Communications Specialist (contract)

San Jose, CA (On-site)

$120/hr – $150/hrSenior Level10+ years expContract

Posted 1 day ago

Job Summary

Own crisis communications planning and response, provide strategic counsel to senior leadership, and lead integrated communications across change initiatives, risk, legal, and marketing to protect and advance reputation.

  • Lead crisis communications planning, messaging, and executive guidance.
  • Coordinate strategic counsel and cross‑functional collaboration across Marketing, Risk, Legal, HR, and Communications.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development of crisis communications planning and response efforts, including development of messaging, stakeholder communications, response protocols, and executive guidance during business-critical situations.
  • Serve as a trusted communications advisor to senior leaders, providing strategic counsel on executive positioning, messaging, thought leadership, organizational change, and reputational issues.
  • Develop and implement integrated communications strategies and messaging frameworks that support key business initiatives, organizational transformations, and external market positioning while creating narratives and content that simplify complex business, industry, and societal issues for internal and external audiences while ensuring consistency across communication channels.
  • Support media relations and external engagement activities by developing communications materials, preparing spokespersons, coordinating messaging, and managing sensitive issues. Monitor the external environment, including media, industry developments, and stakeholder sentiment, to identify emerging risks and opportunities and recommend proactive communications strategies.
  • Develop and execute change management communication strategies that drive awareness, engagement, and adoption of business and organizational initiatives.
  • Collaborate across Marketing, Communications, Risk Management, Human Resources, Legal, and business stakeholders to deliver coordinated communications that align with firm priorities and objectives.
  • Measure and evaluate the effectiveness of communications programs through defined metrics, reporting, and stakeholder feedback, using insights to continuously improve outcomes.

Requirements

  • Minimum ten (10) years of progressive experience in strategic communications, corporate communications, public relations, executive communications, corporate affairs, or reputation management.
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, International Relations, Political Science, English, or a related field preferred
  • Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies in complex, matrixed, and global organizations and proven experience leading crisis communications, issues management, and reputational risk communications, including rapid response planning and stakeholder engagement.
  • Extensive executive communications experience supporting C-suite leaders and senior executives through speechwriting, thought leadership, presentations, messaging, and strategic counsel and demonstrated expertise in narrative development, content strategy, and translating complex topics into compelling communications for diverse audiences.
  • Strong media relations experience, including preparation of media materials, executive spokesperson support, and management of sensitive communications issues; experience leading communications initiatives supporting organizational transformation, change management, and business-critical programs.
  • Exceptional written, verbal, editing, storytelling, and presentation skills with meticulous attention to detail.
  • Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
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KPMG US

KPMG is one of the world’s leading professional services firms and the fastest growing Big Four accounting firm in the United States. With 90+ offices and more than 36,000 employees and partners throughout the US, we’re leading the industry in new and exciting ways. Our size and strength make us much more agile and responsive to changing trends.

Founded in 1987
New York, NY, US
50K employees (1,289 in marketing)

Salaries

Posted range

$120/hr – $150/hr

Taken straight from the job posting.

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Communications Specialist (contract)

KPMG US · San Jose, CA · On-site