Account Director, Corporate Issues

The Global Corporate Crisis and Issues Practice is seeking a Director in our New York office.  

 What we are seeking: 

 We are looking for a Director level practitioner to help us grow our Global Crisis and Issues Practice and support a wide array of high-profile clients with crisis preparedness and planning activities, crisis simulations and live crisis response. You have extensive crisis communications and issues management experience, preferably across multiple industries. Experience helping clients navigate cyberattack communications is a plus.  

You will play an important role on our team, helping lead a broad range of projects, develop new business opportunities, and mentor and grow the skill sets of emerging talent in our practice. The nature of the work also requires an ability and eagerness to juggle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced deadline-oriented environment, both inside and outside traditional work hours. Candidates should have agency background, expertise in digital/social media and a demonstrated track record of supporting high-stakes crisis communications projects. 

 Our team – the Weber Shandwick Global Crisis and Issues Practice:  

Our team is a group of analytical and hardworking people who care deeply about helping lead our clients through a crisis to make a positive impact on society. 

 We help leading organizations manage breaking negative issues and events affecting reputation and develop the internal culture and infrastructure needed to anticipate, prepare and navigate them effectively. From cyberattacks, environmental protests, high-profile litigation and misinformation defense to sweeping product recalls, multinational bankruptcies and executive controversies, we live at the intersection of business, media, policy, culture and society.  

 

Our multi-disciplinary team of experts in crisis, public policy, culture, business and analytics know how to make sense of data to provide context and perspective and predict trends. We mitigate against vulnerabilities, provide real-time feedback and validate communications strategies to help clients navigate risk and reward in a complex and ever-changing world. 

 To learn more: Crisis & reputation defense – Communications & PR (webershandwick.com) 

 Compass for the Chaos: Compass for the Chaos | WS Crisis & Issues | Substack 

 What you will be doing: 

 

• Support a range of issues and crisis communications situations for companies and organizations, including, but not limited to: 

• Misinformation Management 
• Product safety issues and recalls. 
• Geopolitical, political and societal issues 
• Regulatory compliance issues 
• Workplace culture matters 
• Cybersecurity and data breach issues 
• Litigation defense 
• DEI-related matters 
• Investigative reporting 

• Serve as a day-to-day client contact – flagging, triaging, and directly managing client issues as they arise. 
• Develop and draft crisis plans, media strategies, materials (e.g., reactive media statements, talking points, FAQs, stakeholder communications), memos, crisis simulations and other deliverables as needed. 
• Train and motivate emerging talent and help create opportunities for their growth. 
• Oversee and execute complex research and narrative intelligence projects to guide client strategy. 
• Provide regular counsel to clients and colleagues. 

• Keep client programs on schedule and ensure all deadlines are met within budget parameters. 
• Participate in 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. 

 

Qualifications: 

 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and/or 7+ years of relevant experience in an agency/strategic consulting firm, political campaign, or at a company in the healthcare sector. 
• Experience directly counseling clients/senior ranking executives through a broad range of crises, issues and special situations, with preference for those in the healthcare sector. 
• Experience with corporate reputation, brand management and protection through integrated communications programs. 
• Familiarity with the latest digital trends in social media strategy, tools, and analytics – including generative AI tools. 
• Experience creating issues and crisis preparedness programs (e.g., protocol, scenario plans, simulations drills, workshops and media trainings)  
• Experience with cybersecurity