Senior Vice President, Smithfield

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. 

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

Edelman Smithfield is a global financial communications firm with the power and scope of Edelman, the world’s largest integrated communications company. We specialize in financial markets and strategic situations, serving clients in the United States, Canada, EMEA, APAC, and beyond. Edelman Smithfield offers a deep and talented bench of approximately 250 financial market specialists across more than 25 cities and 15 countries. 

Edelman Smithfield advises senior leaders and management teams navigating complex matters that impact reputation and valuation and has deep expertise in serving and communicating to the financial markets.

About the opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Vice President to lead accounts, teams, and projects for a diverse portfolio of capital markets clients, including private equity and venture capital firms, hedge funds, traditional asset managers, and other institutional investors. The role encompasses executive positioning and reputation management, media relations, crisis and issues management, thought leadership development, regulatory and enforcement matters, transaction and deal communications, and strategic communications support for portfolio companies. Our work is designed to inform investors, navigate complex issues, and bridge divergent stakeholder needs in order to build trust and long-term enterprise value.

Responsibilities:

• Provide expert financial communications and capital markets advice to both existing and new clients.
• Act as the primary client relationship manager, advising C-suite executives on financial communications.
• Collaborate with Edelman colleagues across regions and sectors to introduce Edelman Smithfield’s services to broader Edelman clients.
• Lead business development efforts, including pitches and new business opportunities related to financial communications.
• Drive marketing and thought leadership initiatives to elevate Edelman Smithfield’s presence in the U.S. and collaborate with global Edelman Smithfield teams to grow and develop the global practice.
• Ensure proactive, responsive service to clients, maintaining accountability for deliverables and deadlines.
• Oversee multiple complex projects from concept to completion, applying foresight, measurement frameworks, and problem-solving to deliver exceptional results.
• Maintain accountability for quality, performance, timelines, and budgets, ensuring operational efficiency across all account activities.
• Develop and manage staffing plans, budgets, and scopes of work to ensure operational excellence, profitability, and effective resource utilization.
• Mentor, empower, and motivate team members at all levels; provide constructive feedback, foster professional growth, and promote a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Commit to continuous learning and leadership development while cultivating talent and driving excellence across the team.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, business, journalism, public policy, communications, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in financial communications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Deep understanding of how companies can more effectively communicate to their financial audiences
• Expertise in advising companies on financial communications, especially during high-stakes situations such as crises, transactions, or shareholder engagements.
• Proven experience counseling senior executives of clients operating in the capital markets space on communications matters
• Agency experience strongly preferred
• Proven ability to lead new business development efforts and pitch new services
• Strong media relations experience, including existing top-tier relationships
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring and developing junior talent
• Excellent writing, presentation, and analytical skills
• A proactive, organized leader who anticipates client needs and delivers exceptional service
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with clients

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.