Assistant Director of Public Affairs

About the role

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

• A cover letter is required for this role to be considered.
• 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: Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, higher education administration, political science, public policy, journalism, or a related field.
• Experience: Four (4) years of experience in issues management, strategic communications, public affairs, or a related field.

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.

Benefits

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/.