Back to jobs
Senior Lead - Communications, Crisis & Issues Management
Location: Zurich
Apply for this role(opens in a new tab)
In short
As one of the fastest-growing sportswear brands, On is gaining new fans with ever-increasing momentum. We seek a Senior Lead for Communications Crisis & Issues Management, focusing on preparedness for and management of reactive communications issues. As part of the Communications organization at On that holistically manages the reputation of the company, this role will be instrumental in ensuring that we mitigate and manage risks to the perception of On in the public globally.
Your Mission
- Crisis Preparedness: Develop, implement, and regularly update comprehensive crisis communication and scenario plans, protocols, and playbooks to ensure On is prepared for a wide range of potential issues and crises
- Messaging & Content Development: Develop clear, concise, and empathetic reactive messaging, talking points, FAQs, press statements, and other communication materials in close collaboration with the content leads and regional comms leads - both rapidly under pressure and in a preparatory database
- Issues Identification & Monitoring: Proactively identify, assess, and monitor emerging issues, trends, and potential risks from across the business, working closely with the BCM and ECM functions. Regularly conducting comprehensive reputational risk assessments
- Reactive Communications Leadership: Help lead and coordinate the communications response during actual incidents and crises, acting as a central point of contact for all communications functions, involved teams and spokespeople and ensuring the distribution of timely, accurate, and consistent messaging to all relevant stakeholders (media, consumers, employees, partners, etc)
- Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate closely with internal departments, including Legal, People & Culture, Operations, Product, Sustainability, and others, to develop clear crisis & issues management processes and protocols, gather information, align on response strategy, and ensure a unified voice during issues
- Spokesperson Training & Crisis Simulations: Help prepare and train designated spokespeople for crisis situations, equipping them with the necessary information and skills to communicate effectively. Implement company-wide training programs regarding crisis and reputational risk management
- Post-Crisis Analysis: Conduct thorough post-crisis reviews and analyses to identify lessons learned, refine processes and protocols, and strengthen future crisis preparedness
Caption
Image gallery
Your story
- You have a minimum of 7-10 years of dedicated experience in crisis communications, issues management, corporate communications, or public relations, ideally at a communications consultancy or within a fast-paced, international corporate environment, or a specialized agency. Specialized certifications in crisis management are a plus
- You have a proven track record of successfully managing complex and high-stakes reputational issues and crises, from initial assessment to resolution.
- You have a detailed understanding of crisis communication best practices, including rapid response protocols, stakeholder mapping, and message development under pressure
- You have a demonstrated ability to remain calm, composed, and decisive in high-pressure situations, providing clear guidance and leadership
- You have strong analytical abilities, with the capacity to anticipate and research (potential) issues, assess risks, and develop effective mitigation strategies
- You have exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information into clear, actionable, and empathetic messages
- You are fluent in English, knowledge of German is a significant plus
- You are experienced in working collaboratively with cross-functional teams and advising senior executives on sensitive matters
- You are highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic and often unpredictable environment
