Senior Manager, Corporate Issues

Associate  

Weber Shandwick’s Global Crisis team helps leading organizations across the world both manage breaking negative issues and events affecting reputation and develop the internal culture and infrastructure needed to predict, prepare, and navigate them effectively. From conspiracy theories, environmental incidents and multinational bankruptcies to executive controversies and sweeping product recalls to high-profile litigation and fake news, we live at the front lines of media, culture, and conversation. Whether it is a program affecting internal stakeholders, managing expectations around financial data and results, or an external effort to protect or defend an organization’s reputation, we work together with colleagues from around the country and globe daily, supplying crisis counsel to clients across industries and sectors, making deep curiosity a requisite for this position.   

Candidate Qualities   

As an Associate, you will have the unique opportunity to help drive communications around these challenging and exciting projects, with the opportunity to work on Issues and Crisis situations as well as Capital Markets financial communications projects. You will be a day-to-day leader among the team’s Associate-level staff, working directly with senior leadership to help drive research, develop materials, staff projects, build media lists, scope work, support new business, manage vendors, track budget and balance multiple shifting priorities in real-time. The ideal candidate will have excellent writing skills and the ability to perform in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. You will be intimately familiar with current events and news trends and be able to translate that knowledge into actionable insights for clients. This extends to social and digital communications: you must have true analytical fluency in this area. The ideal candidate would also follow markets and financial news with an understanding of business risks. A strong academic record is necessary, and experience in issues management or financial communications is a bonus – but candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.  

Our Team 

Our team is a group of smart, analytical and hardworking people who care deeply about helping lead our clients through a crisis to make a positive impact on society. We are on the front lines of some of the biggest, most complex corporate reputation and financial issues – and the nature of our work requires an ability and eagerness to juggle multiple responsibilities and work on multi-office client teams. You will have the opportunity to play a leading role in driving both ongoing client engagements and discrete projects.  

  

What You Will Be Doing    

• Serves as key team member to support a range of complex, high-profile corporate issues /crisis communications situations and financial transactions (i.e., cybersecurity issues, product safety issues and recalls, mergers and acquisitions, executive leadership changes, IPOs, spin-offs, divestitures, etc.)   

• Supports development of press releases, crisis plans, media strategies, reactive media statements, talking points, FAQs, memos, crisis simulations and other deliverables as needed;  

• Supports monitoring and triaging of client issues   

• Conducts pressing research on a wide range of issues, review and prepare executive summaries and/or analyses detailing clear and concise findings, distill complex and substantial amounts of information into concise summaries and insights; begin to propose strategic and actionable recommendations   

• Provides input during development of projects based on insights and knowledge of client preferences   

• Prepares for and takes part in client meetings, including accurately capturing notes, agenda action items, call recaps, updating trackers, timelines and status documents  

• Serves as role model to team members, producing high quality work and continually updating manager on activity progress  

• Actively builds own knowledge, contributes to inclusive team culture and consistently displays behaviors that support integration  

• Participates in our A-Team’s On-Duty rotational schedule covering evening and weekend hours, to handle critical client reports, ad-hoc research, and support emergent crises.  

 What We Are Looking For   

• Strong writing skills and meticulous attention to detail  

• Strong understanding of social analytics  

• Full analytical fluency in all social/digital platforms  

• Crisis communications, issues management, and/or public affairs experience  

• Sharp curiosity and an analytical mind    

• Ability to provide strategic and actionable recommendations based on research  

• Highly effective oral and written communication skills   

• Familiarity with corporate financials and interest in financial markets, related news and/or communications 

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and manage deadlines in a consistent manner  

• Resourceful, effective problem solver  

• Comfortable asking for help from and providing direction to team members  

• Ability to take ownership, manage and see projects through from start to finish   

• Proactive self-starter and a quick learner  

• Strong work ethic  

Basic Qualifications  

• 1-3 years of professional experience: in an agency/strategic consulting firm, political campaign or organization, law or similar setting  

• BA or BS, preferably in Political Science, history, journalism, International Relations, Finance, Economics or similar fields -Knowledge of basic PR skills and client service   
• Fluent in Microsoft Suite (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and proficiency in research, media and social monitoring platforms (e.g., Brandwatch, Sysomos, Cision, Muckrack, TV Eyes, Critical Mention, Lexis-Nexis)  

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money – $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Employee Family Leave
• Family Building Benefit

NYC Salary range: $52,000 – $60,000

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-LC1 

The Weber Shandwick Toronto office is seeking a Senior Vice President to join its C-Suite Advisory and Risk team.

