Senior Vice President, Crisis & Risk Communications - Data, Security, and Privacy

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the most senior leaders in the company to counsel our clients on complex cybersecurity/data security and privacy crises as well as other issues affecting trust and reputation. This role will involve a strong focus on helping clients prepare for and respond to cybersecurity/data security and data privacy incidents, including ransomware attacks and breaches of personal, financial, health and corporate information. In addition to incident response communications strategy, this role supports client preparedness through playbooks, trainings and tabletops
• Where needed, support other issues and crisis matters such as product recalls, litigation, labor matters, regulatory investigations and societal issues
• Work collaboratively with Edelman’s counter-disinformation experts to counsel clients at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI/disinformation
• Play an active role in strategically driving and developing crisis account work
• Lead operational and financial performance of account teams, ensuring quality work, effective processes and that client requests are handled in timely and strategic fashion
• Thoughtfully counsel clients based on cyber communications landscape and business goals; take immediate action on client feedback
• Work alongside clients’ cyber counsel and forensics partners to develop holistic data security response communications plans and materials
• Translate complex cybersecurity, data security and privacy issues into clear, credible and audience-appropriate communications for executives, boards, employees, customers, consumers, partners, regulators, policymakers, investors and media.
• Oversee junior staff by providing clear and consistent feedback, and advancing work
• product

Requirements

• Have 10 years+ of crisis management experience and experience running integrated account work, managing a team, and growing account work with clients
• Able to work a hybrid schedule with 3 days a week in the Chicago, NYC, or D.C. office
• Able to be on site with clients as needed
• Have a bachelor’s degree in a related field

Preferred

• Have worked in federal law enforcement, regulatory bodies, or other relevant government entities
• Experience helping organizations prepare for and respond to cybersecurity, data security and privacy incidents
• Experience and interest in helping organizations confront the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape
• Strong understanding of the cybersecurity and data privacy incident response ecosystem, including the roles of outside counsel, privacy counsel, forensic investigators, insurers, brokers, regulators, law enforcement and internal security teams
• Ability to provide sound communications counsel in legally sensitive, fast-moving and high-pressure environments
• Excellent client relationship skills and experience giving counsel on strategy, approach, and execution
• Strong organizational, scheduling, and time/project management skills; possess the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Able to adapt on the fly, comfortable in a quickly and constantly changing landscape, and able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Track record of growing profitable programs that have advanced client business goals
• Media relations and message development skills to lead execution of plans, crisis response messaging and storytelling on behalf of clients