Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Target Resume Now

Tailor your resume to this Director, Crisis Communications role.

Rezi rewrites your resume against William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's job description. Free.

Resume score gauge reading 58 out of 100

Don't guess if your resume is good enough.

See how it scores against the Director, Crisis Communications posting at William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science — free, in seconds.

About the Role

The Director of Crisis Communications leads the implementation and ongoing development of university-wide crisis communications strategies. This role provides strategic counsel to senior leaders and partners across campus to ensure timely, accurate, and coordinated communications during emergencies and sensitive situations. 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.

Responsibilities

Lead communication planning and response efforts for emergencies, critical incidents, and issues with potential reputational impact.
Lead the coordination and dissemination of emergency communications through appropriate channels.
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.
Monitor emerging issues, media coverage, public sentiment, and stakeholder concerns that may affect the university's reputation.
Advise 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Requirements

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.
Experience in higher education, government, public safety, healthcare, or other complex organization(s).
Experience with incident command systems, emergency operations, or crisis management teams.
This position may require overtime to include scheduled and unscheduled, nights and weekends and holidays.
A resume and cover letter are required for this position.
Provide 3-5 examples of holding statements or talking points prepared, including at least one prepared with executive-level leadership.
Provide 1-3 examples of emergency messaging involved with writing or shaping.

Skills

Crisis Communications
Media Relations
Public Affairs
Emergency Management Communications
Media Spokesperson
Writing
Editing
Verbal Communication
Communications Counsel
Judgment
Confidentiality
Priority Management
Collaboration
Incident Command Systems
Emergency Operations
Crisis Management Teams

Location

Williamsburg, Virginia

Work Type

Hybrid
Regular (benefited)
Professional (salaried and exempt from overtime)

Experience Level

7 to 10 years

Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Salary/Compensations

$85,000 to $90,000

Benefits

Benefits and leave purposes fall under the '12-month Professionals & Faculty' classification.

About the Company

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.
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.

Equal Opportunity

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.
William & Mary 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.
By applying for this position, you consent to William & Mary's use, review, and retention of your application materials for recruitment and employment purposes. Materials may be shared with authorized individuals participating in the hiring process and will be managed in accordance with applicable laws and university policies.
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 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.