Vice President

The Position:

Weber Shandwick’s office in San Francisco is seeking a Vice President to join its Weber Advisory team, with a focus on Financial Communications and Capital Markets.

About Us:

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 78 cities with a network extending to 129 cities around the world. Our Corporate Issues Group has helped companies and organizations prepare for and respond to some of the most visible corporate, financial and political challenges of our time. The group comprises an integrated team of more than 20 strategists in New York and a global network of more than 300, who work across a broad range of special situations.

In our financial communications work, we advise public and private companies across industries on strategic and capital markets communications efforts that best position them among relevant stakeholders. Our engagements span the normal-course financial lifecycle (e.g., quarterly earnings, proxy statements) and transformative events (e.g., M&A/post-merger integration, IPO, litigation, bankruptcy, activism, executive management transitions, labor issues). We collaborate closely in these engagements with both the C-suite and key IR/PR personnel.  

What We Are Seeking:

We are looking for a senior-level practitioner who will focus mainly on financial communications and capital markets-driven work, but who is also a well-rounded “generalist,” able to contribute communications and/or investor relations expertise in support of transactional, reputational and broader corporate-level issues and other matters.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to a broad range of proactive and reactive financially-focused, issues-oriented and reputation management projects. You will be responsible for helping to strategize, draft and ensure the execution of new strategies, programs, campaigns and plans. Finally, you should be curious, resourceful and entrepreneurial.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Support/lead a range of financial communications and special situations, including M&A, shareholder activism, defense against short-sellers, bankruptcies, initial public offerings, series financing, as well as earnings support and other ongoing investor relations activities
• Create or help create, drive and execute a range of communications plans, as well as investor and media engagements
• Execute frequent media outreach around financial events, including backgrounding reporters, error correcting and facilitating client media interviews, as appropriate
• Provide strategic counsel to clients
• Work with client partners as appropriate, such as legal counsel, buy-side, vendors, etc.
• Collaborate with other Weber Shandwick teams/offices on financial comms related assignments
• Keep client programs on schedule and ensure all deadlines are met within set budget parameters
• Support thought leadership activities that better position Weber Advisory for capital markets and financial comms work
• Train and motivate more junior team members and help create opportunities for their growth
• Contribute toward Weber internal marketing activities that raise awareness and understanding of capital markets work and foster collaboration opportunities
• Participate in new business development for the group and collaborate among practice areas at the agency in support of new business pitches

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
• 8+ years of relevant financial communications, investor relations and/or special situations experience at a prior agency and/or company
• Possesses a proficient understanding of capital markets and issues affecting the financial and reputational well-being of companies
• Is a skilled media relations strategist and practitioner with “tier one” and business media relations experience
• Thrives under pressure and can handle multiple projects in a demanding, deadline-oriented environment, while maintaining meticulous attention to detail
• 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
• Adept at solving problems and resolving conflicts
• Capable of mobilizing and motivating account teams, anticipating needs and instilling confidence

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with financial database such as Bloomberg, S&P Cap IQ, FactSet, Refinitiv, as well as media databases including Cision, MuckRack
• Is familiar with the latest digital (including AI) trends in social media strategy, tools and analytics
• Has experience directly counseling clients/senior ranking executives through a broad range of financial events, issues and special situations
• Has experience with reputation management and promoting/protecting brands through integrated communications programs
• Experienced and interested in supporting new business/cross-selling efforts
• Media and crisis training experience are a plus

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

Salary range: $125,000 - $170,000

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.

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