns Hopkins Public Safety, institution-wide, ensuring clear, timely messaging for members of the Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine communities as well as journalists and external stakeholders using a variety of modalities and methods.
• Works with local, regional, and national media outlets proactively and in breaking news scenarios.
• Facilitates outreach to local, regional and national media outlets through press releases, press conferences, events, social media, and other communications mediums
• Develops and executes strategies for proactive media outreach to build relationships with journalists
• Handles institutional spokesperson role during Public Safety events if required, including some crisis communications events
• Advises the Vice President of Public Safety in his efforts to foster positive interactions with the community.
• Drafts speeches, talking points, messages, and other communications materials for the Vice President of Public Safety
• Guides and supports the Vice President of Public Safety with internal and external communications and media strategy and for matters related to public safety issues response, programming, public events, etc.
• Ensures that members of the Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine communities are informed about public safety initiatives, policies, and priorities.
• Monitors, measures, and gauges the most effective communication channels for internal communications and media messaging in collaboration with communications experts throughout the institution.
• Continually seeks information on trends and techniques in internal and external communication, as well as best practices.
• Manages the online presence of the Public Safety organization, including website content and social media accounts.
• Other duties as needed.

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Mastery of A.P. style.
• Ability to work with web content management systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively on social media.
• Ability to collaborate in the production or acquisition of multimedia content to accompany stories.
• Ability to work in complex web systems such as news media databases or digital asset management systems.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with a broad range of people in a variety of organizational situations.
• Ability to work in a complex decentralized institution.
• Must be able to work effectively and independently in an environment with multiple priorities.
• Must be able to adapt to varying challenges, while always maintaining a focus on professionalism and customer service.
• Ability to regularly work evenings, early mornings, and weekends and be available to address emergency situations on a 24/7 basis as needed.
• Knowledge of information dissemination techniques, including alternative ways to inform via written, verbal, and visual media.
• Expert news judgment, writing and editing skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to succeed in a fast-paced, high-productivity environment.
• Ability to analyze information and evaluate results in order to choose the best solutions and solve problems.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline required.
• 7 years of experience in journalism, media relations, communications, or other related experience required.
• Additional education (graduate degree) may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Master's degree in relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in public safety communications or a related field.

Classified Title: Director Strategic Communications 
Working Title: Strategic Communications Director, Public Safety   
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PG  
Starting Salary Range: Commensurate with Experience 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:30 am - 5:00 pm 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Hybrid/School of Medicine Campus  
Department name: VP for Public Safety Office of  
Personnel area: University Administration 

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:
30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for 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.

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

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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

Accommodation Information

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 Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

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. 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 campus. 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.

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

About Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University remains committed to its founding principle, that education for all students should be grounded in exploration and discovery. Hopkins students are challenged not just to learn but also to advance learning itself. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and entrepreneurship are all encouraged and nourished in this unique educational environment. After more than 130 years, Johns Hopkins remains a world leader in both teaching and research. Faculty members and their research colleagues at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory have each year since 1979 won Johns Hopkins more federal research and development funding than any other university. The university has nine academic divisions and campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Education and the Carey Business School are based at the Homewood campus in northern Baltimore. The schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing share a campus in east Baltimore with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Peabody Institute, a leading professional school of music, is located on Mount Vernon Place in downtown Bal...timore. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is located in Washington's Dupont Circle area.

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