Senior Account Executive, Associate Practice (Public Affairs)

Edelman•Washington, DC

1d•$60,000 - $80,000

About The Position

We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions. About the Edelman Associate Practice The Edelman Associate Practice is the foundation of our client service talent and the launchpad for early-career professionals who want to shape the future of communications. Bringing together emerging talent across communications, public affairs, and advisory disciplines, the practice is designed to develop well-rounded, integrated practitioners from day one. Associates contribute meaningfully to client work across industries and sectors—building strong fundamentals in research, writing, project management, and media engagement—while gaining exposure to diverse clients and capabilities. Rather than being confined to a single track at the start of their careers, Associates are empowered to explore, collaborate across teams, and discover where their interests and strengths can make the greatest impact. Rooted in community and driven by growth, the Associate Practice combines hands-on client experience with structured development, peer connection, and dedicated leadership support. As the industry evolves, so does the role—blending operational excellence with increasing strategic contribution and AI-enabled innovation. Associates learn not only how to execute exceptional work, but how to think critically, solve complex problems, and build the judgment and confidence that define Edelman excellence. This is more than a first step in your career—it’s an opportunity to grow alongside a connected cohort, contribute to transformative client work, and help redefine what modern communications looks like. About the Role Senior Account Executives (SAEs) are strong communicators who serve as trusted connectors between clients, teams, and media or stakeholder networks. They show emerging leadership by anticipating needs, solving problems proactively, and influencing both internal and external stakeholders with clarity and confidence. SAEs demonstrate ownership of workstreams, contribute to strategic planning, and provide coaching and quality oversight for junior staff. As they continue to build their expertise, SAEs may begin to specialize in a particular practice area based on their skills, experience, and professional goals. In this role, you will primarily support work within the public affairs team with a focus on clients across the food system, including but not limited to agriculture, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, retail, health/nutrition-related NGOs, and trade associations (domestic and global). This work sits at the intersection of food policy, public health, regulatory affairs, and corporate reputation. Day-to-day work may include: Monitor and synthesize global and domestic food policy and regulatory developments, translating complex issues into clear client-ready insights and executive summaries. Draft and edit policy-forward materials, including Q&A documents, briefing memos, stakeholder messaging frameworks, regulatory summaries, and rapid-response communications tied to emerging issues. Track and analyze evolving media, NGO, and policymaker narratives impacting the food and beverage sector and identify reputational implications for clients. Conduct research to inform client POVs, thought leadership, multilateral engagement strategies, and advocacy positioning across public health, food systems, and regulatory topics. Support account coordination across fast-moving public affairs engagements, including stakeholder mapping, coalition support, media monitoring, and cross-functional collaboration with internal teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
At least 2 years of professional experience in communications, public affairs, or a related discipline.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within the public affairs, policy, or government affairs sector preferred
Proven ability to lead and manage multiple small or medium-sized projects simultaneously
Clear understanding of the clients’ businesses and their missions, as well as their key stakeholders: consumers, employees, investors, regulators, media, vendors, partners, other businesses/organizations, etc.
Demonstrated ability to help develop communication programming and plans, implement integrated tactics and impart knowledge to junior account team members
Able to perform well under pressure and be a team player
Strong research, writing and editing skills, as well as the ability to interact with clients professionally and maintain relationships with media members

Responsibilities

Serve as day-to-day contact for clients on assigned projects, managing deliverables and ensuring alignment with objectives.
Lead client calls, provide tactical counsel, and proactively flag issues, risks, or opportunities.
Build strong relationships rooted in reliability, responsiveness, and trust.
Lead elements of strategy development, message framing, and campaign planning.
Oversee integrated program execution across functions, ensuring alignment with goals, timelines, and budgets.
Collaborate with creative, digital, and analytics partners to deliver seamless, multi-channel campaigns.
Write and edit high-quality materials such as press releases, op-eds, briefings, and stakeholder or policy documents.
Translate insights into clear, persuasive narratives that connect to business and reputation outcomes.
Review and refine content from junior team members to ensure quality and consistency.
Lead proactive outreach to journalists, influencers, and policymakers; secure earned media and stakeholder engagement results.
Monitor trends and provide recommendations that shape client strategy and response.
Develop and maintain strong relationships across media, policy, and industry networks.
Provide guidance, feedback, and mentoring to junior team members.
Model professionalism, collaboration, and inclusion; support performance and development conversations.
Contribute to new business initiatives through research, insights, or pitch participation.