Vice President, Consumer Impact

Scion Executive Search has been retained to conduct an immediate search for the Vice President, Consumer Impact of Consumer Reports, the trusted authority that has championed consumers' interests for nearly 90 years through evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, investigative journalism, public education, and policy advocacy. This full-time, hybrid role is open to candidates located in the New York City or Yonkers, NY area, as well as Washington, DC.

ABOUT CONSUMER REPORTS:

Consumer Reports (CR) is an independent, nonprofit member organization dedicated to creating a fair, safe, and just marketplace for all. For nearly a century, CR has empowered consumers with trustworthy information, challenged corporations to act responsibly, and influenced policymakers to protect the rights and interests of the public.

Founded in 1936 during a time of unchecked advertising and limited consumer protections, CR became a pioneering voice for truth, transparency, and fairness. Today, it continues to serve as a powerful advocate and trusted resource, equipping millions with the knowledge they need to make informed choices while shaping systems that ensure accountability across industries.

Guided by its mission and values, Consumer Reports remains a catalyst for change, driving impact at the intersection of consumer empowerment, responsible business practices, and public policy. This is a unique opportunity to join an organization whose work has not only transformed markets but also advanced fairness and trust for generations.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The VP of Consumer Impact is Consumer Reports’ senior enterprise leader for advocacy strategy and execution—integrating policy change, corporate engagement, mobilization, and campaign communications to address widely and deeply felt consumer problems.

The Vice President, Consumer Impact translates CR’s trusted insights—testing, research, investigative journalism, and consumer voice—into measurable marketplace change. By informing and mobilizing consumers at scale, engaging companies to raise standards, and advancing fact-driven policy solutions, the VP helps build a fair and functional marketplace that serves people first—while protecting CR’s independence and nonpartisan credibility.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Enterprise Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Executive Team, shaping enterprise strategy, resource allocation, and organizational norms while safeguarding independence, credibility, and nonpartisanship.
• Lead annual and multi-year planning for the advocacy/impact portfolio, including goals, budgets, staffing, and operating cadence.
• Translate enterprise priorities into clear plans, decision frameworks, and accountability structures; ensure timely, data-informed course correction.
• Lead and develop a high-performing senior leadership team; define decision rights, performance expectations, and governance across external engagement, partnerships, and risk management.
• Ensure integration across functions, removing barriers and aligning work from insight to campaign to outcome.

Impact Campaign Strategy & Execution

• Establish and oversee an enterprise campaign portfolio process to drive focus, throughput, and measurable outcomes.
• Ensure cross-functional campaign planning with clear ownership, shared KPIs, and comprehensive plans.
• Maintain a clear “lead/partner/amplify” posture by issue, informed by ecosystem mapping.
• Drive message discipline, brand consistency, and alignment with nonpartisan principles across all campaigns and communications.
• Build rapid-response capabilities while sustaining focus on long-term, multi-year impact.

External Affairs: Government, Corporate Relations & Partnerships

• Set enterprise advocacy strategy and oversee integrated external engagement across government relations, corporate engagement, and strategic communications.
• Represent the organization with policymakers, regulators, and key stakeholders in high-priority or high-stakes situations.
• Serve as a principal public voice on priority issues, building alliances and coalitions—including bipartisan and “unusual” partners—to extend influence and impact.
• Ensure coalition strategies are aligned, clearly governed, and effectively executed through delegated leadership.

Philanthropy & Mission Revenue

• Dedicate significant time (25–50%) to fundraising leadership, including coaching and holding accountable senior fundraising staff.
• Build compelling, investable portfolios with clear theories of change, budgets, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner across the organization to enable enterprise-wide fundraising, ensuring strong donor strategy, cultivation, and stewardship without owning all execution directly.

Campaigns, Mobilization & Strategic Communications

• Set strategy and guardrails for multi-channel advocacy efforts, including policy development, lobbying, grassroots mobilization, digital engagement, and coalition-building.
• Oversee leaders responsible for program design and execution across mobilization, communications, and content.
• Partner with Communications and Marketing to develop persuasive messaging and media strategies that drive action among key audiences.
• Ensure all communications reflect brand standards and reinforce trust across the political spectrum.

Team, Operations & Culture

• Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing leadership bench; foster a collaborative, innovative, and accountable culture.
• Drive operational excellence through clear planning, resourcing, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Steward budgets responsibly and implements agile, data-driven decision-making processes.

Governance, Risk & Independence

• Engage the Board on strategy, performance, and risk; ensure alignment between internal practices and external positions.
• Uphold independence and nonpartisanship, including conflict-of-interest management across campaigns and partnerships.
• Lead portfolio reviews to assess impact, ROI, and brand risk, making clear keep/kill/pivot decisions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven senior leadership experience in advocacy, public policy, nonprofit, or corporate affairs environments.
• Demonstrated success leading high-impact advocacy campaigns that achieve legislative, regulatory, or corporate change.
• Track record of delivering measurable consumer impact at scale across areas such as safety, health, privacy, or affordability.
• Experience driving market transformation, including advancing standards, influencing industry behavior, and securing corporate commitments.
• Strong bipartisan government relations experience, with the ability to operate effectively across political lines while maintaining a nonpartisan, consumer-first approach.
• Exceptional communications and storytelling skills, including media engagement and campaign narrative development.
• Proven ability to build and lead coalitions and partnerships, including engaging diverse and unconventional allies.
• Experience with fundraising and revenue growth, including major gifts, institutional funding, and mission-aligned partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to build, inspire, and lead high-performing teams, driving accountability and results through others.
• Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to lead organizational transformation, scale new initiatives, and balance advocacy with brand credibility.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

This full-time, hybrid leadership role provides an exceptional platform to transform trusted insights into large-scale marketplace impact. The role offers a highly competitive salary range of $350,000 - $380,000 (DOE), in addition to a benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions, generous paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and access to wellness programs and professional development opportunities. Employees also enjoy access to on-site amenities and flexible work arrangements that promote balance and connection.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:

Consumer Reports has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/14357/

Please address applications to:

Chelsea Zimmer, Senior Executive Search Principal

Scion Executive Search

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.