Director, Governance Corporate Stewardship

Joele Frank is a leading strategic communications firm. From market-moving transactions and high-stakes moments to ongoing corporate communications, investor relations and reputation management, we help our clients communicate effectively with their stakeholders when it matters most.

This role is a critical position within our Governance & Corporate Stewardship (GCS) team. The team offers Joele Frank clients strategic guidance on corporate governance, shareholder engagement and sustainability reporting. We work closely with company executives and boards of directors to identify their critical risks and opportunities and develop strategic communications in support of their governance and corporate responsibility programs. 

We look for people with a special combination of intelligence, curiosity and talent. Members of the Joele Frank team are thoughtful communicators and strong writers who thrive on tackling challenging, fast-paced situations in a collaborative environment. This particular role requires someone with corporate governance and sustainability expertise, an ability to think critically about company vulnerabilities and strengths and deliver strategic advice to senior corporate leaders. 

Primary responsibilities include:

• Lead the development of proxy statements and other governance communications, translating complex compensation, governance and strategic matters into clear, compelling investor-facing narratives
• Counsel clients through contested or high-risk annual meeting situations, including shareholder activism, proxy advisor opposition, vote solicitation challenges, supplemental disclosures and engagement with institutional investors and proxy advisory firms
• Serve as a senior client advisor on governance and investor relations issues, anticipating emerging risks and developing effective strategies to build shareholder support, including preparation of annual meeting materials, talking points, investor Q&A, briefing documents and post-engagement follow-up
• Provide strategic counsel on complex executive compensation matters, including special and retention awards, performance-based equity programs, incentive plan design, pay-for-performance alignment and anticipated shareholder and proxy advisor perceptions
• Mentor and oversee junior team members, provide substantive review of client deliverables and contribute to the firm’s thought leadership, business development and client relationship management efforts
• Provide counsel on corporate sustainability strategies and reporting, aligned with long-term business objectives
• Support full development of corporate sustainability reports, including stakeholder interviews and narrative development, in close collaboration with the Design team

Candidates should possess the following:

• 7+ years of experience in corporate governance, executive compensation, shareholder engagement or related strategic communications, with demonstrated knowledge of proxy disclosure, annual meeting and shareholder proposal matters, evolving governance expectations and the regulatory landscape, and institutional investor and proxy advisor perspectives
• Well-developed critical thinking, exceptional writing skills and attention to detail
• Familiarity with TCFD, ISSB, SASB, GRI and TNFD reporting frameworks
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and proactively monitors emerging trends, industry developments and best practices to drive innovative solutions and informed decision-making
• Collaborates effectively with colleagues, demonstrating flexibility and a strong commitment to doing what it takes to achieve shared goals and delivering results under changing priorities
• The ability to effectively organize and prioritize multiple projects while under intense pressure and time constraints