Senior Consultant, Corporate Affairs

Who we are:

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com  

For more information visit  bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and  Instagram .

More about the role:

Burson Canada is looking for a Senior Consultant to join our Corporate Affairs team in Toronto. This is a replacement hire and an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing and delivering strategic communications programs for leading organizations across corporate, financial, professional services, industrial, and technology sectors.

The ideal candidate is a strong strategic thinker with demonstrated experience counseling clients, leading integrated campaigns, and managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. You bring excellent judgment, a proactive mindset, and the ability to translate business needs into compelling, high-impact communications strategies. You thrive in fast-paced environments, collaborate naturally, and have a genuine passion for corporate reputation, media relations, and stakeholder communications.

We’re looking for exceptional talent with curiosity, drive, and a commitment to excellence. If this sounds like you, we’d love to talk.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Counsel & Client Leadership

• Act as a day-to-day strategic partner to clients, providing thoughtful counsel on corporate reputation, issues, stakeholder communications, and media strategy.
• Lead the development and execution of integrated communications programs aligned with client business goals and reputation priorities.
• Anticipate client needs, identify risks, and proactively recommend strategic solutions.

Media Relations & Story Development

• Lead earned media strategy, including narrative development, story opportunities, media outreach, and interview facilitation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key reporters across business, corporate, financial, and sector-specific media.
• Draft and oversee high-quality written materials, including key messages, media statements, advisories, thought leadership, briefing notes, and releases.

Project & Team Management

• Manage complex workstreams, ensuring high-quality deliverables, strong integration across teams, and seamless project execution.
• Develop workback schedules, oversee timelines and budgets, and ensure clarity across internal and client teams.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and mentorship to Consultants and Coordinators; help strengthen overall team performance and growth.

Digital & Integrated Communications

• Work closely with digital and creative teams to develop integrated communications plans (paid, owned, earned) that strengthen corporate reputation.
• Guide social and digital content development, ensuring alignment with corporate narratives and campaign goals.

Insights, Measurement & Reporting

• Oversee tracking, analytics, and reporting for client programs, translating data into insights and actionable recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for optimization, efficiencies, and ongoing improvement.

Business Development

• Lead or support new business initiatives, including proposal development, insights gathering, narrative creation, and pitch participation.
• Identify organic growth opportunities within existing accounts by understanding client needs and connecting them to Burson’s specialties.

What You’ll Need

• Post-secondary degree or post-graduate certificate in communications, public relations, journalism, political science, business, or related field—or equivalent experience.
• 5 to 7+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, issues management, public affairs, or a related advisory function.
• Demonstrated success leading integrated communications programs and managing multi-channel campaigns.
• Strong experience with media relations, including pitching business, corporate, financial, and trade media.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills across a range of corporate and executive communications materials.
• Deep understanding of digital and social platforms and how they integrate into strategic communications programs.
• Exceptional client management skills, including the ability to influence, problem-solve, and support high-stakes decision-making.
• Strong project management discipline, with the ability to oversee multiple workstreams and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Collaborative, curious, and solutions-oriented mindset with a strong commitment to team culture and professional growth.

You belong at Burson:

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

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