Principal Consultant, Reputation Management

Shape, protect, and elevate reputation where it matters most.

As organizations face unprecedented scrutiny and accelerated risk driven by sustainability expectations, AI, and real-time media cycles, reputation has become both a strategic differentiator and a material business risk.

The Principal Consultant, Reputation Management based in Walnut Creek, California plays a critical leadership role in helping global organizations anticipate challenges, respond with confidence, and protect long-term value.

Embedded within ERM Marketing Communications Agency (ERM MCA)—the strategic communications arm of the world’s largest pure-play sustainability consultancy—this role sits at the intersection of sustainability, risk, media, and business strategy. You will help stand up and grow ERM MCA’s emerging Reputation Management offering while serving as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 clients navigating complex, high-stakes reputation landscapes.

Why This Role Matters

As scrutiny of corporate behavior intensifies and AI reshapes how information is surfaced, amplified, and trusted, reputation has emerged as a critical business asset—and risk. This role is central to helping clients manage that shift with credibility, confidence, and foresight. At the same time, you will play a pivotal role in building ERM MCA’s Reputation Management practice, expanding a highly strategic capability within a fast-growing global consultancy.

What Your Impact Is

• Serve as the day-to-day senior lead for reputation, risk, and crisis communications programs for global clients
• Shape and deliver integrated, multi-channel PR strategies that protect and enhance corporate reputation
• Advise C-suite leaders during moments of heightened scrutiny, crisis, or transformation
• Build ERM MCA’s Reputation Management capability through thought leadership, business development, and team leadership
• Ensure communications strategies are credible, defensible, and grounded in operational and sustainability realities
• Help clients prepare for emerging risks through proactive issues management, simulations, and monitoring

What You’ll Bring

You bring a steady, solutions‑focused approach to complex and high‑pressure situations, paired with deep agency‑side experience in corporate sustainability PR, media relations, and risk and crisis communications. You are a confident client leader and trusted advisor, equally comfortable developing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to execute across earned, digital, and social channels. You thrive in fast‑paced environments, collaborate easily across disciplines, geographies, and time zones, and communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.

Required

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in communications, with at least half in an agency environment
• Proven experience designing and delivering integrated, multi‑channel sustainability PR programs across regions and sectors
• Hands‑on expertise in earned media, with established journalist relationships
• Experience advising C‑suite leaders on communication risk, reputation management, and crisis response
• Strong working knowledge of media monitoring and social listening tools such as Signal AI or Meltwater, and how to apply insights strategically
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior audiences
• Experience in a fast‑paced sustainability communications agency, ideally serving B2B clients in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, or technology
• Strong project management skills, with a track record of managing multiple workstreams and delivering on time and on budget
• Proven ability to present confidently and effectively in both prepared presentations and live client discussions
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field
• Must be based in the Pacific Standard Time zone, preferably California
• Willingness to travel, including time onsite with clients

Preferred

• Experience delivering crisis simulations and media training
• Line management or team leadership experience
• Experience working with Fortune 500 companies
• Strong understanding of sustainability issues, including packaging, policy, and reporting
• A collaborative, proactive working style and sense of humor

Key Responsibilities

Client Leadership & Strategy

• Act as a core member of the Reputation Management team within the broader ERM MCA account structure
• Serve as day-to-day client lead, managing delivery of strategic communications programs with a focus on earned media, social media, and reputatio