Director, Public Affairs, Crisis & Issues Management

ADP, Inc.; Roseland (NJ); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Retirement Match

Wellness Program

Paid Time Off

Life Insurance

Job summary

ADP is seeking a Director of Public Affairs who combines strategic advisory skills with hands‑on crisis execution. The role partners with senior leadership to manage global crisis and issues responses, strengthen processes, and protect the ADP brand across channels and regions.

The position emphasizes proactive risk management, measured outcomes, and cross‑functional collaboration with Legal, HR, Government Affairs, and business stakeholders to drive high‑impact, coordinated communications.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in corporate affairs, crisis communications or public affairs with strong focus on crisis communications and issues management
• Proven experience leading and executing crisis response efforts in complex, fast-paced environments
• Experience supporting or working across global teams and regional markets
• Strong ability to translate strategy into practical execution and operational plans
• Experience partnering with senior communications leaders and cross-functional stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Highly collaborative with strong project management and organizational skills
• Preferred experience in global, matrixed, or highly regulated organization
• Familiarity with issues tracking, risk assessment, and monitoring tools
• Blend of agency and in-house communications experience

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of global crisis communications and issues management strategies
• Serve as a key strategic partner to senior communications leadership and crisis & issues team members, providing recommendations and ensuring effective implementation of response plans
• Manage end-to-end response efforts, ensuring timely, coordinated, and consistent messaging across channels and stakeholders
• Maintain and continuously improve crisis readiness through issues management initiatives including playbooks, simulations, and training programs
• Support a global crisis and issues management team, driving strong execution and alignment across regions
• Ensure clear processes, governance, and operational excellence in how crisis and issues are managed globally
• Partner cross-functionally with Communications, Legal, HR, Government Affairs, and business stakeholders to ensure integrated response
• Identify, assess, and help prioritize emerging risks and opportunities that could impact ADP’s reputation
• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop and execute proactive reputation strategies
• Support message development and narrative shaping to strengthen and protect the ADP brand
• Build and implement measurement frameworks that demonstrate the effectiveness of crisis and issues efforts
• Translate outcomes into clear insights that show tangible business value and risk mitigation
• Track performance and continuously refine strategies based on data and learnings
• Oversee issues monitoring and media/social listening to identify potential risks early
• Synthesize insights into clear, actionable recommendations for communications planning and response

Skills

Crisis communications

Issues management

Strategic communications

Cross-functional collaboration

Public affairs

Project management

Analytical thinking

Job description

ADP is seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Director of Public Affairs with deep expertise in crisis communications and issues management. This role will partner closely with the Senior Director, Public Affairs, to help lead and operate a global crisis and issues function, ensuring strong coordination, consistency, and high-impact execution.

This individual will play a critical role as a strategic advisor and hands‑on execution partner, driving day‑to‑day management of crisis and issues response, strengthening global processes, and helping to proactively protect and enhance the ADP brand.

Key Responsibilities

Crisis Communications & Issues Management Strategy and Execution

• Lead the planning and execution of global crisis communications and issues management strategies

• Serve as a key strategic partner to senior communications leadership and crisis & issues team members, providing recommendations and ensuring effective implementation of response plans

• Manage end‑to‑end response efforts, ensuring timely, coordinated, and consistent messaging across channels and stakeholders

• Maintain and continuously improve crisis readiness through issues management initiatives including playbooks, simulations, and training programs

Global Collaboration & Coordination

• Support a global crisis and issues management team, driving strong execution and alignment across regions

• Ensure clear processes, governance, and operational excellence in how crisis and issues are managed globally

• Partner cross-functionally with Communications, Legal, HR, Government Affairs, and business stakeholders to ensure integrated response

Proactive Issues Management

• Identify, assess, and help prioritize emerging risks and opportunities that could impact ADP’s reputation

• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop and execute proactive reputation strategies

• Support message development and narrative shaping to strengthen and protect the ADP brand

Measurement & Business Impact

• Build and implement measurement frameworks that demonstrate the effectiveness of crisis and issues efforts

• Translate outcomes into clear insights that show tangible business value and risk mitigation

• Track performance and continuously refine strategies based on data and learnings

Monitoring & Insights

• Oversee issues monitoring and media/social listening to identify potential risks early

• Synthesize insights into clear, actionable recommendations for communications planning and response

#LI-CS5

#LI-HYBRID

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in corporate affairs, crisis communications or public affairs with strong focus on crisis communications and issues management

• Proven experience leading and executing crisis response efforts in complex, fast-paced environments

• Experience supporting or working across global teams and regional markets

• Strong ability to translate strategy into practical execution and operational plans

• Experience partnering with senior communications leaders and cross-functional stakeholders

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Highly collaborative with strong project management and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a global, matrixed, or highly regulated organization

• Familiarity with issues tracking, risk assessment, and monitoring tools

• Blend of agency and in-house communications experience

Base salary offers for this position may vary based on factors such as location, skills, and relevant experience. Some positions may include additional compensation in the form of bonus, equity or commissions. We offer the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Matched Retirement Savings, Wellness Program, Short-and Long-Term Disability, Charitable Contribution Match, Holidays, Personal Days & Vacation, Paid Volunteer Time Off, and more. The compensation for this role is USD $114,500.00 - USD $213,500.00 / Year*
*Actual compensation will not be less than the applicable minimum wage or minimum exempt salary requirement under federal, state and local laws.

A little about ADP: We are a comprehensive global provider of cloud‑based human capital management (HCM) solutions that unite HR, payroll, talent, time, tax and benefits administration and a leader in business outsourcing services, analytics, and compliance expertise. We believe our people make all the difference in cultivating a down‑to‑earth culture that embraces our core values, welcomes ideas, encourages innovation, and values belonging. We've received recognition for our work by many esteemed organizations, learn more at ADP Awards and Recognition.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at ADP:

ADP is committed to an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace, and is further committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristic including: race, color, genetic information, creed, national origin, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lawful alien status, ancestry, age, marital status, protected veteran status or disability. Hiring decisions are based upon ADP’s operating needs, and applicant merit including, but not limited to, qualifications, experience, ability, availability, cooperation, and job performance.

Ethics at ADP:

ADP has a long, proud history of conducting business with the highest ethical standards and full compliance with all applicable laws. We also expect our people to uphold our values with the highest level of integrity and behave in a manner that fosters an honest and respectful workplace. Click https://jobs.adp.com/life-at-adp/ to learn more about ADP’s culture and our full set of values.