Serve as the primary strategic advisor to the C-suite on all matters involving public perception, risk mitigation, and executive positioning with direct interaction with CEO and CLO.
Develops and leads comprehensive, society-wide communications strategies that align with long-term growth and operational priorities.
Develop recommendation for key thought leadership opportunities in support of broader MarCom plans.
Oversees the creation and evolution of long-term crisis preparedness strategies, including the development of response playbooks and rapid-deployment "holding statements."
Lead high-level negotiations and strategic decision-making during crises to stabilize the organization and ensure a unified response.
Maintains relationship with key partners' communication leadership and effectively manages agency resources.
Help shape the Society's integrated communication and marketing plans by providing strategic counsel to support alignment with the Society's values and best practices in inclusive content and social impact communications.
Crisis & Issues Management (25%)
Lead the command center during critical incidents, managing real-time communication across multiple mediums to address misinformation or emerging threats.
Shape and defend the organizational narrative during high-visibility global crises (e.g., legal disputes, regulatory issues).
Act as the primary high-level spokesperson for sensitive or complex company news, providing public reassurance and managing media inquiries.
Design and oversee crisis simulation programs and media training for senior leadership to ensure decisiveness under pressure.
Reputation & Media Relations (25%)
Build and maintain top-tier relationships with key journalists, industry influencers, and international media outlets and ensure high-quality press coverage and influencer opportunities.
Develop reputational monitoring protocols and recommendations including progressing utilization of advanced analytics and monitoring tools to track public sentiment and identify potential risks before they escalate.
Lead development and execution of an annual strategic PR and earned media communications plans in partnership with key divisional stakeholders and ensure consistent and amplified brand messaging across all earned, owned, and shared media channels.
Lead the development of external positioning and messaging strategies for NGS including drafting external-facing communications - talking points, speeches, press releases, and blog posts.
Create and lead media training sessions for National Geographic spokespeople, including executives and Explorers.
Oversee leadership team's efforts to identify and secure speaking engagements at desired conferences and events and provide content support, where needed.
Team Leadership (25%)
Coach team to proactively ide
Benefits
Vision insurance
Additional Information
How You'll Contribute
The Communications, Marketing, and Brand team uses creative and strategic tools to further the mission of the National Geographic Society (NGS), while maintaining our place as one of the world's most trusted non-profit organizations and global brands. The Division's creative minds develop and execute mission-driven, on-brand strategies and integrated strategic communications, marketing, creative and audience growth for the National Geographic Society and unifying our efforts across our owned channels, through owned channels, outside partners and earned media. The team is composed of seven integrated departments: Creative, Integrated Brand Marketing, Partnerships Marketing, MarCom Operations and Internal Communications, Strategic Communications, Executive Communications, and Crisis Communications and Public Relations.
The VP of Crisis Communications and PR reports into the Chief Communications, Marketing and Brand Officer and serves as the senior strategic advisor, directing global reputation management, media relations, and high-stakes crisis response for the National Geographic Society and will be a key liaison with key partner communication teams, specifically The Walt Disney Company. This role will focus on protecting the brand reputation by leading communication strategies during, and in preparation for, high-risk situations, serving as a spokesperson and guiding executive leadership.
Additionally, the VP of Crisis Communications and PR will focus on ways to raise visibility of the Society as an impact-driven nonprofit and advancing the Society's overall narrative through a comprehensive communications strategy. This role will work to secure a sustained drumbeat of earned media amplification to support owned media efforts that raise awareness and relevancy of the brand and its impact with key audiences. The VP of Crisis Communications and PR will play a key role in message development and will build and maintain top-tier relationships with key journalists, industry influencers, and international media outlets.
Ngs · Washington, DC