Senior Vice President, Corporate Issues

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.

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