Sr. Manager, Media and Issues

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson · Pharma · Raynham, MA +2

This role is for a Sr. Manager of Media and Issues at Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Synthes business. The primary focus is on protecting and strengthening the company's reputation through proactive media engagement, issues management, and crisis preparedness within a highly regulated healthcare environment. The role involves advising senior leaders, developing crisis plans, managing media inquiries on sensitive topics, and collaborating with various internal departments.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead global media relations and issues management strategy for DePuy Synthes, including proactive storytelling and reactive response.
  2. Serve as a trusted communications advisor to senior leaders on reputational risk, emerging issues, and external narratives.
  3. Develop and execute crisis and issues management plans, including message frameworks, escalation protocols, and spokesperson preparation.
  4. Manage media inquiries related to sensitive topics such as product quality, safety, regulatory actions, litigation, and business transformation.
  5. Partner cross‑functionally with Legal, Regulatory, Quality, Medical Affairs, HR, and Commercial teams to ensure aligned and compliant communications.

Skills

Required

  • Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in media relations, issues management, corporate communications, or public affairs, including leadership at a senior manager level.
  • Demonstrated experience managing complex, high-risk, and high-visibility issues in a regulated industry (medical devices, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, or similar).
  • Proven ability to counsel senior executives and influence decision-making under pressure.
  • Strong understanding of global media landscapes and crisis communications best practices.
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills with attention to accuracy and clarity.
  • Experience working cross-functionally with legal, regulatory, and compliance partners.

Nice to have

  • Master’s degree preferred (Communications, Public Affairs, Business Administration, or related field).
  • Experience supporting global or regional communications strategies within a matrixed organization.
  • Familiarity with orthopedic, medtech, or healthcare industry dynamics.
  • Prior experience with business transformation, mergers, acquisitions, or corporate separations.
  • Experience serving as, or preparing, spokespersons for media engagement.
  • Demonstrated people leadership or project leadership experience.
  • additional languages a plus.
  • Communications or public relations certifications preferred but not required.

What the JD emphasized

  • highly regulated environments
  • complex and highly regulated environments
  • high-risk
  • high-visibility