Senior Director, Strategic Communications
About The Position
Penta is seeking a Senior Director to join its team of strategic communications and public affairs professionals. Senior Directors lead multiple client teams and internal projects in a fast-paced, challenging environment. They oversee client and internal team management, including implementing strategy, managing deliverables, leading daily client interactions, coordinating internal teamwork, and guiding and mentoring associates. The successful candidate has seven to ten years of relevant experience, intellectual curiosity, a bias toward action and problem-solving, eagerness to learn and contribute, and an interest in public policy. The role involves managing client engagements and teams, ensuring high-quality client service, developing staff, building expertise in clients’ industries and policy issues, designing and executing public affairs strategies, and contributing to business development. Public affairs work may include stakeholder mapping and engagement, media relations, event planning, message and collateral development, and relationship-building with reporters, producers, think tanks, and academics. Applicants must be in the greater Washington, D.C., area. The role is based at Penta’s downtown D.C. office in person Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays. Penta is looking to fill the role as soon as possible.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in economics, political science or government, business, journalism, public policy, or a related field.
- Seven to ten years of professional experience in communications or policy roles in a related field, such as a political campaign, Capitol Hill, an Administration, a consultancy, a nonprofit, or a corporate enterprise.
- Ability to lead, manage, mentor, and motivate multiple high-achieving teams, working effectively with different personalities and maintaining a team-first mentality.
- Experience using research and/or working in a relevant policy field.
- Familiarity with politics, the legislative process, and corporate industries.
- Excellent verbal, written communication, and presentation skills, along with strong analytical skills.
- Ability to use AI tools and emerging technologies, where appropriate, to improve efficiency, quality, and impact; stay current on evolving capabilities; and incorporate relevant innovations into day-to-day work.
- Ability to multitask and manage competing priorities.
- Willingness to learn new skills, participate in new projects, lead by example, and embrace new challenges.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working in a client service environment.
- Policy-field experience or familiarity in technology, financial services, transportation, food or agriculture, healthcare, and/or energy.
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day work across multiple clients, including client engagement, team management, and planning, executing, and delivering work products.
- Assign internal team work, set deadlines, review deliverables, provide substantive feedback, engage management, and establish processes that support effective, efficient, high-quality client service.
- Lead client communications, ensuring clear and timely responses, proactive idea generation, and quality deliverables.
- Build individual and team expertise in clients’ businesses, industries, and issues.
- Coach and mentor team members, provide constructive feedback, and develop and enforce appropriate team norms and processes.
- Develop and maintain understanding of clients’ core business, industry, and policy issues, and translate complex policy matters for target audiences.
- Develop and execute tailored public affairs strategies, including stakeholder mapping and engagement, media relations, event planning, message development, and collateral development.
- Build and maintain relationships with reporters, producers, think tanks, academics, and other relevant contacts.
- Participate in proposal writing, pitch preparation, and coordination to communicate Penta’s value proposition to prospective clients.
Benefits
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance through Cigna and UNUM, with the company covering most individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums.
- 401(k) plan with an employer match: 100% on the first 3% of salary deferred and 50% on the next 2%.
- Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance.
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents.
- Flexible paid time off and a generous holiday schedule.
- Monthly cell phone stipend.
- Optional employee-paid pet insurance through Nationwide.
- Firm-wide social events and team-building activities.
- Employee Assistance Programs, including confidential counseling and resources for personal and work-related issues.
- Wellness benefits, including a gym membership discount program, mental health resources, and virtual health consultations.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
