Principal Corporate Affairs - Reputational Risk
Job Description
Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.
Job Title: Principal Consultant, Corporate Affairs – Reputational Risk
Classification: Exempt
Date: June 2026
About Us:
Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.
In Corporate Affairs, you’ll have the opportunity to play a critical role in enhancing and protecting Target’s brand and enabling growth across the business. With a broad range of complementary capabilities in Communications, Stakeholder Management, Reputational Risk, and Intelligence & Operations, this team helps Target manage the needs and expectations of our team, guests, media, communities, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
A role on the Reputational Risk team means you will help Target navigate issues that could impact the company’s brand, stakeholder trust, or business priorities. This team partners across Corporate Affairs and the enterprise to evaluate emerging risks, provide strategic counsel, support issue management efforts, and help leaders make informed decisions on complex business and external issues. Through proactive planning and cross-functional partnership, the team strengthens Target’s ability to anticipate challenges, navigate uncertainty, and protect the company’s reputation.
As a Principal Consultant, Corporate Affairs – Reputational Risk, you will help shape Target’s approach to understanding and managing reputational risks that could impact the company’s brand, stakeholder trust, and business priorities. As a principal-level individual contributor, you will own a portfolio of complex issues, provide strategic counsel to senior leaders, and lead cross-functional efforts that help Target anticipate challenges, navigate uncertainty, and strengthen its reputation, support multiple pyramids, issues and stakeholders across the enterprise.
As a Principal Consultant, Corporate Affairs – Reputational Risk, you will:
Lead the identification, assessment, and mitigation of reputational risks that could impact Target’s brand, stakeholder trust, and business priorities.
Own a portfolio of complex and evolving reputational issues, providing strategic counsel on potential impacts, stakeholder expectations, and mitigation strategies.
Partner with business leaders, Corporate Affairs teams, and Enterprise Risk to develop and execute issue management, stakeholder engagement, and reputation risk mitigation plans.
Evaluate emerging issues, external developments, and stakeholder dynamics within assigned areas of responsibility and translate insights into actionable recommendations for senior leaders.
Lead enterprise planning and response efforts for high-profile, sensitive, or emerging issues that require coordinated management of reputational risk.
Develop reputation risk assessments, decision frameworks and strategic recommendations that inform executive decision-making and enterprise priorities.
Build and enhance the processes, tools, and governance that strengthen Target’s ability to anticipate, assess, and manage reputational risk.
Advise and influence multiple senior leaders through executive briefings, scenario planning, and recommendations that help protect and strengthen Target’s reputation and stakeholder trust.
Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.
About You
Four-year degree or equivalent experience.
10+ years of experience in corporate affairs, issues management, reputation management, communications, public affairs, public policy, risk management, business strategy, or related fields, including experience advising senior leaders on complex business and reputational issues.
Experience leading complex, high-profile issues with significant reputational, stakeholder, or business implications.
Demonstrated ability to assess reputational risk and develop strategies that balance business objectives, stakeholder expectations, and brand considerations.
Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive alignment across functions without direct authority.
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and navigating complex stakeholder environments to deliver enterprise outcomes.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable recommendations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience advising senior leaders and developing executive-level briefings and recommendations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target’s needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location the role is assigned to and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target. Click here if you are curious to learn more about Minnesota.
Benefits Eligibility
Please paste this url into your preferred browser to learn about benefits eligibility for this role: https://tgt.biz/BenefitsForYou_FAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please reach out to [email protected]. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.