Managing Director, US Advisory

Penta Group•New York, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Penta is a leading corporate affairs advisory firm that helps organizations predict what matters and shape outcomes. By combining proprietary intelligence, stakeholder insights, and strategic counsel, we help CEOs and leadership teams navigate the increasingly complex intersection of business, policy, culture, and reputation. Our clients turn to us when the stakes are high, the signals are difficult to interpret, and the consequences of getting it wrong are significant. We are building a new model for corporate affairs advisory and are seeking leaders who want to help define the future of the industry. Penta’s global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include many of the world's most influential organizations across technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and other sectors, including over 25% of the Fortune 100. Penta has offices in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, London, Brussels, Dublin, and Singapore. Penta is seeking a Managing Director to join our Washington D.C. or New York City office. Managing directors are senior leaders who set strategy, drive innovation, and set the bar for exceptional client service across multiple teams. The ideal candidate is a solutions-oriented professional with 12 - 16 years of public affairs, crisis communications, litigation communications, or campaign management experience with a demonstrated track record of leadership, problem-solving, principal and team management, intellectual curiosity, and emotional intelligence. Successful Managing Directors on our team understand the evolving media landscape and the changing nature of our industry and lead clients through it with confidence.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Political Science/Government, Business, Journalism, Public Policy, or related field is preferred
15 years of professional experience in communications or policy roles in a related field: corporate communications, public affairs consulting, political campaigns, government, nonprofit, or trade associations; experience working in a client service environment preferred
10+ years leading, mentoring, and motivating multiple talented, high-achieving teams at once, empowering different types of personalities with a team-first mentality
Significant experience in crisis, litigation, or issues management, media relations, and public affairs campaigns
The ability to utilize AI and emerging technologies, where appropriate, to enhance efficiency, quality, and impact, while staying current on evolving capabilities and incorporating relevant innovations into day-to-day work
Demonstrated expertise in principal or client management, adept at building long-standing relationships with executive level stakeholders
Comfort in leading internal and external stakeholders through collaborative problem solving in high pressure environments amidst ambiguity
Expertise and interest in a relevant policy field (ideally technology, financial services, transportation, food/agriculture, healthcare and/or energy); familiarity with politics, the legislative process, and corporate industries
Strong analytical skills coupled with excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
Willingness to learn new skills and participate in new projects, leading by example and embracing new challenges

Nice To Haves

12 - 16 years of public affairs, crisis communications, litigation communications, or campaign management experience

Responsibilities

Build strong relationships with clients, becoming a trusted partner and strategist they confidently turn to for results.
Lead existing client work and overall project success by developing a deep understanding of the client’s business, industry, and issues; anticipating their needs and challenges; and overseeing the strategic execution of the work.
Support the development and articulation of strategies for each client and/or project, taking client issues from problem to strategy to solution.
Provide clients with confidence and structured responses to their needs as they develop.
Set a high bar for execution and client deliverables while contributing directly to the work, establishing standards, systems, and processes that ensure seamless communication and consistently high-quality outputs.
Train and provide real-time constructive feedback to teams, with a particular focus on developing directors into strong project managers.
Manage upward to partners, informing them of challenges and opportunities with teams and clients.
Oversee team execution of bespoke public affairs strategies for clients that may include stakeholder mapping and engagement, media relations, event planning, message development, collateral development, and more.
Possess a strong understanding of the evolving public affairs landscape and bring a set of skills and/or relationships with key reporters, producers, think tanks, academics, etc. to the team.
Develop strong strategic relationships internally and externally.
Internally, this means surfacing internal challenges related to staffing, execution, culture, and training and proposing solutions that align with Penta's culture of ownership, empathy, and innovation.
Externally, this means building and maintaining strong outside relationships.

Benefits

Excellent medical, vision, and dental insurance through United Healthcare and UNUM, with the company covering 90% of individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums
A 401(k) plan with a generous employer match, contributing 100% on the first 3% of salary deferred and 50% on the next 2%, helping employees maximize their retirement savings
Employer-paid short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), and life insurance
12 weeks of paid parental leave
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy and a generous holiday schedule (Penta follows the federal time off calendar)
A monthly cell phone reimbursement
Frequent firm-wide social events and team-building activities
Access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), including confidential counseling and resources for personal and work-related issues
Health & Wellness Initiatives, including a gym membership program (One Pass Select), mental health resources, and access to virtual health consultations
Discounted employee-paid pet insurance coverage through Nationwide