Account Director,Corporate Issues

Senior Manager, Corporate Issues/Crisis Communications 

We are seeking a dynamic and motivated Senior Manager, Corporate Issues/Crisis to join our Corporate Affairs practice in the West (San Francisco, Seattle or Los Angeles). Ideal candidates have experience managing issues, crisis communication responses and have fluency in the social and influencer space via an agency or in-house role, and are motivated, proactive team players. This position is responsible for being the day-to-day client contact managing issues and crisis teams for multiple Consumer and Corporate accounts in the West. This individual will also be responsible for driving our influencer risk assessment process across core Consumer, Corporate, and Tech accounts across the US. 

• Assumptions: the person is not an involved member of the project team for the assessments in question (separation is important for objectivity).   
• Understanding of social/political landscape and how it could intersect with brands/organizations & how subtle connections in influencer activity can create larger brand risk depending on context, current events  
• Understanding of pop culture trends/influencer marketing and how to assess consumer sentiment through social media  
• Mindset of critical thinking and healthy skepticism 
• Quick study of account specific assessment criteria, as risk tolerance shifts from one project/brand to the next  
• Extremely close attention to detail (research accuracy, proofing, desire to train junior staff)   
• Experience managing multiple team members with varying degrees of experience, and delivering consistent end product with multiple authors  

What You Will Be Doing 

• Effectively lead project teams in the day-to-day function of protecting clients’ organizational and brand reputations. 
• Develop real-time assessments and points of view on when and how to respond to an emerging issue or crisis 
• Conduct vulnerability assessments and draft protocols and plans to help clients be better prepared to manage future crises 
• Provide senior clients and colleagues with strategic and tactical recommendations 
• Monitoring and analyzing traditional and social media for potential threats or developments relevant to clients and their industries 
• Support the development and execution of crisis trainings and drills 
• Assist in the development of long-term reputation management or recovery plans and program recommendations 
• Develop and manage timelines and weekly actions plans to ensure all deadlines on client programs are met 
• Being available during evenings and weekends, depending on client needs 
• Anticipate and proactively offer solutions to clients and senior team leadership for reputational issues 
• Motivate the team by bringing a positive, solutions-focused attitude to everything you do and providing mentorship and guidance for junior staff 
• Help build positive, long-lasting client relationships 
• Where necessary, support new business development and growth for issues/crisis engagements 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree 
• 6-7 years public relations or communications experience, particularly in issues and crisis communications management; agency experience is preferred 
• Proven creative and strategic thinking experience 
• Track record in client service to senior level clients 
• Experience and knowledge of public relations and corporate communications best practices, including media relations, executive communications, thought leadership, B2B communications, social and traditional media monitoring and reporting, and the changing media landscape 
• Understanding of social/political landscape and how it could intersect with brands/organizations & how subtle connections in influencer activity can create larger brand risk depending on context, current events  
• Understanding of the constantly evolving nature of threats to the reputation of consumer and corporate brands, including employee and CEO activism, influencer and social commentary/actions, social and political movements, and the impact that changing consumer behaviors and preferences have on brands and companies 
• Understanding of pop culture trends/influencer marketing and how to assess consumer sentiment through social media  
• Mindset of critical thinking and healthy skepticism  
• Quick study of account specific assessment criteria, as risk tolerance shifts from one project/brand to the next  
• Extremely close attention to detail (research accuracy, proofing, desire to train junior staff)   
• Experience managing multiple team members with varying degrees of experience, and delivering consistent end product with multiple authors  
• Working knowledge of social media and how it influences issues management and crisis communications 
• Experience working across disciplines and functions, including account teams, management, creative and legal teams 
• Ability to grasp and translate somewhat complex subject matter into relevant messaging and tactics for key audiences 
• Basic financial management skills, including reviewing billing and managing budgets 

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

[California/Washington] Salary range: $100,000 – $115,000

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-JP1 

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

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