Principal Consultant, Reputation Management Principal Consultant, Reputation Man
Seeds Renewables, Walnut Creek, CA, United States
Principal Consultant, Reputation Management
Position based in Walnut Creek, California. Plays a critical leadership role in helping global organizations anticipate challenges, respond with confidence, and protect long‑term value.
Why This Role Matters As scrutiny of corporate behavior intensifies and AI reshapes how information is surfaced, reputation has become both a strategic differentiator and a material business risk.
What Your Impact Is
Serve as the day‑to‑day senior lead for reputation, risk, and crisis communications programs for global clients
Shape and deliver integrated, multi‑channel PR strategies that protect and enhance corporate reputation
Advise C‑suite leaders during moments of heightened scrutiny, crisis, or transformation
Build ERM MCA’s Reputation Management capability through thought leadership, business development, and team leadership
Ensure communications strategies are credible, defensible, and grounded in operational and sustainability realities
Help clients prepare for emerging risks through proactive issues management, simulations, and monitoring
What You’ll Bring You bring a steady, solutions‑focused approach to complex and high‑pressure situations, paired with deep agency‑side experience in corporate sustainability PR, media relations, and risk and crisis communications. You are a confident client leader and trusted advisor, equally comfortable developing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to execute across earned, digital, and social channels. You thrive in fast‑paced environments, collaborate easily across disciplines, geographies, and time zones, and communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
Required
Minimum 7 years’ experience in communications, with at least half in an agency environment
Proven experience designing and delivering integrated, multi‑channel sustainability PR programs across regions and sectors
Hands‑on expertise in earned media, with established journalist relationships
Experience advising C‑suite leaders on communication risk, reputation management, and crisis response
Strong working knowledge of media monitoring and social listening tools such as Signal AI or Meltwater, and how to apply insights strategically
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior audiences
Experience in a fast‑paced sustainability communications agency, ideally serving B2B clients in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, or technology
Strong project management skills, with a track record of managing multiple workstreams and delivering on time and on budget
Proven ability to present confidently and effectively in both prepared presentations and live client discussions
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field
Must be based in the Pacific Standard Time zone, preferably California
Willingness to travel, including time onsite with clients
Preferred
Experience delivering crisis simulations and media training
Line management or team leadership experience
Experience working with Fortune 500 companies
Strong understanding of sustainability issues, including packaging, policy, and reporting
A collaborative, proactive working style and sense of humor
Key Responsibilities Client Leadership & Strategy
Act as a core member of the Reputation Management team within the broader ERM MCA account structure
Serve as day‑to‑day client lead, managing delivery of strategic communications programs with a focus on earned media, social media, and reputation and risk management
Lead the development and execution of integrated PR campaigns across media, digital, and social channels
Build and maintain trusted advisor relationships, proactively identifying opportunities for growth while ensuring client satisfaction and retention
Anticipate client needs and recommend solutions related to messaging, media strategy, and crisis communications
Lead development of issues management protocols, crisis playbooks, media training, and simulation exercises
Present ideas and recommendations confidently and effectively in both formal presentations and live client discussions
Partner closely with ERM’s technical and stakeholder engagement teams to align reputation strategy with real‑world impacts
Oversee junior‑led media monitoring and social listening activities using tools such as Signal AI or Meltwater
Business Development
Contribute to identifying, scoping, and converting new business opportunities
Support proposal development, budgeting, and project scoping
Identify organic growth opportunities within existing accounts
Support agency leadership in expanding services and market presence
Media & Industry Expertise
Maintain strong relationships with key journalists, influencers, and industry stakeholders
Provide senior‑level oversight on media strategy, storytelling, and thought leadership
Demonstrate deep understanding of clients’ sectors, challenges, and opportunities
Stay ahead of industry trends and integrate insights into client strategies
Manage account profitability, budgets, and forecasting
Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to ERM MCA quality standards
Build strong internal partnerships across Research & Insights, Creative, Digital, and Client Management teams
Success Metrics
Contribute to new business and organic growth, including personally identifying revenue opportunities
Maintain 55% billability aligned with team growth targets
Demonstrate measurable client reputation impact (e.g., sentiment, share of voice, issue containment)
Achieve strong client satisfaction, retention, and 10% year‑over‑year account growth
Attend at least one networking event per month and add one qualified prospect per quarter
Contribute to at least two external marketing or growth initiatives annually
Introduce personal network contacts as potential ERM clients where appropriate
Complete ERM project management training within 12 months
Compensation Annual base pay: $118,926 – $131,623 (USD). Actual pay will depend on education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. Pay may vary outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay (casual and fixed‑term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).
