Part of The Weber Shandwick Collective (TWSC), we’re the earned-first global communications agency, led by world-class strategic thinkers and creative activators. We create shared and sustainable value for businesses, people, and society. We energize the right mix of talent, using the right platforms and latest technology to choreograph stories that make a real and meaningful impact for some of the world’s leading brands and businesses. 

Our game-changing work is recognized by some of the most prestigious industry awards bodies, and we have won more than 135 Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. We’re also PRWeek’s 2024 Global Agency of the Year as well as being listed on the Ad Age A-List 2024 and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2024.  

What’s Happening?

Join our vibrant Tokyo team where cultural insight meets bold ideas. Weber Shandwick is seeking a talented and proactive Senior Manager / Account Director (title commensurate with experience) to join our growing social impact practice, working with members with global background . You will work closely with both clients and internal teams to support strategic communication planning, lead media , and deliver exceptional results that drive brand impact.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Leads/manages multiple integrated work streams and partners with mid-level clients to deliver on time/on budget work plans with minimal
• supervision: Drives development of tactical plans, translating strategies into tactics, ensuring high quality deliverables align with strategies.
• Builds expertise and understanding in sustainability and social impact.
• Facilitates cross-functional team integration; contributes to development of client programs and cross-community implementation activities
• Advance’s ability to develop long-term client plans and program recommendations
• Proactively supports and suggests improvements to exceed client expectations by leveraging industry knowledge/experience
• Develops and builds relationships with media and diverse set of influencers
• Brainstorms and brings to life compelling ideas for clients, media and influencers
• Manages ongoing team resourcing/staffing to ensure successful delivery of work product
• Manages development of media materials, and conducts media outreach

Who Are You?

• 5–7 years of experience in public relations, sustainability communications, ESG, corporate reputation, or integrated communications — ideally within a PR or consulting agency.
• A strong interest in (or background working with) sustainability, social impact, ESG initiatives, purpose-driven campaigns, or organizations driving positive change.
• Native-level Japanese communication skills with strong written and verbal English proficiency, enabling effective collaboration with global and regional teams.
• Comfortable leading cross-market collaboration and translating global sustainability strategies into locally relevant, actionable communication programs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously, with a high level of attention to detail and accountability.
• A confident, thoughtful communicator who can guide clients, mentor junior staff, and contribute proactively as a collaborative team player.
• Familiarity with digital, social, and key opinion leaders’ engagement as it relates to sustainability storytelling and purpose-led campaigns in the Japanese market.
• Passionate about social issues, environmental trends, cultural insights, and creative storytelling that inspire awareness, behavior change, and positive impact.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

• A collaborative, inclusive mindset and the positive energy needed to inspire teams, clients, and partners around purpose-driven work.
• Genuine curiosity about Japanese culture, social trends, and the evolving sustainability landscape, with a passion for meaningful, values-led storytelling.
• A strong sense of ownership, professionalism, and commitment to delivering high-quality work that drives real impact for clients and communities.
• A desire to continue growing as a communications leader within a supportive, mission-driven, and globally connected environment. 

About our Client Experience Community

Members of our Client Experience Community are business partners to our clients by helping them to address opportunities or issues with communications strategies. We are the instigators of great work, lead the strategic development of integrated, cross-platform solutions and serve as the client’s advocate, ensuring quality ideas and an outstanding client experience. Client experiences teams set the agenda and vision for our partners, lead the development of our best work and create fruitful client relationships. We explore marketplace opportunities and clients need to grow our relationships and increase our value as a trusted partner to our clients in their best and most challenging days.

 

#LI-AS2

Part of The Weber Shandwick Collective (TWSC), we’re the earned-first global communications agency, led by world-class strategic thinkers and creative activators. We create shared and sustainable value for businesses, people, and society. We energize the right mix of talent, using the right platforms and latest technology to choreograph stories that make a real and meaningful impact for some of the world’s leading brands and businesses. 

Our game-changing work is recognized by some of the most prestigious industry awards bodies, and we have won more than 135 Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. We’re also PRWeek’s 2024 Global Agency of the Year as well as being listed on the Ad Age A-List 2024 and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2024.  

What’s Happening?

Join our vibrant Tokyo team where cultural insight meets bold ideas. Weber Shandwick is seeking a talented and proactive Senior Manager / Account Director (title commensurate with experience) to join our growing social impact practice, working with members with global background . You will work closely with both clients and internal teams to support strategic communication planning, lead media , and deliver exceptional results that drive brand impact.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Leads/manages multiple integrated work streams and partners with mid-level clients to deliver on time/on budget work plans with minimal
• supervision: Drives development of tactical plans, translating strategies into tactics, ensuring high quality deliverables align with strategies.
• Builds expertise and understanding in sustainability and social impact.
• Facilitates cross-functional team integration; contributes to development of client programs and cross-community implementation activities
• Advance’s ability to develop long-term client plans and program recommendations
• Proactively supports and suggests improvements to exceed client expectations by leveraging industry knowledge/experience
• Develops and builds relationships with media and diverse set of influencers
• Brainstorms and brings to life compelling ideas for clients, media and influencers
• Manages ongoing team resourcing/staffing to ensure successful delivery of work product
• Manages development of media materials, and conducts media outreach

Who Are You?

