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.

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