Benefits We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP, and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.
Equal Employment Opportunity ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
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Why This Role Matters As scrutiny of corporate behavior intensifies and AI reshapes how information is surfaced, reputation has become both a strategic differentiator and a material business risk.
What Your Impact Is
Serve as the day‑to‑day senior lead for reputation, risk, and crisis communications programs for global clients
Shape and deliver integrated, multi‑channel PR strategies that protect and enhance corporate reputation
Advise C‑suite leaders during moments of heightened scrutiny, crisis, or transformation
Build ERM MCA’s Reputation Management capability through thought leadership, business development, and team leadership
Ensure communications strategies are credible, defensible, and grounded in operational and sustainability realities
Help clients prepare for emerging risks through proactive issues management, simulations, and monitoring
What You’ll Bring You bring a steady, solutions‑focused approach to complex and high‑pressure situations, paired with deep agency‑side experience in corporate sustainability PR, media relations, and risk and crisis communications. You are a confident client leader and trusted advisor, equally comfortable developing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to execute across earned, digital, and social channels. You thrive in fast‑paced environments, collaborate easily across disciplines, geographies, and time zones, and communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
Required
Minimum 7 years’ experience in communications, with at least half in an agency environment
Proven experience designing and delivering integrated, multi‑channel sustainability PR programs across regions and sectors
Hands‑on expertise in earned media, with established journalist relationships
Experience advising C‑suite leaders on communication risk, reputation management, and crisis response
Strong working knowledge of media monitoring and social listening tools such as Signal AI or Meltwater, and how to apply insights strategically
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior audiences
Experience in a fast‑paced sustainability communications agency, ideally serving B2B clients in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, or technology
Strong project management skills, with a track record of managing multiple workstreams and delivering on time and on budget
Proven ability to present confidently and effectively in both prepared presentations and live client discussions
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field
Must be based in the Pacific Standard Time zone, preferably California
Willingness to travel, including time onsite with clients
Preferred
Experience delivering crisis simulations and media training
Line management or team leadership experience
Experience working with Fortune 500 companies
Strong understanding of sustainability issues, including packaging, policy, and reporting
A collaborative, proactive working style and sense of humor
Key Responsibilities Client Leadership & Strategy
Act as a core member of the Reputation Management team within the broader ERM MCA account structure
Serve as day‑to‑day client lead, managing delivery of strategic communications programs with a focus on earned media, social media, and reputation and risk management
Lead the development and execution of integrated PR campaigns across media, digital, and social channels
Build and maintain trusted advisor relationships, proactively identifying opportunities for growth while ensuring client satisfaction and retention
Anticipate client needs and recommend solutions related to messaging, media strategy, and crisis communications
Lead development of issues management protocols, crisis playbooks, media training, and simulation exercises
Present ideas and recommendations confidently and effectively in both formal presentations and live client discussions
Partner closely with ERM’s technical and stakeholder engagement teams to align reputation strategy with real‑world impacts
Oversee junior‑led media monitoring and social listening activities using tools such as Signal AI or Meltwater
Business Development
Contribute to identifying, scoping, and converting new business opportunities
Support proposal development, budgeting, and project scoping
Identify organic growth opportunities within existing accounts
Support agency leadership in expanding services and market presence
Media & Industry Expertise
Maintain strong relationships with key journalists, influencers, and industry stakeholders
Provide senior‑level oversight on media strategy, storytelling, and thought leadership
Demonstrate deep understanding of clients’ sectors, challenges, and opportunities
Stay ahead of industry trends and integrate insights into client strategies
Manage account profitability, budgets, and forecasting
Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to ERM MCA quality standards
Build strong internal partnerships across Research & Insights, Creative, Digital, and Client Management teams
Success Metrics
Contribute to new business and organic growth, including personally identifying revenue opportunities
Maintain 55% billability aligned with team growth targets
Demonstrate measurable client reputation impact (e.g., sentiment, share of voice, issue containment)
Achieve strong client satisfaction, retention, and 10% year‑over‑year account growth
Attend at least one networking event per month and add one qualified prospect per quarter
Contribute to at least two external marketing or growth initiatives annually
Introduce personal network contacts as potential ERM clients where appropriate
Complete ERM project management training within 12 months
Compensation Annual base pay: $118,926 – $131,623 (USD). Actual pay will depend on education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. Pay may vary outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay (casual and fixed‑term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).
Benefits We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP, and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.
Equal Employment Opportunity ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
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