Senior Consultant Executive Communications

About Gestalt

Gestalt Communications is an integrated communications and public affairs firm helping organizations and leaders navigate complex reputational political and public environments.

We are expanding our executive communications practice and are looking for an exceptional writer strategic thinker and highly dependable operator to join our team.

The Role

The Senior Consultant Executive Communications will help prominent executives build credible distinctive and influential public profiles.

You will help develop the strategy narratives content media presence social profile speaking platform and creative opportunities that shape how executives are understood by the audiences that matter to them.

You will work across speeches and written content social media earned and industry media conferences and keynote opportunities awards profile-building initiatives and executive preparation. You will be expected to identify opportunities proactively and turn strategic direction into coordinated high-quality programs.

The strongest candidates will combine excellent writing with curiosity judgment creativity and an instinct for what makes an executive idea or story interesting.

Responsibilities

• Draft speeches keynote remarks op-eds articles briefing notes executive correspondence social content scripts talking points and other high-stakes materials in each clients authentic voice.
• Research executives organizations industries political and policy environments and public issues translating complex information into clear narratives messages and recommendations.
• Help develop executive positioning and thought-leadership strategies including priority audiences themes issues channels and opportunities.
• Advise executives on their social media presence including channel strategy editorial direction content development tone engagement opportunities and reputational considerations.
• Develop and manage social and editorial calendars that connect executive content to business priorities industry conversations public issues and relevant moments.
• Identify and pursue earned-media opportunities across business political trade and industry media including interviews commentary contributed articles profiles podcasts and broadcast opportunities.
• Develop proactive and creative media angles that position executives within broader business industry political cultural and public conversations.
• Identify opportunities for substantive profile and feature stories that reveal an executives leadership ideas expertise background or perspective beyond conventional corporate announcements.
• Build and manage conference and speaking strategies including identifying priority conferences keynote opportunities panels fireside chats and other platforms aligned with an executives profile and objectives.
• Develop keynote concepts session ideas speaker proposals abstracts biographies and supporting materials and work with conference organizers and other partners to advance opportunities.
• Identify and pursue relevant awards rankings recognition programs podcasts partnerships and selected influencer or creator opportunities.
• Prepare compelling award nominations applications and supporting materials.
• Prepare executives for interviews speeches keynote presentations panels podcasts conferences town halls and other public appearances.
• Work with creative and production partners where appropriate to develop compelling formats for executive storytelling including video digital content visual storytelling and other non-traditional approaches.
• Monitor social and traditional media industry conversations reputational risks and emerging issues and develop concise briefs scenarios recommendations and draft responses.
• Provide practical social media and reputational counsel when executives are considering whether when and how to engage with emerging or sensitive issues.
• Develop and manage workplans editorial calendars media and speaking pipelines opportunity trackers and approval processes across multiple client mandates.
• Coordinate day-to-day client workflow while escalating major strategic reputational or relationship matters to the lead partner.
• Present work ideas and recommendations internally and where appropriate directly to clients.
• Help develop Gestalts executive communications methodologies templates case studies proposals and service offerings.

Qualifications

• Typically four to seven years of relevant experience in executive communications corporate communications public affairs journalism speechwriting media reputation strategy or a related advisory environment.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills demonstrated through a strong portfolio.
• The ability to capture another persons voice and create compelling work from conversations rough notes and incomplete inputs.
• Strong strategic and reputational judgment including knowing when an issue requires senior escalation.
• Excellent research fact-checking and synthesis skills.
• Strong project-management skills and the ability to manage several concurrent assignments and deadlines.
• A practical understanding of Canadian business public affairs and media.
• Discretion and comfort working with confidential sensitive and high-profile matters.
• Collaborative and able to respond constructively to direct feedback and iterative editing.

We place greater weight on demonstrated writing ability judgment and ownership than on a specific number of years or previous title.

Additional Assets

• Demonstrated communications experience in one or more specific industries or sectors with the ability to understand the issues stakeholders media and dynamics shaping that sector.
• Political government campaign public affairs or policy communications experience.
• Professional speechwriting journalism broadcast production or executive-office experience.
• Relationships across media podcasts conferences awards programs or relevant professional communities.
• Experience developing executive thought-leadership platforms or multi-channel content programs.
• Issues-management or crisis-communications experience.
• French or another additional language.

Why Join Gestalt

• Work on impactful campaigns at the intersection of media politics and public affairs.
• Opportunity to shape narratives and drive real-world impact.
• Collaborative team environment with room for growth and leadership.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
  

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit an application outlining their experience and qualifications to

Please submit:

• Your resume;
• A short note explaining your interest in the role; and
• Two or three writing samples demonstrating range including at least one long-form or speech-style sample.

Redacted or anonymized client work is welcome. Please identify your contribution to any collaborative samples.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete a practical exercise reflecting the work of the position.