Senior Vice President, Issues + Crisis

Job description

### About Us At **We.**, we've spent decades at the intersection of technology and humanity, bridging the gap between what businesses create and how people experience those creations. We've learned that beneath even the most unruly situations — whether it's a global crisis, an emerging technology, or a sweeping organizational change—lies a simple human need. That need could be for trust, connection, safety, or a sense of purpose. But it’s always there. And it is only by uncovering these truths that we can make real, meaningful progress. **Senior Vice President, Issues + Crisis** Organizations today operate in a landscape defined by compounding complexity. AI is accelerating the speed of information and misinformation. Geopolitical tensions, regulatory scrutiny, cybersecurity threats, workforce expectations and stakeholder activism can create business risk overnight. In this environment, reputation is earned every day and tested in critical moments. At We. Communications, we help leading organizations navigate complexity and build meaningful connections with the audiences that matter most. Drawing on deep expertise across technology, healthcare, consumer and nonprofit sectors, we partner with clients undergoing transformation, helping them understand emerging risks, engage stakeholders, strengthen reputation and communicate with clarity when the stakes are high. We are seeking a **Senior Vice President, Issues + Crisis** to join our Corporate Communications team. This leader will serve as one of the agency's senior experts in issues management, crisis communications and public affairs, partnering with clients and colleagues to navigate complex challenges, shape our market-leading capabilities and drive continued growth of the practice. This role will work closely with Corporate Communications and agency leadership to shape and scale We.'s Issues + Crisis offering across North America. Our Corporate team brings together strategists, storytellers and counselors who thrive in dynamic, high-pressure environments. We believe the most effective communications humanize complexity, helping organizations build trust, navigate change and lead through moments of uncertainty. We work collaboratively across disciplines, sectors and geographies, combining intellectual curiosity, human connection and deep expertise to help clients solve difficult challenges and realize opportunities. While the Senior Vice President position can be based in any of We.'s markets, there is a strong preference for candidates based in New York City or Washington, DC. **What you’ll be doing:** - Lead and grow We.'s Issues + Crisis practice, helping define strategy, evolve our capabilities and strengthen our position in the marketplace. - Serve as a senior counselor to leaders at Fortune 500 companies, large nonprofits and philanthropies, and other organizations facing complex reputation, business, policy and stakeholder challenges. - Lead issues management and crisis communications programs across a range of scenarios, including cybersecurity incidents, litigation, regulatory investigations, executive issues, labor and workforce matters, geopolitical events, public affairs challenges and business transformation initiatives. - Serve as a senior subject matter expert on issues management and crisis communications, partnering across We. sectors and teams to deliver integrated solutions for clients. - Help clients anticipate and navigate emerging risks, providing strategic counsel that strengthens reputation, builds stakeholder trust and helps prevent issues from escalating into crises. - Develop crisis preparedness plans, escalation protocols, stakeholder engagement strategies, response playbooks and executive communications frameworks. - Lead crisis simulations, executive trainings and scenario planning exercises with senior leadership teams and cross-functional stakeholders. - Partner closely with communications, public affairs, legal, government relations, investor relations, HR and business leaders to align strategies and drive effective decision-making during high-stakes situations. - Develop and coordinate integrated communications campaigns designed to influence stakeholders and achieve business outcomes in a range of scenarios, including crisis management, litigation, labor relations, public affairs, and reputation recovery. - Drive significant new business and organic growth, building senior executive relationships and identifying opportunities to expand existing client partnerships. - Represent We. externally through thought leadership, conference speaking engagements, media commentary, and active participation in industry organizations. - Drive innovation across We.'s Issues + Crisis offering, advancing methodologies, AI-enabled capabilities, tools and market positioning. **What you’ve been able to accomplish:** - 12+ years of experience in strategic communications, issues management, crisis communications, public affairs or related disciplines with agency experience preferred and a demonstrated track record of leading high-performing teams. - Recognized expertise serving as a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards of directors and C-suite executives during high-stakes business, reputation and stakeholder challenges. - Deep experience advising organizations through complex issues and crises, including regulatory, legal, workforce, geopolitical, cybersecurity and reputational challenges; policy and public affairs experience preferred. - Strong understanding of today's information environment, including the impact of AI, social media, digital communities and emerging technologies on stakeholder perception and organizational reputation. - Experience leveraging media monitoring, social listening, AI-powered intelligence and other data-driven tools to identify emerging risks, detect early signals and inform strategic decision-making. - Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information, connect disparate signals and exercise sound judgment in rapidly evolving situations. - Experience partnering effectively with legal, public affairs, government relations, investor relations, HR and executive leadership teams during high-stakes situations. - Demonstrated success generating new business, growing existing accounts and building long-term executive relationships that drive business growth. - Recognized thought leader in issues management, crisis communications, public affairs or corporate reputation, with experience speaking, publishing or otherwise contributing to the profession. - Strong presentation, consulting and writing skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences. - Experience working across global markets, mentoring and developing teams, and thriving in a fast-paced, client-service environment.&nbs