Head of Crisis Communications and Issues Management

Vanguard's Communications division is hiring for a new Head of Crisis Communications and Issues Management leader to drive the development of global communications strategies, tactics, and tools to prepare for and respond to anticipated and actual corporate crisis situations, including instances of significant reputational threat. Relevant responsibilities include issues preparedness planning, developing and managing crisis communications plans, partnering with the business on running crisis simulations, and spearheading live crisis communications response for both internal and external audiences. This leader will serve as Vanguard's primary authority and subject matter expert concerning crisis communication strategies, implementation, and alignment to business needs and objectives.

Core Responsibilities

1. Hires, evaluates, and supervises crew. Provides guidance and training as necessary to develop crew. Sets performance standards, reviews performance, and makes informed compensation decisions in accordance with all applicable Human Resources policies and procedures.

2. Develops crisis communications and issues management strategies with a company-wide perspective to enable strategic business outcomes. Leads the development, operation, delivery, and measurement of relevant communications strategies and plans across a variety of business needs.

3. Protects Vanguard's reputation through communications planning and execution across various channels and platforms. Leads team of crisis communication consultants to proactively source and deliver business-critical crisis communications plans and deliverables.

4. Partners closely with senior leaders to advise and develop crisis communications and issues management strategies and ensures messaging is integrated and aligned across communications channels. Provides strategic crisis communications and issues management counsel for executive leaders.

5. Drives the development of crisis communication plans with high-quality communications material across a variety of formats, platforms and channels. Drives the development of new channels as appropriate.

6. Drives the impact of the collective crisis communication strategy and team. Ensures the execution of all phases of the communications process, including conception, implementation, and measurement. Pushes the team to measure communications progress and opportunities.

7. Balances external practice with internal brand. Serves as Vanguard's authority on crisis communications best practices, emerging trends, and their validity in Vanguard's environment and culture to encourage adoption as appropriate.

8. Develops and strengthens working relationships with key influencers and executives across the organization and in the industry to support crisis communications and business objectives.

9. Partners particularly closely with the regional heads of Public Relations, the Head of Strategic Communications, and other Corporate Communications department heads to develop and execute against the integrated communications plans needed to respond to crises and mitigate reputational threats.

10. Serves as key liaison to external crisis communications firm and as primary manager of that agency relationship.

11. Spearheads continuous improvements in Vanguard's crisis communication strategy and implementation. Measures and monitors client satisfaction and makes recommendations based on feedback gathered from various sources.

12. Influences crisis communications prioritization, sequencing, and message alignment across the enterprise.

13. Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

·         Ten years related work experience, with eight years Communications experience preferred. Leadership experience preferred.

·         Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

We are Vanguard. Together, we’re changing the way the world invests.

For us, investing doesn’t just end in value. It starts with values. Because when you invest with courage, when you invest with clarity, and when you invest with care, you can get so much more in return. We invest with purpose – and that’s how we’ve become a global market leader. Here, we grow by doing the right thing for the people we serve. And so can you.

We want to make success accessible to everyone. This is our opportunity. Let’s make it count.

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values.

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard's core purpose.

Our core purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.