Assistant Director of Communications, Public Safety

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Overview

Yale University seeks a dynamic and strategic communications professional to join its Public Safety team as the Assistant Director of Communications. Reporting to both the Head of Public Safety and the Associate Vice President for Communications in the Office of Public Affairs & Communications (OPAC), this individual will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the department’s communications strategy, ensuring clear, effective, and timely messaging on matters related to campus safety, security, and emergency management.

The Assistant Director will serve as the primary communications liaison on matters of Public Safety and Security within the university and with external stakeholders, including local law enforcement, media, and the broader New Haven community. The Assistant Director of Communications will lead efforts to promote a culture of safety and preparedness while managing communications in partnership with the Office of Public Affairs & Communications during crisis situations.

This individual will work with various internal departments to ensure that the university's public safety messages align with its mission, values, and priorities.

This position is onsite with occasional evenings and weekends.

• Strategic Communication Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy for the Department of Public Safety, ensuring the dissemination of accurate, transparent, and timely information regarding safety and security across campus.

• Crisis Communications: Serve as a key advisor and communications lead during emergencies and critical incidents, coordinating messaging and working closely with senior university leadership, media, and community partners in the Office of Public Affairs & Communications to provide clear and consistent updates.

• Media and External Relations: Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets. Act as the primary point of contact for media inquiries related to public safety incidents and policies, ensuring the university's perspective is clearly communicated.

• Community Engagement and Education: Design and implement communications campaigns that engage the Yale community in public safety initiatives, including crime prevention, emergency preparedness, and safety awareness. Work to build trust and foster positive relationships between Public Safety and the campus community.

• Digital and Social Media Strategy: Oversee the department's digital presence, including social media platforms, to ensure that public safety messages are disseminated promptly, effectively, and engaging. Monitor digital channels to assess public sentiment and address concerns promptly.

• Internal Communication: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure the effective flow of information regarding public safety policies, training, and updates. Support initiatives that enhance communication between Public Safety and other departments within the university.

• Performance Measurement and Reporting: Track and evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies through metrics such as engagement, media coverage, and feedback from the campus community. Regularly review communication plans to incorporate lessons learned and emerging best practices.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information to diverse audiences on a timely basis.
2. Strong media relations expertise, including managing inquiries, building relationships, and crafting effective press materials. Proven experience managing complex, high-stakes communication efforts, including crisis management and media relations.
3. Demonstrated experience in crisis communications, including the ability to work under pressure and make decisions in fast-paced environments.

4. Familiarity with social media platforms and digital communication tools.

5. Ability to collaborate with colleagues across a wide range of departments and divisions to achieve strategic objectives. Strong leadership skills, with experience managing and mentoring staff to meet organizational goals.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Knowledge of public safety protocols in a higher education setting.

2. Familiarity with higher education culture and the unique safety concerns of university communities.

3. Experience with emergency notification systems and digital alert platforms. 4. Experience with managing social media platforms and digital communication tools.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Manages relationships with external media sources. Pursues media coverage creatively and aggressively. Responds to inquiries from national and international news media, student media, the University community and the general public. 2. Enhances the overall quality of media relations for key stakeholders by preparing them for media interviews. Manages relationships with key campus stakeholders with a high degree of professionalism, judgment and understanding of stakeholder goals. 3. Creates compelling story ideas and narratives; produces content for both external and internal channels; writes copy and social media posts and manages content. 4. Plans social media strategies for key University communications and programs. Monitors University social media assets for negative comments or misinformation. 5. Supports short- and long-term communication planning with insights into audiences, channels and culture; coordinates with other communications professionals to achieve institutional goals; leads the communications process within developed standards and protocols. 6. Supports effective response strategies, often in crisis situations requiring 24/7 attention and intense media/public scrutiny, and articulates the University’s position via personal interviews or written responses. 7. Produces multimedia content and manages the work of graphic and web designers, student interns, printers, video producers and photographers. 8. Manages communication plans for all stakeholders by understanding the significance of campus initiatives and/or academic work; creates compelling stories and messages to translate the significance through language that is clear and accessible for public awareness. 9. Develops and maintains regular contact with media representatives in multiple disciplines. 10. Maintains the Yale brand and graphic identity standards; supports and maintains standard operating procedures; contributes to digital asset management. 11. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications or related field and five years of experience in public relations, journalism, television, corporate communications or agency work or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Demonstrated experience in developing communications for a range of media and working with creative professionals in design, photography or video.

Job Posting Date

08/11/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Supervisor; Senior Associate (P5)

Salary Range

$68,000.00 - $120,500.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

On-site

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.