Communications Manager, Crisis and Reputation Management

When You Join Verizon

Verizon is one of the world’s leading providers of technology and communications services, transforming the way we connect around the world. We’re a human network that reaches across the globe and works behind the scenes. We anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together—lifting up our communities and striving to make an impact to move the world forward. If you’re fueled by purpose, and powered by persistence, explore a career with us. Here, you’ll discover the rigor it takes to make a difference and the fulfillment that comes with living the #NetworkLife.

What You’ll Be Doing…

The mission of the Verizon Communications Manager is to drive excellence in managing crises as well as reputation management, brand protection, and enhancement. The role will offer guidance and the direct handling of intervention with our internal partners and the media on a variety of crises, breaking news events, reputational issues, and more. An ideal candidate must have the ability and willingness to work and manage a variety of corporate reputational issues, and the will and skill to respond to any breaking or unexpected issues, day or night, 7 days a week. In addition, this person must be able to make difficult decisions under pressure using critical-thinking skills and demonstrate strong leadership and interpersonal skills to motivate and organize teams.

In addition, with Verizon’s largest labor union contract set to expire in about 15 months, this person will need to assist in creating a campaign to handle the upcoming contract negotiation. This position will create campaign-style external and internal communications plans for special projects, planned and unforeseen events. This job demands an essential skill set in creating and maintaining message consistency, and the ideal candidate must possess the ability to deliver the company’s narrative on and off the record. The role also requires the ability to protect the company’s reputation in very challenging situations. This person will work closely with C-suite executives and cross-company business leaders on a variety of subjects, as assigned.

This Communications Manager must act like a journalist in their own right—one who thrives and enjoys building and maintaining relationships with reporters, bloggers, influencers, and others. This position demands a skill set and ability to respond to an issue with very little time or notice. They must have a desire to work on corporate reputational issues, political and policy issues, cyber and corporate security functions, and more. This person also supports all business units in the U.S. and abroad. This role reports to the Director of Communications or Crisis Communications and will be based in New Jersey or Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities Will Include:

• Managing responses to crisis activations, including facilitating meetings.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key media members, including broadcast and print reporters, editors, and other thought leaders/influencers; existing and extensive media relations experience required.
• Having experience in corporate issues, reputation management, and C-Suite coaching and guidance.
• Developing crisis and executive messaging.
• Developing social media guidance.
• Having the knowledge and ability to partner with Legal and HR teams, including the Labor Relations team in anticipation of the 2025 Verizon East Contract expiration.
• Building and designing campaigns: identify and bring together agencies and individual experts in a variety of backgrounds for short or long-term brand protection initiatives.
• Monitoring and evaluating competitive media intelligence, suggest counter strategies and opposition narratives.
• Preparing corporate business leaders as spokespeople with comprehensive background materials and staff media interviews.

What We’re Looking For…

You’ll need to have:

• Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.
• Six years of relevant experience in corporate communications, public relations, cyber and corporate security, political campaign experience, or crisis communications.
• Flexibility in working non-traditional hours.
• Experience working and communicating with C-suite and senior executive clients.
• Willingness to travel on a regular basis (25-50% of time).

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or advertising.
• Job history or actual experience in working, creating and/or managing a political campaign on a State or Federal level.
• Experience as a TV, radio or print journalist in a top 50 market.
• Experience or having worked for a Federal or State regulatory or legislative body potentially including Congress, the FCC, a state legislature or a Governor’s office.
• Experience in the Communications industry, technology or software.
• Genuine talent, propensity, and enthusiasm for pitching and maintaining relationships with reporters.
• Curated digital Rolodex of media contacts.
• Outstanding writing, editing, and verbal communications skills with attention to detail.
• Mastery of news writing standards.
• Experience utilizing digital and social media channels to reach a specific audience.
• Significant experience managing multiple projects at once and seeing each to fruition with strong results.
• Experience supporting a team of diverse executives and client teams.
• Experience presenting in front of high-level executives.
• A desire and willingness to run to a crisis.

If Verizon and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every “even better” qualification listed above.

Where You’ll Be Working

In this hybrid role, you’ll have a defined work location that includes work from home and a minimum of eight assigned office days per month that will be set by your manager.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Equal Employment Opportunity

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer – and celebrate our employees’ differences, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, and Veteran status. At Verizon, we know that diversity makes us stronger. We are committed to a collaborative, inclusive environment that encourages authenticity and fosters a sense of belonging. We strive for everyone to feel valued, connected, and empowered to reach their potential and contribute their best. Check out our diversity and inclusion page to learn more.

Our Benefits

Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefits, short-term incentives, 401(k) Savings Plan, stock incentive programs, paid time off, parental leave, adoption assistance, and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we’ve got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.

If you are hired into a California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Washington or Washington, D.C. work location, the compensation range for this position is between $109,000.00 and $202,000.00 annually based on a full-time schedule. The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive-based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.

Learn more here