Senior Associate Director, Financial Communications (Private Capital)

APCO•New York, NY

4d•$172,000 - $202,000•Onsite

About The Position

APCO is seeking a Senior Associate Director to help grow its Capital Markets and Financial work with private capital clients across asset classes, including private equity, private credit, infrastructure and real assets, and to support their portfolio companies. This is a senior, client-facing role serving as a primary counselor to private investment firms, investor relations teams, and portfolio company leadership across the private markets lifecycle, from fundraising and platform investments through add-on transactions, value creation, and exits. The work is fast-paced and high-stakes, often involving material non-public information, and calls for deep private markets knowledge, strong advisory instincts, commercial acumen, and sound judgment under pressure. The position is based in APCO's New York office. The role leads client engagements and integrated teams, provides strategic and communications counsel, manages execution and account performance, develops business, and mentors team members while contributing to the practice's growth and go-to-market strategy. Travel may be required as client situations demand. APCO describes its Capital Markets Practice as an integrated strategic partner across the corporate and deal lifecycle, combining financial communications with crisis and risk management, public affairs, regulatory counsel, brand and digital strategy, ESG, and transformation consulting. Its global network includes professionals across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and MENA. The US base salary range is $172,000 to $202,000 per year, with pay determined by factors including education, skills, qualifications, experience, credentials, internal equity, and location. Eligible US employees may receive medical and prescription drug, dental, vision, flexible spending account, life and disability insurance, 401(k), employee assistance and wellness resources, commuter benefits, voluntary benefits, and a generous holiday schedule with flexible time off. APCO also describes learning and development programs, mentorship, coaching, workplace flexibility, global collaboration opportunities, and support for professional growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field.
8–12 years of relevant experience in financial communications, including substantial direct experience advising private capital firms and/or their portfolio companies.
Established and actively maintained relationships with senior reporters and editors covering private markets, M&A, and capital markets at top-tier outlets.
Experience supporting private markets situations such as fund launches, platform deals, exits, take-privates, IPOs, activist defense, restructurings, regulatory matters, and crises.
Sophisticated understanding of GP/LP dynamics, fund structures, deal mechanics, and sponsor reputational drivers.
Exceptional writing, analytical, and presentation skills, including the ability to distill complex issues into clear counsel for senior audiences.
Ability to manage multiple complex projects under tight deadlines in a rapidly changing environment; responsiveness, attention to detail, proactive problem-solving, prioritization, and anticipation of client needs.
Discretion and judgment appropriate to handling material non-public information.
Strong commercial acumen, professional polish, client-service orientation, and an entrepreneurial, collaborative approach.
Willingness to travel as client situations require.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree preferred.
Agency, in-house sponsor communications or investor relations, or business journalism experience transitioning into communications is considered.
Demonstrated ability to originate opportunities, grow existing client relationships, and contribute meaningfully to new business; an established network within the private capital ecosystem is strongly preferred.
Experience across sectors such as technology, financial services, healthcare, industrials, or energy and infrastructure.
Familiarity with the policy and regulatory environment shaping private capital, including CFIUS, antitrust, tax, and SEC regulation.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior client lead and trusted counselor to private capital clients, including GPs, CCOs, investor relations leads, and portfolio company CEOs and CFOs; build trusted relationships and anticipate client needs.
Frame decisions clearly and provide senior clients with actionable counsel, applying strong advisory and consulting instincts.
Lead integrated, multidisciplinary teams across communications, public affairs, regulatory, crisis, and digital workstreams.
Develop and execute communications strategies across the private markets lifecycle, including firm positioning and brand building, fund launches and final closes, platform acquisitions, add-on transactions, recapitalizations, portfolio company exits and IPOs, LP communications support, and ESG or responsible-investing narratives.
Lead media strategy and execution with top-tier business and financial media and key industry trades.
Counsel clients through sensitive situations, including activist campaigns, take-privates, contested transactions, regulatory inquiries, portfolio company crises, and reputational issues; provide on-site support as required.
Partner with public affairs, regulatory, and crisis colleagues to provide integrated counsel on policy and political dynamics affecting private capital.
Oversee complex client engagements from strategy through execution, ensuring accountability for quality, deliverables, timelines, staffing, budgets, scopes of work, and account profitability.
Drive new business across the private capital ecosystem through RFP responses, pitches, proactive prospecting, relationship cultivation, expansion of existing client relationships, and thought leadership.
Build and mentor team members and help shape the practice's growth trajectory and go-to-market strategy.