Vice President, Crisis & Risk Communications

Daniel J. Edelman•Chicago, IL

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President will counsel clients, including clients in the food and beverage industry, on complex crises and other issues affecting trust and reputation. The role works closely with senior company leaders and helps build the practice’s client roster, develop crisis specialties and offerings, and grow capabilities. It involves leading account work, providing strategic reputation-risk and crisis-response counsel, and helping clients build communications plans and materials. The position also contributes to new business development and the growth of the firm’s food and beverage offering.

Requirements

At least 8 years of crisis management experience.
Experience running integrated account work, managing a team, and growing account work with clients.
Ability to work a hybrid schedule with three days per week in the Chicago office or at client sites.
Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Sound communications counsel in legally sensitive, fast-moving, high-pressure environments.
Strong client relationship skills and experience advising on strategy, approach, and execution.
Strong organizational, scheduling, time-management, and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
Ability to adapt in a rapidly changing landscape and work in a fast-paced environment.
Media relations and message-development skills, including leading plan execution, crisis-response messaging, and client storytelling.
Experience in new business and driving proposal development and opportunities for a team.
Sound judgment and proven problem-solving skills.
Ability to develop and coach a team while leading work.
Ability to secure new business and contribute to or lead new-business pitches.
Willingness to respond outside regular work hours as needed for breaking issues.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of and experience with consumer/CPG clients or food-sector experience.
Track record of growing profitable programs that advance client business goals.
Ability to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

Strategically drive and develop crisis account work.
Lead the operational and financial performance of account teams, ensuring quality work, effective processes, and timely, strategic responses to client requests.
Counsel clients based on their business goals and respond promptly to client feedback.
Work with clients to develop communications plans and materials.
Oversee junior staff by providing clear, consistent feedback and advancing work product.
Lead new business development, using the global network to grow the food and beverage offering, expand existing relationships, and build new ones.
Demonstrate advanced writing skills and supervise the writing of others.
Set and lead traditional and social strategic media relations.
Manage billing and budgets.
Respond outside regular work hours as needed to manage breaking issues.
Travel as needed.