Job Classification:

Marketing & Communications - Communications

The Vice President, Reputation, Policy & Crisis Communications is a key leadership role responsible for shaping the communications processes and strategies to help Prudential convey its position to key stakeholders and protect its reputation when faced with a range of scenarios, including societal issues, regulatory and legal matters, data security and privacy incidents and other reputation threats.

Reporting to the Head of the Reputation, Policy & Crisis Communications team, the successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing Prudential’s crisis communications capability by building and refining internal escalation processes, scenario plans and other key elements of a crisis-ready organization.

This leader also will partner with and advise internal stakeholders on societal issues response, litigation and policy-related communications, and individual business related issues. Critical to this work is effective engagement and collaboration with key partners including the Head of External Affairs, Head of Enterprise Litigation, the Information Security and Data Privacy Offices, and leaders from Human Resources and Inclusive Solutions. This is a unique opportunity to elevate the internal processes and approaches of a Fortune 100 company to addressing the dynamic communications challenges of an increasing scope of reputation risks and crises.

The current EWA for this position is Hybrid and requires your on-site presence on a reoccurring basis as determined by your business. Your manager will provide additional details relative to the specific number of days you are expected to be on-site. 

Responsibilities:

• Formalize and maintain Prudential’s enterprise-wide crisis communications capability through the development of plans, messaging and training, so the Prudential Communications function is well-prepared to coordinate with company businesses and functions and execute an effective crisis communications response
• Serve as a key partner and trusted advisor to senior leaders on emerging issues and lead message development and media relations.
• Create strategic communications materials including but not limited to, cyber security and enterprise risk plans, company issues response and media statements, internal and external executive communications.
• Serve as a proxy and additional senior level support to the VP, Crisis and Issues Management as needed on topics including cybersecurity, policy issues and litigation.
• Oversee a team of two direct reports.

Experience:

• 12+ years of professional experience in corporate and/or crisis communications, ideally at least part of which includes experience serving in a crisis communications role within a highly structured, in-house corporate environment.
• Demonstrated experience executing crisis communications response in partnership with senior leaders, providing strategic communications counsel, coordinating across multiple stakeholder communications needs, developing compelling messaging and executing media relations.
• Track record of developing enterprise-wide crisis communications frameworks or plans to address numerous scenarios including cybersecurity and data privacy incidents, high-profile litigation or regulatory matters, critic campaigns and societal issues/incidents.  
• Indisputable executive presence with strong degree of comfort and credibility advising C-suite level leaders on crisis communications response.
• Deep knowledge and curiosity about reputation risk and its impact on business outcomes, especially within the financial services and insurance industries, is highly desired.
• Confidence working directly with top-tier media journalists, as well as new and emerging social and digital media outlets.
• Exceptional critical-thinking, writing and organizational skills
• Demonstrated experience leading proactive crisis readiness projects while simultaneously managing the response to day-to-day breaking issues
• Experience building and maintaining stakeholder relationships, particularly in a hybrid environment.
• Minimum bachelor’s degree.

Core Skills:

• Business and Financial Acumen: excellent business judgement and understanding of business strategy and financial goals. Ability to connect the dots and think laterally about disparate issues and stakeholder issues.
• Trusted business advisor: track record of success in counseling senior business leaders such that insights derived from communications’ capabilities influence their business strategies, and communication strategy is driven by business needs and aligned with the enterprise-wide comms strategy.
• Influencing with impact: skilled in influencing business, function and other communications leaders on complex business issues through a combination of impeccable verbal and written communication skills, highly developed emotional intelligence and savvy navigation of complex business structures.
• Strategic leadership: demonstrated willingness to challenge the status quo and tackle difficult issues in a constructive and solutions-oriented manner, while retaining a forward-looking, innovative mindset.
• Effective Partner: proven success working within a matrixed environment and building alignment across multiple stakeholders and groups.

At Prudential, you can:

People who have successfully developed their skills in this role have gone on to be promoted within Communications both internal and external.

We equip and empower our employees to expand their skills and experience by using powerful learning, gigs, and job opportunities. We offer a suite of services including 1:1 Career advice, on demand resources and networking to propel your career forward.

We’re a global organization, full of outstandingly dedicated people who aren’t afraid to think differently, challenge the status quo and take sensible risks along the way. You will enjoy pushing boundaries as we build innovative technology that helps clients, customers and employees live their best lives. You will have access to leadership and learning opportunities and the resources needed to take your career in any direction. We will help you do your best work, offering flexibility, while delivering on our Purpose.

What we offer you:

• Market competitive base salaries, with a yearly bonus potential at every level
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), and leave of absences, such as parental and military leave
• Retirement plans:
• 401(k) plan with company match (up to 4%)
• Company-funded pension plan
• Wellness Programs to help you achieve your wellbeing goals, including up to $1,600 a year for reimbursement of items purchased to support personal wellbeing needs
• Work/Life Resources to help support topics such as parenting, housing, senior care, finances, pets, legal matters, education, emotional and mental health, and career development.
• Tuition Assistance to help finance traditional college enrollment toward obtaining an approved degree, many accredited certificate programs, and industry designations.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Shares can be purchased at 85% of the lower of two prices (Beginning or End of the purchase period), after one year of service.

To find out more about our Total Reward package, see our Total Rewards Brochure. Some of the above benefits may not apply to part-time employees scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week.

Note: Prudential is required by state specific laws to include the salary range for this role when hiring a resident in applicable locations. The salary range for this role is from $180,600.00 to $244,400.00. Specific pricing for the role may vary within the above range based on many factors including geographic location, candidate experience, and skills. Roles may also be eligible for additional compensation and/or benefits. Eligibility to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance. In addition, employees are eligible for standard benefits package including paid time off, medical, dental and retirement.