Communications Manager

As a vital member of the Strategic Communications team, the Communications Manager plays an essential role in supporting both proactive and reactive communications efforts for Disney Entertainment Television (DET). This role helps manage day-to-day press engagement with journalists, contributes to crisis communications planning and response, and supports the development of messaging that protects and promotes DET’s business, talent and brands.

This individual will report to the Vice President, Corporate Communications, and collaborate closely with partners across Communications, Publicity, Marketing, Legal, Labor Relations and other DET teams. First and foremost, the Communications Manager is a strong and experienced writer capable of quickly crafting a compelling narrative from assorted information from a variety of sources. This individual is an organized project manager, proactive and comfortable navigating fast-moving news cycles.

As a thought partner in the crisis communications realm, this individual will support plans to address and resolve potential issues and must have a keen ability to react to unexpected developments in real time.

The role requires professionalism, sound judgment and pre-existing relationships with entertainment journalists. The ability to build and maintain new, additional working relationships with reporters and industry partners is a must.

Responsibilities:

• Draft and refine messaging strategies that promote our titles, executives and brand initiatives.
• Coordinate responses to press inquiries and maintain regular communication with key entertainment reporters and media outlets.
• Support the development and execution of crisis communications strategies to stay ahead of critical issues involving talent, content and personnel.
• Assist in identifying external communications opportunities for executives and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• Manage logistics and support for executive speaking opportunities, interviews, and media engagements, providing counsel on issues-oriented messaging as needed.
• Collect research and write reports, summaries, executive remarks, talking points and press releases, as needed.
• Partner with other teams spanning The Walt Disney Company and Disney Entertainment Television to nurture a cohesive, collaborative group.

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years’ experience spanning:
  • Writing and editing; successful candidate must be an excellent writer, editor and communicator of ideas and strategies.
  • Crisis communications strategies, ideally at a streaming platform, television network or studio.
• Ability to function as a highly effective member of Disney Entertainment Television’s Strategic Communications team and work collaboratively with internal stakeholders.
• You must be proactive, decisive, and able to support multiple projects at the same time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience contributing to communications/messaging campaigns across a variety of trade and consumer media, including supporting media interviews or press opportunities.
• Established relationships with entertainment journalists.
• Content publicity experience.
• Familiarity with industry trends and related business news.
• A love of television and familiarity with current shows and talent across the entertainment landscape.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in communications, journalism and/or public relations.

The hiring range for this position in California is $115,500.00 to $154,800.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.