Associate Director of Issues Management and Spokesperson

Requisition Number:

70674

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

University Staff

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

31-Mar-2026

Date Posted:

17-Mar-2026

Job Summary

The Office of Strategic Relations and Communications (SRC) at CU Boulder invites applications for the Associate Director of Issues Management and Spokesperson position! This is a full-time role in the Office of SRC, handling day-to-day issues that necessitate a media response or could require public messaging later. This position reports to the Director of Issues Management and Spokesperson and assists the Director in leading assignments across the Issues Management team. The Associate Director is also responsible for carrying out key media communications plans and media responses for the entire campus, with a focus on Academic Affairs, including the Office of the Provost, faculty matters, Student Life, Enrollment Management, Registrar’s Office, Research and Innovation, and other areas of campus as assigned. Areas of responsibility include developing and disseminating institutional messages, talking points, official statements, and responses, and preparing other faculty, staff, and administrators to engage with the media on issue-driven breaking news and campus emergencies.

The Associate Director will be involved with campus emergency communications and serve on the university’s Public Information Officer (PIO) on-call rotation. This position will also be a member of the Emergency Services Public Information Officers of Colorado (ESPIOC) to stay abreast of current best practices and develop relationships with other regional PIOs.

Primary objectives of this job are to ensure that:

Communications collaborators are regularly engaged to evaluate their needs and improve their communication effectiveness.
Executive campus and system leadership are proactively engaged in issues that arise and are well prepared to respond.
Well-informed and detailed responses are made to media requests and other concerns that arise.
Communications plans are developed in advance to address a variety of markets and objectives.
The university is well-represented, and its reputation is protected at all times.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

As the university’s central marketing and communications team, Strategic Relations and Communications advances CU Boulder’s mission, vision, and reputation through an integrated communications approach supporting a campus-wide experience that inspires greater affinity and engagement.

Strategic Relations and Communications advances national and global recognition of CU Boulder by demonstrating its public value, improving the inclusiveness of our marketing and communications, supporting a campus-wide experience that inspires greater affinity and engagement, and providing tools and processes for campus partners.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Coordinating and delivering timely and clear responses to the student, local, state, national, and global media that cover the University of Colorado Boulder; developing quick media strategies, response plans, talking points, official statements, and social media messages, and serving as spokesperson to advance them. This includes responding to emergencies in a timely fashion to keep CU affiliates and the general public informed. Proactively identify potential crises/issues before they arise and create strategic plans on how to address them. This position, along with the Spokesperson, handles day-to-day contacts for media requests in assigned beat areas and, as assigned by the Director and colleagues in preparing, editing, and updating communications plans to lead major reputational issues for the institution. Receives training in emergency response communications protocols. Serves in regular rotation as on-call weekend campus PIO, and as primary spokesperson for the campus in the Director’s absence.
Engage directly with campus and system executive leadership, as needed, to ensure proactive awareness and input on issue responses, including consistently understanding and handling the complexities and nuances necessary to respond to issues in a manner that builds trust and confidence in the issues management team.
Conduct media training with campus partners to prepare them for interviews with local, state, and national media outlets.
Performs other writing, editing, and strategizing responsibilities as assigned.

What You Should Know

This is a hybrid work opportunity that serves in regular rotation as on-call weekend campus PIO, and as primary spokesperson for the campus in the Director’s absence.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $110,000–$118,000.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

7+ years in media/public relations role or a combination of reporting/editing for a media organization and/or institutional communications for a college, university or public agency/entity, or in the private or non-profit sectors.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in journalism, public relations/advertising, or a related field.

What You Will Need

Ability to think quickly, employ guidelines in both institutional and crisis communications.
Ability to present a calm and focused presence in print and broadcast interviews and to articulate complicated policies and positions in clear and careful common language.
Ability to listen to others, quickly synthesize complex information, and build consensus on public messages.
Proficient knowledge of Associated Press style.
Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and standards for the management and disclosure of public information.
Experience in monitoring media channels that include: social media, broadcast, print, wire service, independent, and emerging media.
Ability to provide effective advice and counsel on strategic and/or critical communication issues and to exercise effective judgment.
Experience in creating communications plans, strategy documents, talking points, and issues primers for key executives and messengers.
Excellent writing skills that require little editing.
High emotional intelligence; ability to remain calm and in control during stressful/emergency situations and to engage effectively at multiple layers of the internal organization.

What We Would Like You to Have

10 years in media/public relations role or a combination of reporting/editing for a media organization and/or institutional communications for a college, university or public agency/entity, or in the private or non-profit sectors.
1-3 years of experience as a spokesperson in a higher education setting, preferably for a public college or university, or for an academic subdivision of the same, or for a local, state, or federal government or public agency.
Experience managing public messaging on high-profile events and/or emergencies.
Fluency in Spanish

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that describes how your background and experience align with this position.

We may ask for references at a later time.

Please apply by March 31st, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.