Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Job Description

About FH

FleishmanHillard (FH) is a global integrated communications agency delivering transformational outcomes for some of the world’s biggest brands.  FH has built its reputation on creating customized, integrated solutions that deliver what our clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations, while meeting their specific challenges or opportunities. At FH, our culture values talented, nimble, creative people who both are exemplary leaders and effective team players. FH values the importance of impact and inclusion to strengthen the bonds between us, grow our people, and create spaces for everyone to thrive. We stay true to our commitment to our people and the communities in which we live and work. As part of our ongoing effort to be the world’s most inclusive agency, we are committed to seeking candidates who possess and demonstrate a profound interest in furthering our impact and inclusion goals.

About The Opportunity

As part of our goal to become Canada’s leading communications consultancy, FH Canada has an immediate opening in our Toronto location for a Vice President, Corporate Affairs, to lead our crisis and issues work and shape the future of our Corporate Affairs practice.

As a trusted advisor to C-suite clients across multiple sectors, you’ll play a pivotal role in helping to protect their reputations and license to operate.  You’ll partner with some of the best communications professionals in Public Affairs, Brand Impact, and other practices to deliver meaningful results for clients and develop deep sector expertise.  You’ll develop and mentor a high-performing team, contribute to new business growth, and be part of the company’s exciting future.

What You’ll Lead

Crisis and Corporate Affairs Excellence:

• Advise clients and leadership teams on business and reputational strategy
• Lead active crises and issues, working with the team to provide client counsel, rapid-response communications, media and stakeholder strategies
• Counsel companies on crisis and issues preparedness - planning, training, simulations
• Develop and execute comprehensive corporate affairs and crisis management strategies for clients, including media relations, stakeholder and community engagement, internal communications, monitoring and measurement
• Conduct issues forecasting and proactive mitigation strategies
• Partner with Public Affairs on regulatory and government relations work

Practice Growth & Innovation:

• Lead the development and growth of the crisis and issues practice within the Corporate Affairs team
• Help build and mentor a high-performing team
• Build strong, authentic connections with clients and new business prospects
• Drive new business and account growth, working closely with our Head of New Business & Marketing and other leaders across FH
• Contribute to thought leadership and marketing efforts for FH Canada
• Champion the adoption of data and AI tools to strengthen crisis and issues capabilities, and the skills of the team

Strategic Partnerships:

• Collaborate across FH practices, geographies and skillsets to bring integrated teams, ideas and work that creates real impact for clients
• Help represent FH Canada’s Corporate Affairs expertise to the global FH network to drive cross-border client opportunities

Who We’re Looking For

Experience:

• 12+ years in corporate affairs, crisis management, or corporate communications with 4+ years in a leadership role
• Proven track record leading crisis response work, and managing complex corporate or reputational issues
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams, partnering with other skillsets and practice areas
• Leading or managing revenue for a business, practice or team. A responsibility in driving growth
• A benefit, but not a requirement - knowledge of specific regulatory environments in food/agriculture, health, technology, manufacturing or other key sectors

Capabilities & Mindset:

• Consulting mindset: You advise clients as a trusted business partner, not just providing tactical execution
• Business and financial acumen: You have a strong understanding of industry dynamics and challenges. You have experience driving revenue growth. You understand financial metrics, how to show ROI, and are good at responsibly managing budgets
• AI and data capable: Comfortable with AI, analytics and measurement; eager to leverage data to shape strategy and prove ROI
• Systems thinker: You connect business objectives to stakeholder strategy and think creatively to solve problems

Leadership Qualities:

• Integrity: You build trust through integrity and genuine engagement with people around you. You understand and acknowledge your weaknesses
• Resilience: You are open to feedback, challenges. When something doesn’t work out, you learn and apply for the future
• EQ and Perceptiveness: You read people dynamics and factor them into how you work, lead and think
• Collaborative and Decisive: You value input and perspectives from others and make confident decisions once you have it. You mentor others and elevate the team around you
• Exceptional Communicator: Articulate at presenting, writing and providing counsel to C-suite and Board level executives

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What Makes this Role Special

An Opportunity to Build:

• Lead and grow a practice at a pivotal growth moment for a major global communications consultancy

Our Culture:

• A truly supportive environment valuing authenticity, emotional intelligence, collaboration

Sector and Practice Collaboration:

• Partner with talented teams across Public Affairs, Brand Impact, Digital, Creative and more. Opportunities to learn and get experience with clients across the world’s most innovative industries

Global Access:

• The opportunity to work on important C-suite projects in Canada and around the world through FH’s global network

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $120-160K. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job-related qualifications.  Beyond your base pay, our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Health & Dental Benefits, with a Flexible Spending Account

• Generous PTO Including 4 Weeks Vacation + 13 Paid Company Holidays

• 10 Paid Sick/Wellness Days

• An RRSP with Matching Component

• Hybrid Work Environment (3 days weekly in-office)

• Flex Hours

• Data Reimbursement

• Professional Development Fund

• Access to OPR Learning and Training Initiatives

• Global Mentoring Program

To Apply for this Role

Please submit your resume along with a cover letter (600–800 words) addressing:

• A significant crisis or complex issue you’ve led, and your learnings from it
• How you see the role of corporate affairs in driving impact for organizations
• Your approach to building and mentoring high-performing teams
• Why FH Canada’s 2026 ambition resonates with you and how you’d contribute
• Links to thought leadership, speaking engagements, or notable work (Optional)

*Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada indefinitely.

FleishmanHillard Canada is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, colour, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, provincial, or municipal law. We support persons with disabilities with accommodation during our recruitment and selection process. Individual accommodation will be provided as requested to candidates who are selected for assessment.  We thank all applicants for their interest however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

FleishmanHillard Canada does not accept unsolicited resumes, emails, calls, or any other form of communication from third-party recruitment agencies. Any unsolicited outreach, including commercial electronic messages, will neither be acknowledged nor considered.