• 5–7 years of experience in public relations, sustainability communications, ESG, corporate reputation, or integrated communications — ideally within a PR or consulting agency.
• A strong interest in (or background working with) sustainability, social impact, ESG initiatives, purpose-driven campaigns, or organizations driving positive change.
• Native-level Japanese communication skills with strong written and verbal English proficiency, enabling effective collaboration with global and regional teams.
• Comfortable leading cross-market collaboration and translating global sustainability strategies into locally relevant, actionable communication programs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously, with a high level of attention to detail and accountability.
• A confident, thoughtful communicator who can guide clients, mentor junior staff, and contribute proactively as a collaborative team player.
• Familiarity with digital, social, and key opinion leaders’ engagement as it relates to sustainability storytelling and purpose-led campaigns in the Japanese market.
• Passionate about social issues, environmental trends, cultural insights, and creative storytelling that inspire awareness, behavior change, and positive impact.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

• A collaborative, inclusive mindset and the positive energy needed to inspire teams, clients, and partners around purpose-driven work.
• Genuine curiosity about Japanese culture, social trends, and the evolving sustainability landscape, with a passion for meaningful, values-led storytelling.
• A strong sense of ownership, professionalism, and commitment to delivering high-quality work that drives real impact for clients and communities.
• A desire to continue growing as a communications leader within a supportive, mission-driven, and globally connected environment. 

About our Client Experience Community

Members of our Client Experience Community are business partners to our clients by helping them to address opportunities or issues with communications strategies. We are the instigators of great work, lead the strategic development of integrated, cross-platform solutions and serve as the client’s advocate, ensuring quality ideas and an outstanding client experience. Client experiences teams set the agenda and vision for our partners, lead the development of our best work and create fruitful client relationships. We explore marketplace opportunities and clients need to grow our relationships and increase our value as a trusted partner to our clients in their best and most challenging days.

 

#LI-AS2

 

Crisis & Issue Communications Account Director

Primary Location-United States-New York, New York  

The Weber Shandwick New York office is seeking an Account Director in New York to join its Global Crisis and Issues Practice.  

 

What we are seeking:  

We are looking for a change agent to help us grow our Global Crisis and Issues Practice and support a wide array of high-profile clients, crisis preparedness and live crisis/issues counsel and support. You should have crisis communications and issues management experience, preferably across multiple industries and across the spectrum of public and private companies. 

 

You will play an important role on our team, leading a broad range of projects, developing new business opportunities, and helping to mentor and grow the skill sets of emerging talent in our practice. You should be digital analytics-savvy, have strong writing skills and thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Previous agency experience is a must. An additional plus: experience working in public affairs or media role.  

 

 

Our team:  

Our New York 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 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:   

• Support a range of issues and crisis communications situations for companies and organizations, including those related to, consumer behavior, geopolitical developments, brand safety, misinformation, product safety issues and recalls, workplace culture, litigation, regulatory compliance, natural disasters, DEI, cybersecurity attacks, investigative reporting, and more.  
• Serve as the day-to-day client contact – providing account support and counsel, flagging, triaging, and directly managing client issues as they arise.  
• Lead data-driven industry and topic analysis to inform business strategy and issues management approach, including leveraging AI, media monitoring and social analysis tools.
• Develop and draft crisis plans, media strategies, reactive media statements, talking points, FAQs, memos, crisis simulations and other deliverables as needed.   

• Train and motivate emerging talent and help create opportunities for their growth and development.
• Provide regular counsel to clients and colleagues and liaise with global partners to provide global market insights.

• Keep client programs on schedule and ensure all deadlines are met within budget parameters.  
• Participate in 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.  

 

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and/or 5+ 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.  

• Experience with corporate reputation, brand management and protection through integrated communications programs.  

• Expertise with the latest digital management, trends and strategy, tools, and analytics and ability to turn insights into actionable recommendations. 
• Familiarity with AI, next gen programs and data aggregation with large datasets to inform strategy.

• Thrives under pressure and can handle multiple projects in a demanding, deadline-oriented environment, including live crisis situations that may require significant working hours.  

• Exercises exceptional judgment when working with clients, team members, 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.  
• Experience delivering media and crisis training.
• Solid understanding of markets and issues affecting the financial and reputational well-being of companies 

 

About the Global Crisis and Issues Practice  

Weber Shandwick’s Global Crisis and Issues Practice helps leading organizations both manage breaking negative issues and events affecting reputation and develop the internal culture and infrastructure needed to anticipate, prepare and navigate them effectively. From cyberattacks, environmental protests, high-profile litigation and misinformation defense to sweeping product recalls, multinational bankruptcies and executive controversies, we live at the intersection of business, media, policy, culture and society.   

 

NYC Salary range: $115,000 – $135,000

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.