Senior Manager, Issues Management

About this role

The University of Southern California (USC) is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Manager, Issues Management to lead public relations initiatives that protect and strengthen the university's reputation while enhancing its visibility and impact. This role is ideal for a communications professional with expertise in issues management, crisis communications, media relations, strategic storytelling, and team leadership.

The Senior Manager leads the planning, execution, and evaluation of strategic communications and issues management initiatives that protect and strengthen USC's reputation. This role anticipates emerging issues, develops proactive communications strategies, and serves as a trusted advisor to university leadership during sensitive, high-profile, and rapidly evolving situations.

About the Role

Reporting to senior leadership, the Senior Manager oversees day-to-day communications operations, manages a high-performing communications team, and leads strategic communications initiatives across multiple platforms. The role works across the university to build trusted relationships, strengthen crisis communications infrastructure, and ensure USC is prepared to respond effectively to emerging issues.

The successful candidate is an exceptional writer and thoughtful communicator who enjoys collaborating across teams, building strong relationships, and finding compelling ways to tell the university's story. They anticipate challenges before they emerge, exercise sound judgment under pressure, and develop thoughtful communications strategies for sensitive and rapidly evolving issues. They bring creativity, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to building partnerships across the university while advancing USC's mission.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Public Relations • Lead the development and execution of strategic communications and issues management plans, including emergency and crisis communications, to support timely, coordinated, and effective messaging for internal and external audiences.

• Anticipate emerging issues by monitoring the internal and external landscape, conducting scenario planning, and developing proactive communications strategies that prepare the university for a range of potential outcomes.

• Serve as the university's communications lead during high-profile issues, providing strategic counsel to university leadership and partnering with the Office of General Counsel to develop messaging related to legal matters, reputational issues, labor matters, and other sensitive situations.

• Serve as a university spokesperson and Public Information Officer during crises and other significant events, responding to media inquiries and coordinating timely, accurate public communications.

• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive public relations and communications programs that increase awareness of the university, its schools, departments, faculty, students, staff, alumni, and institutional initiatives.

• Create and execute strategic communications plans that support organizational goals and enhance USC's reputation.

• Lead communications projects from concept through execution, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely delivery.

• Measure and evaluate communications initiatives, preparing reports and recommendations that inform future strategies.

• Stay current with emerging communications trends, technologies, AI-enabled communications tools, and best practices to continually strengthen USC's communications efforts.

Content Strategy & Editorial Management • Write, edit, produce, and distribute a variety of communications materials, including news stories, feature articles, speeches, media statements, digital content, newsletters, and other communications resources.

• Manage editorial calendars, project timelines, and production schedules to ensure communications initiatives are delivered on time and within budget.

Leadership & Talent Development • Supervise, mentor, and develop communications staff through recruitment, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and professional development.

Financial & Operational Management • Develop and manage communications budgets, monitor expenditures, and prepare financial projections and reports.

• Maintain and continuously improve the university's issues management and crisis communications infrastructure, including response protocols, stakeholder networks, and communications resources.

• Coordinate and oversee the work of external vendors, freelancers, photographers, designers, and other creative partners.

Stakeholder & External Relations • Develop and maintain strong relationships across USC's schools, departments, and administrative units to establish trusted communications partnerships before issues arise and facilitate coordinated responses during critical situations.

• Represent the university at professional meetings, conferences, and community events while cultivating relationships with media, university leadership, alumni, community partners, and other key stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor's degree or a combination of education and experience equivalent to the required degree.

• Five (5) years of professional experience in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field.

• Supervisory experience with the ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.

Preferred Qualifications • Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.

• Experience working in higher education or another large, complex, mission-driven organization.

• Experience leading issues management, crisis communications, or reputation management initiatives within a complex organization.

• Experience serving as a communications advisor or spokesperson during high-profile, sensitive, or rapidly evolving situations.

• Success leading integrated communications campaigns across print, digital, soci

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