What we are seeking:

We are looking for a seasoned change agent to help us grow our Global Crisis and Issues Practice, drive a broad range of issues-oriented and proactive reputation campaigns, and help clients prepare for and manage complex issues and live crises.

You should be able to lead day-to-day client and team activity, cultivate strong relationships with clients, help craft and lead execution of new programs, plans and strategies, and work with a broad set of media (business and trade; traditional print, online and broadcast). You can drive forward plans and programs within set parameters and achieve outstanding results for clients. Finally, you should be curious, resourceful, and entrepreneurial. Previous agency experience and understanding of advanced data analytics platforms and resources is a must.

You will have worked with clients across multiple industries and understand how to work with data and analytics experts to generate insights and inform counsel.

You will play an important role on our team, leading a broad range of projects and developing new business opportunities. You will be a leader on the team and help mentor and grow the skill sets of emerging talent in our practice. You should be a sharp strategist, have strong writing skills, be social and digital analytics savvy, and thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. You can marshal teams and resources effectively and quickly.

Our team:

The Weber Shandwick Canada C-Suite Advisory team focuses on: Organizational Preparedness, Response, and Resiliency; Social Impact, ESG, & DE&I; Enterprise & Executive Leadership Strategy (incl. Geopolitical, Public Diplomacy, Public Health); Organizational Transformation & Employee Engagement; Corporate Marketing; Capital Market Insights and Financial Communications. It also collaborates closely with Weber-Shandwick teams and other parts of The Weber Shandwick Collective.  The nature of our work requires an ability and eagerness to juggle multiple responsibilities and work with multi-office teams. You will have the opportunity to play a leading role in launching a new advisory business and the growth and expansion of this team and offering.

What you will be doing: 

Client Support:

• Serve as primary or day-to-day client contact on a wide range of issues and crisis communications situations for companies and organizations, including product safety issues and recalls, adverse events, pricing and access issues, workplace culture, litigation, regulatory compliance issues, misinformation campaigns, DEI-related matters, investigative reporting, and more.
• Build, nurture and expand client relationships.
• Develop and draft crisis plans, media strategies, reactive media statements, talking points, FAQs, memos, crisis simulations, and other deliverables as needed.
• Oversee and execute proactive media outreach and reactive media relations strategies in connection with issues and crisis management strategies, as needed.
• Provide regular counsel to clients and colleagues.
• Keep client programs on schedule and ensure all deadlines are met within budget parameters.
• Provide media and crisis training to clients.
• Develop and deliver client presentations.

New Business and Marketing:

• Help drive the growth of the C-Suite Advisory and Risk practice.

• Help lead new business development for the team and collaborate among practice areas at the agency in support of broader new business pitches that include a crisis and issues component.

Team Management:

• Take an active role in managing the team and problem solving.
• Work with peers to further the mission, goals, and culture of the C-Suite Advisory and Risk  and the agency.

• Promote team cooperation by actively seeking the opinions and views of team members of all levels.
• Train and motivate emerging talent and help create opportunities for their growth.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and/or 15+ years of relevant experience in an agency/strategic consulting firm, political campaign, or similar setting.
• Experience directly counseling clients/senior ranking executives through a broad range of crises, issues, and special situations.
• Skilled crisis and issues media relations strategist and practitioner with top-tier media relations experience.
• Familiarity with the latest digital trends in social media strategy, tools, and analytics.
• Experience with corporate reputation and brand safety/protection through integrated communications programs.
• Thrives under pressure and can handle multiple projects in a demanding, deadline-oriented environment.
• Exercises exceptional judgment when working with clients, colleagues and vendors.
• Communicates clearly, analytically, and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
• Pays close attention to detail and quality of work product.
• Adept at solving problems and resolving conflicts.
• Capable of mobilizing and motivating teams, anticipating needs, and instilling confidence.

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• RRSP (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money – $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) – $50 monthly cell phone reimbursement
• MyDays – Flexible time off
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave Policy

Salary range: $167,000.00 – $230,000.00

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-SK1