Vice President of Communications

Kroll; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off & holidays

Life & disability insurance

Competitive compensation

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Kroll is seeking a Vice President of Communications to drive the U.S. media relations strategy, strengthen reputation, and elevate visibility with priority external audiences.

The role reports to the Director, External Communications and demands superb writing, media judgment, and leadership across cross-functional teams. The position is hybrid, based in New York at the World Trade Center, and involves preparing senior leaders, managing crises, and coordinating with Legal, HR, Finance, and other

Qualifications

• Eight to ten years of media relations or corporate communications experience, in-house or agency.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills for external audiences.
• Ability to develop proactive and reactive media strategies with sound judgment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities with discretion and integrity.
• Experience preparing senior leaders for media interviews and external engagements.

Responsibilities

• Lead U.S. media relations strategy under guidance, translating priorities into targeted activity.
• Build relationships with business, trade, and industry journalists.
• Develop pitches, briefings, and Q&A materials for external audiences.
• Prepare executives for interviews with research, key messages, and briefing materials.
• Support crisis and issues communications with timely, confidential responses.
• Coordinate interviews and logistics with internal teams and external partners.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Stakeholder management

Writing & editing

Project management

Public relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Job description

The Vice President of Communications plays a key role in executing the U.S. media relations strategy, helping strengthen Kroll's reputation, visibility, and credibility with priority external audiences.

Working under the direction of the Director, External Communications, this role brings strong media relations expertise and judgment to the development and execution of proactive and reactive communications. The Vice President of Communications builds productive relationships with relevant business and trade journalists, develops high-quality media materials, prepares senior leaders and subject matter experts for external engagement, and supports the firm’s response to sensitive and rapidly evolving issues.

Operating in a fast-paced and confidentiality-sensitive environment, the Vice President of Communications is expected to manage multiple priorities with a high degree of ownership and discretion, work effectively across functions, and apply sound judgment to complex communications issues.

Note this position will be hybrid out of our New York office at the World Trade Center.

Media Relations & External Engagement

• Execute the U.S. media relations strategy under the direction of the Director of External Communications, translating priorities into targeted media activity.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with relevant business, trade, and industry journalists.
• Identify proactive media opportunities that strengthen awareness of Kroll's expertise, capabilities, and market perspectives.
• Develop targeted media pitches and outreach strategies aligned with business priorities, market developments, and areas of Kroll expertise.
• Respond to inbound media opportunities with appropriate urgency and judgment, coordinating internally to ensure accurate and timely responses.
• Represent the Communications function professionally in interactions with journalists, external partners, and internal stakeholders.

Media Content & Executive Preparation

• Draft high-quality press releases, media pitches, briefing materials, talking points, Q&A documents, and other external communications for review and approval.
• Translate complex business, technical, and market information into clear, accurate, and compelling external communications.
• Prepare executives and subject matter experts for media interviews, including background research, anticipated questions, key messages, and briefing materials.
• Coordinate interview preparation and logistics to ensure spokespeople are well prepared and engagements are executed effectively.
• Apply strong editorial judgment to ensure materials are appropriate for the intended audience and consistent with Kroll's positioning and communications standards.

Issues & Crisis Communications

• Support the management of crisis, issues, and other sensitive communications under the guidance of senior Communications leadership.
• Draft holding statements, Q&A materials, briefing documents, and other responsive communications, applying sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Monitor media coverage and emerging narratives in real time, identifying developments that may create reputational implications for Kroll.
• Escalate material issues appropriately and provide clear, timely information to support decision-making.
• Coordinate closely with Legal, People/HR, Finance, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure messaging is accurate, appropriately confidential, and aligned across the firm.
• Maintain discretion when handling confidential, commercially sensitive, or market-sensitive information.

Media Intelligence & Reputation Monitoring

• Monitor daily media coverage, relevant industry developments, competitor activity, and emerging issues that could affect Kroll or its clients.
• Produce concise, decision-useful media coverage reports and competitive and industry news summaries.
• Analyze coverage and media activity to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and insights that can inform communications priorities.
• Maintain accurate press coverage archives and contribute to reporting on media performance and communications impact.
• Use data and media intelligence to recommend improvements to outreach, targeting, and communications effectiveness.

Communications Operations & Agency Coordination

• Manage the day-to-day coordination of press interviews, media briefings, and other media-facing engagements.
• Maintain high-quality media lists, journalist contact information, coverage archives, and related communications resources.
• Support the management of external PR agency activity, ensuring deliverables, timelines, and agreed priorities are clearly understood and executed.
• Track workstreams and deliverables across multiple media initiatives, proactively identifying risks, dependencies, and competing priorities.
• Identify opportunities to improve media relations processes, tools, reporting, and ways of working.

Strategic Collaboration & Stakeholder Partnership

• Build strong working relationships across Communications and with Legal, People/HR, Finance, business leaders, and subject matter experts.
• Serve as a credible media relations partner, providing practical guidance on media engagement, messaging, and external communications.
• Communicate complex or sensitive communications considerations clearly and confidently to stakeholders.
• Connect media activity to broader business and communications priorities, ensuring external engagement is coordinated and consistent.
• Contribute expertise, market intelligence, and lessons learned to strengthen the broader Communications team.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and constructive feedback, helping strengthen overall team capability.

Leadership Expectations

• Demonstrate advanced media relations and corporate communications expertise, applying sound professional judgment to complex and sensitive situations.
• Take ownership for the quality, timeliness, accuracy, and consistency of work within assigned areas.
• Balance proactive communications opportunities with reputational, confidentiality, and business considerations.
• Anticipate stakeholder needs and emerging media issues, bringing forward practical and informed recommendations rather than waiting for direction.
• Build credibility as a subject matter expert and trusted partner to Communications colleagues and business stakeholders.
• Foster strong cross-functional relationships and proactive information sharing across Kroll.
• Communicate sensitive or complex information clearly and confidently, including when working under significant time pressure.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying more effective and scalable approaches to media relations, monitoring, reporting, and communications processes.
• Model accountability, collaboration, discretion, and respect for diverse perspectives.
• Share expertise and provide guidance, feedback, and mentoring to colleagues, contributing to the development of broader team capability.

Essential Traits

• 8-10 years of relevant media relations, corporate communications, or public relations experience, gained in-house and/or within an agency environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing media materials, including press releases, pitches, briefing documents, talking points, and Q&A materials.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate, and compelling materials under tight deadlines.
• Experience building relationships with journalists; existing relationships with relevant trade or business media are preferred.
• Strong news judgment and understanding of how business and trade media operate.
• Experience preparing senior leaders or subject matter experts for media interviews and external engagements.
• Ability to handle multiple workstreams and shifting priorities while maintaining attention to detail and quality.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential, commercially sensitive, or market-sensitive information.
• Ability to build strong working relationships across functions and levels and operate effectively in a fast-paced, resource-lean environment.
• Exposure to a private equity-backed, highly leveraged, regulated, or otherwise confidentiality-sensitive organization is beneficial but not required.
• Experience working with external PR agencies or other communications partners is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.

• Healthcare Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Time Off and Leave Policies: Generous paid time off (PTO), paid company holidays, generous parental and family leave.
• Protective Insurances: Life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and accident protection.
• Compensation and Rewards: Competitive salary structures, performance-based incentives, and merit-based compensation reviews.
• Retirement Plans: 401(k) plans with company matching.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of gender, gender identity, race, religion, color, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, age or disability.

The current salary range for this position is $70,000 to $200,000