Associate Connections Director, Public Relations/Issues Management

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for:

VML is seeking an Associate Connections Director, Public Relations/Issues Management, to responsible for leading and executing the day-to-day issues and crisis management activities for a VML client. Responsibilities may include managing team members, collaborating with integrated teams, creating PR materials, and conducting media relations activities and outreach.

What you’ll do:

• Develop PR strategies to protect and defend corporate reputations and drive engagement
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, serving as a client resource and providing client counsel both responsively and proactively
• Lead strategic crisis planning for clients
• Actively lead and contribute in collaboration with agency partners (Client Engagement, Strategy, Creative, Paid Media, Discoverability, etc.)
• Participate in creative briefing and ideation sessions, providing recommendations to enhance campaigns and activations with earned media and develop integrated go-to-market tactics."
• Lead strategic PR plan and communications campaign development, creating actionable PR objectives, strategies and tactics
• Write key PR documents, including key messages, news releases, facts sheets, byline articles, speeches, etc. to promote client products/services in relevant communications channels
• Create media briefs for client interviews, focused on background on reporters as well as key messages and likely questions to be asked
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key reporters, editors and producers at print, digital and broadcast media outlets in both consumer and trade spaces
• Stay on top of and assess industry trends to identify opportunities to inject clients into news cycles and drive story idea development
• Use Meltwater software to track, monitor and report on client performance against campaign/business unit KPIs and provide timely and regular reports to client marketing communications managers and corporate communications teams
• Support client teams at major trade shows, conferences and virtual events, as directed, and coordinate activities in partnership with other team members
• Develop and manage client budgets and support budget development, tracking and communications
• Play a key role in leading day-to-day issues management activities, including working with senior members of the team to help oversee projects, connecting across our agency teams
• Demonstrate ability to provide feedback on key written materials, including client communications, media materials and strategic plans
• Participate in new business opportunities, including PR-focused efforts as well as integrated proposals

Who you are:

• Skilled strategic thinker who can anticipate issues and trends, while translating those insights into actionable ideas
• Strong project manager and editor with the ability to direct the creation of PR materials and plans
• Flexibility in creating and editing complex plans and guidance materials.
• Collaborative team member and leader with experience managing people, preferably in an agency setting
• Problem solver focused on managing multiple projects, team members and deadlines

What you’ll need:

• 8+ years of relevant experience in agency or PR-related field, with 5+ years being in crisis/issues management
• Agriculture client experience highly preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Solid interpersonal skills and ability to build strong client relationships
• Ability to communicate with and influence a broad spectrum of stakeholders
• Ability to work collaboratively within PR team and across agency teams
• Familiarity with PR, influencers and social media trends

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

_$75,000—$180,000 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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