Director, Crisis Communications

William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

William & Mary is seeking a Director of Crisis Communications to lead university-wide crisis communications strategies. Based in Williamsburg, VA, this hybrid role reports to the Executive Director of Media Relations and collaborates with Public Safety, Emergency Management, and senior leaders to ensure timely, accurate messaging during emergencies.

The position requires strategic judgment and strong leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public affairs, emergency management, or related field or equivalent experience
• Significant 7–10 years in communications, media relations, crisis communications, or related field
• Experience managing communications during high-profile, sensitive, or emergency situations
• Experience serving as a media spokesperson for a complex organization
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
• Experience providing communications counsel to senior leaders
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality in dynamic situations
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities under deadline pressure
• Experience collaborating across diverse stakeholder groups and organizational functions

Responsibilities

• Lead crisis and emergency communications planning and response for incidents with reputational risk
• Coordinate dissemination of emergency communications across media, web, social, email, and campus alerts
• Draft holding statements and talking points for university leadership
• Serve as public information officer for the Office of Public Safety
• Maintain and update the university’s crisis communications plan in collaboration with Public Safety

Skills

Crisis communications

Media relations

Public affairs

Emergency management communications

Spokesperson experience

Writing & editing

Counsel to leadership

Decision making under pressure

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field

Job description

Job Description Summary

Mission Statement

In the Office of University Advancement, we create the conditions for opportunity - human, financial, & experiential - by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary.

Position Summary

The Director of Crisis Communications leads the implementation and ongoing development of university-wide crisis communications strategies. Reporting to the Executive Director of Media Relations and housed in the Office of University Communications, the Director provides strategic counsel to senior leaders and partners across campus to ensure timely, accurate, and coordinated communications during emergencies and sensitive situations. The Director collaborates closely with Public Safety – including William & Mary Police, Emergency Management, the President’s Office, Student Affairs, University Counsel, Information Technology, and other university leaders to develop and execute crisis communication plans, preparedness initiatives, and emergency messaging. The position operates with a high degree of independence and professional judgment, managing complex, time-sensitive, and highly visible communications that may significantly impact institutional reputation and stakeholder trust.

The Director will lead and foster a culture of belonging and trust that embraces all people and perspectives and ensures alignment with William & Mary's institutional values and strategic priorities. This is a hybrid position based in Williamsburg, Virginia, which offers a flexible work environment.

About the University

Founded by Royal Charter in 1693, William & Mary is America’s first university. The Alma Mater of the Nation brings together the breadth of a public liberal arts and sciences education with the innovation of a preeminent global research university. Here, curiosity deepens into wisdom, shaping lives of meaning, distinction and purposeful impact. For more than 300 years, the university has convened great minds and hearts to meet the most pressing needs of our time.

About the Team

The Office of University Communications serves as the central communications office for the university. Within University Communications, the Media Relations team leads the university’s crisis communication response, is responsible for media and other filming requests on campus, serves as the primary link to press and media on all communications fronts, provides media training and, in collaboration with the Content & Strategy and Web Development & Strategy, coordinates university-wide promotional efforts. The office also works to promote and celebrate the work of faculty, staff and students and to promote the overall vision, mission and brand of William & Mary.

Job Description

Salary

$85,000 to $90,000, commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public affairs, emergency management, or a related field or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Significant, progressively responsible experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, crisis communications, emergency management communications, or a related field (typically 7 to 10 years).
• Demonstrated experience managing communications during high-profile, sensitive, or emergency situations.
• Experience serving as a media spokesperson for a complex organization.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience providing communications counsel to senior leaders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality in complex and rapidly changing situations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities under deadline pressure.
• Experience collaborating across diverse stakeholder groups and organizational functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, government, public safety, healthcare, or other complex organization(s).
• Experience with incident command systems, emergency operations, or crisis management teams.

Conditions of Employment

• This position may require overtime to include scheduled and unscheduled, nights and weekends and holidays.

Is the position remote work eligible?

Hybrid (works remotely at least 1 day per week but not full-time).

Position Classification

This position is classified as professional, meaning it is salaried and exempt from overtime. For benefits and leave purposes, this role falls under the “12-month Professionals & Faculty” classification on the HR website.

Job Duties

45% - Crisis and Emergency Communications:

• Lead communication planning and response efforts for emergencies, critical incidents, and issues with potential reputational impact, including public safety incidents, severe weather events, cybersecurity incidents, student or employee fatalities, public health concerns, campus protests, and other emerging situations
• Lead the coordination and dissemination of emergency communications through appropriate channels, including media statements, web updates, social media, email, and campus alerts.
• Draft emergency-related holding statements and talking points for university leadership.
• Serve as the public information officer for the Office of Public Safety.
• Maintain the university’s crisis communications plan and protocols working closely with Public Safety, including William & Mary Police and the Office of Emergency Management.

20% - Issues Management:

• Monitor emerging issues, media coverage, public sentiment, and stakeholder concerns that may affect the university’s reputation.
• Advise the Executive Director and the Director of Media Relations on reputational risk in proactive pitches and strategic messaging. Prepare sensitive messaging, Q&A documents, background materials, and communication plans for university leadership.
• Work with senior administrators on communications approaches related to controversial or high-profile matters.

15% - Media Relations:

• Develop and manage media response strategies during emergencies and sensitive institutional matters.
• Collaborate with the Director of Media Relations to ensure alignment between crisis communications and ongoing media relations activities.

10% - Strategic Communications & Executive Leadership Support:

• Support major institutional announcements and participate in media relations work as needed when crises are absent.
• Provide communications counsel to executive leadership during emergencies and significant institutional issues.
• Develop briefing materials, talking points, statements, and stakeholder communications for senior administrators in coordination with the director of executive communications.
• Support communications related to meetings of the Board of Visitors and other governance bodies when issues of crisis are involved.
• Support university-wide strategic communications initiatives as assigned.

10% - Other:

• Serve as university spokesperson as required.
• Serve as an on-call representative for emergencies and other after-hours needs on a rotating basis.
• Manage University Communications’ weekend on-call staffing scheduling & training.

EEO is the Law.Applicants can learn more about William & Mary's status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal

Background Check: William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Probationary Period Notice: Individuals selected for full-time staff positions will be required to complete a twelve (12) month probationary period in accordance with university policy.

Remote Work Disclaimer: Remote work eligibility is not guaranteed and is subject to approval. Employee eligibility depends on the likelihood of the employee succeeding in a remote work arrangement and the supervisor’s ability to manage remote workers. Departments and/or Human Resources may amend, alter, change, delete, or modify eligibility.