Assistant Director of Public Affairs

Duke University; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke University is seeking an Assistant Director, Communications Response & Support to help identify, assess, and manage emerging issues that may affect the university’s reputation, mission, or operations. You will develop reactive and proactive communications strategies and work with leadership across units to enable informed decision-making.

Based on collaboration with government relations, legal, student affairs, and other partners, you will support coordinated responses, monitor trends,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, higher education administration, political science, public policy, journalism, or a related field.
• Four years of experience in issues management, strategic communications, public affairs, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred for departmental preference.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a central resource for issues management support to schools, colleges, and units across the university.
• Support the development and execution of system-wide issues management strategies and response plans.
• Provide guidance, tools, and best practices to school-level communications and leadership teams.
• Monitor and analyze emerging issues, trends, and risks affecting higher education.
• Prepare issue briefs, talking points, FAQs, background materials, and risk assessments for senior leadership.
• Assist in coordinating cross-functional responses to sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Track and analyze media coverage, social media, and stakeholder activity.
• Support crisis preparedness and response efforts, including scenario planning and message development.
• Collaborate with central and unit-level communications teams for consistent messaging.
• Liaise with government relations, legal counsel, student affairs, and other offices.
• Maintain issue and media tracking to support monitoring and reporting.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of issues management strategies and recommend improvements.
• Support general media relations work in line with the university’s priorities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Written & verbal comms

Interpersonal skills

Org & proj mgmt

News judgment

Agency partnerships

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/public relations/HE administration/political science/public policy/journalism

Master’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

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Date: Oct 23, 2026

Join a collaborative communications team focused on managing emerging issues and supporting informed decision-making.

A cover letter is required for this role to be considered.

Be You.

The Assistant Director, Communications Response & Support supports the institution’s efforts to identify, assess, and manage emerging issues that may affect the university’s reputation, mission, operations, or relationships. Reporting to the executive director for media relations and public affairs, this position involves the development of reactive and proactive communications strategies and tactics.

Working closely with university leadership and partners across communications, government relations, student affairs, legal, and academic units, this role helps support informed decision-making and carries out coordinated, timely responses to complex and often highly visible issues affecting higher education.

Work Arrangement

On-site - This position may require flexible hours, including evenings or weekends, during emerging issues or campus incidents.

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERENCES

• Cover Letter is required.
• Experience working in higher education, government relations, or public sector communications;
• Familiarity with issues commonly affecting colleges and universities (e.g., governance, academic freedom, campus safety, student activism, Title IX, labor relations, accreditation, or regulatory compliance);
• Experience supporting crisis communications or campus incident response;
• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex or sensitive topics into clear, accurate materials;
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential or sensitive matters;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Work requires a Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, higher education administration, political science, public policy, journalism, or a related field.

Experience

Work requires four (4) years of experience in issues management, strategic communications, public affairs, or a related field.

Be Bold.

Required Skills

• Strategic and critical thinking;
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication on tight deadlines;
• Excellent interpersonal communication, a collaborative spirit and relationship management;
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple demands proactively in a dynamic environment;
• Strong news judgment and discretion on sensitive issues;
• Prior experience working with agency partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a central resource for issues management support to schools, colleges, and units across the university;
• Support the development and execution of coordinated, system wide issues management strategies and response plans;
• Provide guidance, tools, and best practices to school level communications and leadership teams to support consistent issue assessment and response;
• Monitor and analyze emerging issues, trends, and risks affecting higher education, including public policy, regulatory developments, campus climate concerns, media coverage, and public sentiment;
• Conduct research and prepare issue briefs, talking points, FAQs, background materials, and risk assessments for senior leadership;
• Assist in coordinating cross-functional responses to sensitive or high-profile issues, including those involving students, faculty, staff, governance, or external stakeholders;
• Track and analyze media coverage, social media, and stakeholder activity related to priority institutional issues;
• Support crisis preparedness and response efforts, including scenario planning, message development, and coordination with campus partners;
• Collaborate with central and unit-level communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and alignment;
• Liaise with government relations, legal counsel, student affairs, and other offices to support informed issue response;
• Maintain issue and media tracking and documentation to support ongoing monitoring and reporting;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of issues management strategies and recommend improvements;
• Support general media relations work in support of the university’s strategic priorities.

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 position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Choose Duke.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $0.00 to USD $0.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond thedollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an 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 (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military 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 reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).

Nearest Major Market: Durham

Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.