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The Senior Manager, Crisis Preparedness & Issues Management is responsible for communications activity to enhance and protect Visa’s reputation in Europe.

The Senior Manager will in work close partnership with communications colleagues from across Europe to support the local teams in managing reputational issues and media queries. The Senior Manager will work to identify and track potential threats to the organisation, assisting with the development of protocols and processes to mitigate those threats. They will support on the day-to-day operation of the Visa Europe press office, managing responses to media enquiries. They will be responsible for developing and updating issues briefs and messaging documents, partnering with stakeholders across the organisation. The Senior Manager will manage a crisis preparedness programme and deliver Visa Europe’s horizon scanning and reputational risk reporting.

We seek to hire a team player who is equal parts firefighter and storyteller. The successful candidate understands that the best way to solve a crisis is to constantly build a story that connects media, stakeholders and influencers to the brand and builds reputation over time. They find compelling ways to get our message across to both internal and external audiences. They are calm under pressure and are adept at building trust with senior leaders.

The Senior Manager will work with Corporate Communications colleagues globally and across Europe, as well as Legal, Risk and Government Relations teams. This job requires a communications practitioner with the ability to support the Corporate Communications leadership team in providing counsel to senior executives in mission critical moments. The ideal candidate demonstrates issues management and crisis communications experience for a well-established business, and strong storytelling and stakeholder management skills.

Crisis Communications and Preparedness

• Support the ongoing development management and execution of Visa’s crisis communications strategy in Europe.
• Support and deputise for the Corporate Communications Senior Director as the corporate communications liaison to the company’s cross-functional crisis management team. This can be a 24/7/365 job that requires instant engagement, focus and execution under pressure.
• Lead the review and maintenance of Visa’s Crisis Communications Playbook.
• Schedule and manage crisis communications training for the Europe Corporate Communications team. Lead the planning and execution of the team’s involvement in an annual crisis exercise.
• Ongoing management of media and social media listening and alert tools and processes.
• Support on provision of senior level counsel to management during times of crisis.

Issues Management

• Triage incoming media enquiries to the Visa Europe press office.
• Act as a Market Support lead for our in-market European communications teams in managing local issues.
• Develop company positioning on key issues working in partnership with Corporate Communications colleagues across Europe, engaging with Visa regional and global leadership and key business partners.
• Work in partnership with our PR agency which supports the team on reputation and issues projects.
• Partner with the US-based global corporate communications team, to develop tools and processes to identify, track and monitor a full range of issues with the potential to negatively impact the company’s reputation and brand.
• Manage project budgets, ensuring alignment with procurement and contract processes.

This is a hybrid position. Hybrid employees can alternate time between both remote and office. Employees in hybrid roles are expected to work from the office 2-3 set days a week (determined by leadership/site), with a general guidepost of being in the office 50% or more of the time based on business needs.

•Educated to degree level or equivalent PR qualification, minimum five years public relations/communications experience.
•Experience of working in a matrixed, multi-national corporate environment.
•Demonstrable experience of interacting, and building trust, with all levels of stakeholders, including senior level leaders.
•Ability to communicate information effectively and accurately, verbally or in writing across multiple disciplines. Can synthesise large and complex amounts of data and information to distil key points clearly, succinctly and quickly.
•Experience developing and applying best practices related to crisis preparation and response.
•Track record of successfully managing communications during times of crisis and managing day-to-day issues.
•Proven experience of developing and implementing communications programmes, reputation management and interacting with media.
•Strong project management skills, with the ability to quickly transition from strategy to implementation, working on both simultaneously as needed.
•Experience of using digital channels and social media strategies for PR purposes.
•Calm and cool under pressure, with attention to detail.
•Proven self-starter with ability to work independently as needed, think ahead, engage proactively and take initiative.
•Capable of achieving results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, often on short deadlines.
•Effective management of external agencies.

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.