- CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications—the University’s central public relations and marketing division—is looking for an assistant director to join its issues and crisis communications team. Reporting to the team’s director and working closely with the vice president for strategic communications, the person in this position will research, plan, execute, and evaluate communications focused on crisis and issues management.
This is a hybrid position that combines remote and on-campus working. Evening and weekend hours will be required as needed.
This individual will be part of a talented team that provides University leadership with advice, guidance, and materials on issues of critical reputational importance to Penn State. The successful candidate will be a strategic leader who can work individually and as part of a team to proactively identify issues and assess their potential impact; respond to reputational challenges; provide direction and leadership to others; and develop and implement a communications strategy that is aligned with institutional priorities and provides accurate messaging on behalf of Penn State.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
- Working with others across the University to proactively and reactively identify and address issues; conduct research; and craft key messages, news releases, FAQs, communications plans, and other written materials
- Developing and implementing an issues management strategy that proactively identifies challenges on a local, regional, national, or global scale and can potentially impact the University or its constituents
- Creating communications plans, associated materials, and responses and providing updates, summaries, and post-event analysis and recommendations
- Monitoring news media, social media, and websites to identify issues and evaluate public/media perceptions
- Using strong analytical and issues-management skills to identify options, recommend tactics, and draft clear, concise responses and briefing communications for University leadership and others
- Working with news media and social media platforms to provide appropriate information and responses to inquiries and online conversations related to reputational topics and institutional priorities
In addition to working effectively with diverse stakeholders, the ideal candidate must be highly organized; pay strong attention to detail; be able to manage multiple priorities; and possess a solid work ethic, sound judgment, and strong problem-solving skills.
Preferred Skills and Experience
The ideal person for this position will:
- Have experience in issues and crisis communications and advising senior leaders on communications
- Possess superior writing, editing, and oral presentation skills
- Be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and respond quickly and professionally under pressure and in crisis situations
- Have the creative and political acuity to develop messaging and tactics suitable for executive-level communications
- Be able to work independently and as part of a team
- Have the ability to consistently reinforce University messages across all media and audiences
- Be adept at working with others across the University to address, develop, support, and implement messaging and positioning for Penn State
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree 8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None
About Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications
As Penn State’s central public relations and marketing division, the Office of Strategic Communications is a fully integrated, award-winning, best-in-class marketing and public relations team defined by innovative strategy and breakthrough creative driven by measurable goals. We advance the University by strengthening and protecting the institution’s reputation in regional, national and international spheres of influence in ways that serve recruitment, resource and leadership goals.
Spanning Penn State’s large-scale enterprise—including campus locations across Pennsylvania, nearly 90,000 students, and an alumni base exceeding 800,000—the Office of Strategic Communications’ work encompasses all forms of communications and engagement, ranging from branding, marketing, and trademark and event management to internal communications, proactive and social media, research communications, and crisis and issues management. We’ve attracted talented and diverse team members from private and public sectors at all levels of our division, giving us the ability to build a strategic program of excellence recognized throughout the University.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $91,488.00 - $137,280.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- 8+ years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Authorization to work in the United States (no visa sponsorship)
- Successful completion of background check(s)
- Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed
- Experience in issues and crisis communications and advising senior leaders
- Superior writing, editing, and oral presentation skills
- Ability to multi-task, respond professionally under pressure, and work independently or on a team
- Creative and political acuity to develop executive-level messaging and tactics
- Ability to monitor media/social channels and evaluate public/media perceptions
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
-
Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
-
Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
