Michigan State University(MSU)
Deputy Spokesperson / Senior Communications Manager/S
Michigan State University(MSU), East Lansing, Michigan, United States, 48823
Working/Functional Title
Deputy Spokesperson
Position Summary
The Senior Communications Manager/Deputy Spokesperson provides leadership to and direction for the issues management and crisis communications team to build trust and confidence in Michigan State University among the public and other primary audiences as well as strengthen understanding of MSU as a place that values and fosters a safe and inclusive community for all. The Deputy Spokesperson serves as the day-to-day spokesperson for a wide variety of issues and topics. This requires continuous coordination with multiple units, individuals and activities across MSU to maintain an advanced level of situational awareness. The Deputy Spokesperson works with the University Spokesperson to develop communications strategy and content to address reputation-threatening issues. In crisis situations, the Deputy Spokesperson is a crucial part of the crisis communications team, serving as the lead for media relations, and is a conduit for accurate and timely information to the campus community, media and public. In issues management, the Deputy Spokesperson is responsible for identifying, analyzing and collaborating in managing complicated issues and developing strategies to ensure the right messages are communicated by the right people to the right audiences both internally and externally at the right time. The Deputy Spokesperson responds to media inquiries involving university incidents, campus executives and other senior administrators; develops communications strategies to advance administrative priorities and initiatives; advises individuals and units regarding media engagement, risk management and effective messaging; provides media training and coaching to units and individuals in preparation for interviews; serves as a point person for agency coordination and develops effective background and briefing materials.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
Provides strategic communications direction to the issues and crisis communications team
Serves as a primary spokesperson on day-to-day issues for the university and as deputy spokesperson on larger issues; serves as backup to primary university spokesperson
Manages, evaluates inquiries and counsels senior administrators and senior leadership on media inquiries
Leads University Communications team on tracking all FOIA inquiries and coordinates with media on FOIA requests when necessary
Oversees University Communication's media training program for senior leaders and administrators; advises individuals and units throughout the university on issues communication and media engagement
Investigates public information on issues and crisis for the university. Makes recommendations regarding who should be designated content-area or expert spokespersons. Assists in preparing university employees to engage media or the public
Oversees process to track, evaluate and report key performance metrics for issues-based and proactive administrative stories
Forecasts/monitors emerging issues, legacy issues, ongoing issues and crisis for higher education and the university
Develops proactive communications strategies and content to address reputation-threatening issues and to advance issues-related administrative priorities and initiatives
Creates, monitors, updates and executes emergency and crisis communications activities and contingency plans, serving as University Communications point person on emergency planning duties and execution
Leads as a primary responder in crisis situations, providing accurate and timely information to the university community and media while ensuring MSU's interests are well represented
Participates in and helps plan emergency drills, plays a key role when university responds to an emergency situation
Develops and provides university s
Deputy Spokesperson
Position Summary
The Senior Communications Manager/Deputy Spokesperson provides leadership to and direction for the issues management and crisis communications team to build trust and confidence in Michigan State University among the public and other primary audiences as well as strengthen understanding of MSU as a place that values and fosters a safe and inclusive community for all. The Deputy Spokesperson serves as the day-to-day spokesperson for a wide variety of issues and topics. This requires continuous coordination with multiple units, individuals and activities across MSU to maintain an advanced level of situational awareness. The Deputy Spokesperson works with the University Spokesperson to develop communications strategy and content to address reputation-threatening issues. In crisis situations, the Deputy Spokesperson is a crucial part of the crisis communications team, serving as the lead for media relations, and is a conduit for accurate and timely information to the campus community, media and public. In issues management, the Deputy Spokesperson is responsible for identifying, analyzing and collaborating in managing complicated issues and developing strategies to ensure the right messages are communicated by the right people to the right audiences both internally and externally at the right time. The Deputy Spokesperson responds to media inquiries involving university incidents, campus executives and other senior administrators; develops communications strategies to advance administrative priorities and initiatives; advises individuals and units regarding media engagement, risk management and effective messaging; provides media training and coaching to units and individuals in preparation for interviews; serves as a point person for agency coordination and develops effective background and briefing materials.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
Provides strategic communications direction to the issues and crisis communications team
Serves as a primary spokesperson on day-to-day issues for the university and as deputy spokesperson on larger issues; serves as backup to primary university spokesperson
Manages, evaluates inquiries and counsels senior administrators and senior leadership on media inquiries
Leads University Communications team on tracking all FOIA inquiries and coordinates with media on FOIA requests when necessary
Oversees University Communication's media training program for senior leaders and administrators; advises individuals and units throughout the university on issues communication and media engagement
Investigates public information on issues and crisis for the university. Makes recommendations regarding who should be designated content-area or expert spokespersons. Assists in preparing university employees to engage media or the public
Oversees process to track, evaluate and report key performance metrics for issues-based and proactive administrative stories
Forecasts/monitors emerging issues, legacy issues, ongoing issues and crisis for higher education and the university
Develops proactive communications strategies and content to address reputation-threatening issues and to advance issues-related administrative priorities and initiatives
Creates, monitors, updates and executes emergency and crisis communications activities and contingency plans, serving as University Communications point person on emergency planning duties and execution
Leads as a primary responder in crisis situations, providing accurate and timely information to the university community and media while ensuring MSU's interests are well represented
Participates in and helps plan emergency drills, plays a key role when university responds to an emergency situation
Develops and provides university s