About the practice
Adfactors PR's energy & natural resources practice advises oil & gas companies, power utilities, renewable energy developers, and mining conglomerates on reputation, crisis, and strategic communications. This role sits at the intersection of business advisory and communications — a senior mandate-holder who operates at boardroom level and helps clients navigate complex regulatory, environmental, and stakeholder environments.
The role
We are looking for a senior reputation and crisis advisor who can serve as the primary strategic partner to C-suite and board-level leaders at major energy sector clients. This is not a communications execution role. It demands deep sector knowledge, sharp commercial instincts, and the credibility to influence decisions — not just messaging.
Candidate backgrounds we consider
We welcome candidates from across the following professional paths:
- Public relations / corporate communications
- Business or management consulting
- Journalism (senior editorial, national or business media)
- Government or regulatory affairs within the energy sector
What you will do
- Serve as lead strategic advisor for tier-1 energy clients — providing counsel on what to do, not only what to say
- Manage full P&L for your portfolio: forecasting, pricing, margin stewardship, and organic growth through deepening and expanding mandates
- Convert business development opportunities through well-researched, strategically sharp pitches — with a strong personal win rate
- Develop firm thought leadership through published work, industry forums, and media commentary
- Advise on high-stakes situations including environmental incidents, regulatory investigations, community conflicts, activist pressure, and operational crises
- Develop and price advisory mandates with confidence — understand the value of counsel and negotiate accordingly
- Lead integrated communications strategy across media, government, investor, employee, and community audiences
- Direct communications dimensions of M&A, regulatory approvals, project launches, and energy transition narratives
- Maintain CEO-cadence relationships — regular structured touchpoints with client CEOs, CFOs, and chief corporate affairs officers
- Represent Adfactors PR in boardrooms and ExCo sessions — with the poise and authority that commands peer-level respect
- Build and lead issues monitoring and early warning systems that identify reputational vulnerabilities before they escalate
- Proven ability to engage in strategic negotiations, advise on high-stakes executive communication, and consistently deliver client outcomes that go beyond the brief — building the kind of trust that retains mandates and deepens relationships
- Recruit, mentor, and build a high-performance sector advisory team
What you bring
- Deep understanding of the energy sector — regulatory environment, environmental liabilities, community dynamics, energy transition pressures, and capital market expectations
- Crisis and issues management with real experience navigating high-stakes, fast-moving situations
- Strong commercial orientation — ability to structure engagements, price advisory work, manage utilisation, and deliver margin
- Executive presence — able to hold the room with board directors, CEOs, and government officials without deferring
- Strategic research and analytical capability — can build the evidence base for a recommendation or a pitch
- Ability to synthesise complex issues into clear, actionable counsel under pressure
Experience
12 to 18 years, with significant time advising energy, natural resources, or infrastructure sector clients at a senior level — either in consulting, PR, corporate affairs, or regulatory roles.
