Vice President, Public Affairs

Optimal•Washington, DC

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President of Public Affairs leads strategic growth within the public affairs, nonprofit, and advocacy sectors. This executive-level role is responsible for shaping agency visibility in values-driven markets, cultivating long-term client relationships, and managing a team to expand mission-aligned business. The VP partners with senior leadership to guide pitch strategy, external presence, and revenue performance.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in public affairs, campaign strategy, or mission-driven business development, preferred
Proven experience managing sales pipelines, securing high-value contracts, and scaling strategic client work
Deep understanding of political, nonprofit, or foundation funding ecosystems
Demonstrated ability to lead teams and represent complex offerings externally
Strong writing, presentation, and relationship-building skills
Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM tools

Responsibilities

Direct the agency’s new business strategy in the advocacy and public affairs sectors.
Oversee development of high-impact proposals, RFP responses, and pitch materials tailored to mission-driven audiences.
Build and maintain strong relationships with consultants, foundations, advocacy organizations, and aligned agency partners.
Serve as lead executive on large-scale campaigns, policy initiatives, and coalition-based pitches.
Guide internal strategy sessions to align offerings with public affairs market trends.
Represent the agency at advocacy conferences, policy events, and values-aligned networking opportunities.
Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure proposals reflect cultural competence, audience expertise, and equity principles.
Contribute to long-term planning, budgeting, and performance analysis for the public affairs vertical.
Oversee team reporting and ensure CRM accuracy for forecasting and performance tracking.
Submit expense reports and timesheet approvals accurately and on time.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Base salary that commensurates with experience with an opportunity for limitless earning potential via commissions.
Open leave (paid time off)
Paid leave for new parents
Medical, Dental, and Vision with Nationwide Coverage
Flex Spending Plan
Employee Assistance Program
401K with company matching
Student Loan Repayment Program
Professional development opportunities
Rewards and recognition programs
Mobile phone & home internet reimbursement and much more!