At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com
As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.
**Job Function: **
Communications & Corporate/External Affairs
**Job Sub Function: **
Product Communications
Job Category:
Professional
All Job Posting Locations:
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
Job Description:
We are searching for the best talent to join our team as the Director, Global Media and Issues Engagement Strategy. This is a hybrid, in-person role that will be located in New Brunswick, NJ.
Purpose:
The Director will lead our efforts to strengthen and protect Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) reputation on matters related to our Innovative Medicine (IM) business. This role will serve as a senior strategic advisor and operational lead for managing high-risk/ high-profile external engagements, media response, and reputation-sensitive issues across our global business.
A key role within the IM Communications and Public Affairs (IM CPA) team, the Director will report to the Vice President, IM CPA and lead the communications strategy for complex, high-stakes issues, including litigation, regulatory developments, product scrutiny, data privacy incidents, and other reputational risk matters. Leading a team of 2-3 people, this role will coordinate closely with Legal, Privacy, Regulatory, Medical, Media Relations, business partners, and global colleagues across IM CPA. This position partners closely with our J&J Enterprise functions and provides sector-level guidance on how, when, and whether J&J engages externally on high-profile and/or matters with reputational risk—ensuring communications are accurate, compliant, strategically aligned, and enhance reputation across global markets.
Key Responsibilities
Issues Management and Crisis Response
Partner with J&J Enterprise colleagues to strengthen strategic frameworks and standard operating procedures for responding to scenarios that impact our business & reputation.
Collaborate across Global Corporate Affairs, Regulatory, and the Global Legal Organization to ensure we are prepared for pending issues and emerging trends and to protect the reputation of the sector and enterprise.
Develop reactive messaging, talking points, message maps, and strategic communication strategies for sensitive situations, ensuring legal and reputational considerations are appropriately balanced.
Monitor media and stakeholder activity related to identified risks and advise leadership on response, posture, timing, and escalation to senior management.
Draft, review, edit, and approve reactive media statements, Q&A for external partners, and other communications around the world.
Provide real‑time counsel to regional communications teams on leading urgent media deadlines, approval flows, and executive alignment during fast‑moving situations.
Ensure consistency of messaging across markets while allowing for appropriate local nuance, particularly on sensitive or legally complex topics.
Create playbooks and other guidance to enhance the skills of IM CPA colleagues related to media and issues standards and governance/guidance.
Manage budget, vendors and technology that enables the Company to monitor the external environment and prepare before issues emerge.
Media Engagement
- Ensure consistent excellence and drive proactive and reactive media engagement for Innovative Medicine topics in coordination with TA communications leaders.
- Develop and maintain media materials (press statements, FAQs, briefing documents, executive talking points) and ensure approvals are secured efficiently.
- Help prepare leaders and subject-matter experts for interviews and media opportunities, including message discipline, anticipated questions, and rehearsal support.
- Monitor the media landscape to identify emerging risks and opportunities; elevate insights and recommendations.
- Build constructive working relationships with internal partners across communications and business partners to enable timely responses and coordinated outreach.
- Develop systems and tools to scale efficient management of media relationships, pitches, and engagement plans to enable effective media engagement across IM CPA.
Drive, Enact and Embed Key J&J External Engagement Policies
Serve as a key advisor for external media and speaking engagements, counsel on routing, escalation, and approval requirements under J&J’s Media & Speaking Engagement Policy.
Assess external engagement requests for reputational, policy, and enterprise risk; determine when engagements require formal Risk Review or senior‑level visibility.
Contribute to the development, refinement, and rollout of enterprise communications policies and guidance, including media engagement procedures, press release standards, and other reputation-enhancing policies.
Support change management efforts to operationalize new engagement rules, workflows, and governance structures across global regions.
Executive Advisory and Cross‑Functional Leadership
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior communications leadership and Legal partners on sensitive reputational matters and external positioning.
- Coordinate closely with Global Corporate Affairs leadership to determine when issues warrant executive‑level review or enterprise escalation.
- Facilitate alignment across global, regional, and functional teams to ensure cohesive decision‑making under pressure.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree: advanced degree in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field strongly preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in executive or corporate communications, with a proven track record of strategic leadership in a complex, global organization.
- An effective oral communicator who can present plans and concepts to executives at Johnson & Johnson and serve as a spokesperson for the company.
- Proven experience partnering with C-suite executives and senior leadership teams.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex concepts into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.
- Expertise in strategic planning, engagement, and crisis communications.
- Strong leadership and team development capabilities, with a dedication to fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture.
- Track record of successfully managing communications across a matrix.
- Proficiency in digital communication platforms and analytics tools.
- High degree of integrity, discretion, and good judgment.
- Natural collaborator with the ability to work efficiently and effectively across global teams.
Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers and internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.
Required Skills:
Corporate Communications Strategy, Leadership, Stakeholder Management
Preferred Skills:
Agility Jumps, Brand Identity, Brand Recognition, Communications Measurement, Competitive Landscape Analysis, Corporate Management, Cultural Competence, Customer Experience Management, External Communication, Product Knowledge, Relationship Building, Tactical Planning, Technical Credibility
The anticipated base pay range for this position is :
$150,000.00 - $258,750.00
Additional Description for Pay Transparency:
Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:
Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days
Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits