Director

Penta Director Position

Penta is seeking a director to join our dynamic team of public affairs professionals. Directors at Penta lead multiple client teams and internal projects and work in a fun, fast-paced, and challenging environment. Directors are responsible for all components of client and internal project management: strategy setting, daily client interactions, organizing teamwork internally, and guiding and mentoring associates. The successful candidate has at least five years of relevant experience, is intellectually curious, eager to learn and contribute, and has an interest in public policy.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Management: Day-to-day manager on multiple clients, including leading client engagement, team management, and deliverable planning, execution, and delivery. This includes managing internal team assignments, setting deadlines, reviewing and providing substantive feedback on deliverables, regularly engaging management, and developing and implementing processes to ensure quality, effective, and efficient client service.
• Client Service: Ensure the highest quality of client service by leveraging prior experience and strengthening individual and team issue expertise on clients’ business and issues. This includes serving as the primary lead for all client communications to ensure clear, timely responses; proactive, thoughtful idea generation; and quality deliverables.
• Staff Development: Ensures the internal team has the necessary skills and substantive client/issue expertise to develop high quality products. This includes providing clear, constructive feedback on deliverables and day-to-day direct coaching and mentorship, as well as developing, implementing, and enforcing appropriate norms and processes for teams.
• Policy & Business Expertise: Develops, maintains, and strengthens understanding of the core business, industry, and policy issues of clients, which is essential to translating complex policy issues to target audiences.
• Public Affairs Expertise: Develops and executes bespoke public affairs strategies for clients that may include stakeholder mapping and engagement, media relations, event planning, message development, collateral development, and more. This also includes building and maintaining relationships with key reporters, producers, think tanks, academics, etc.
• Client Acquisition: Participate in proposal writing process and pitch preparation and coordination, contributing to potential clients understanding the value proposition of Penta.

Location and Hybrid Schedule:

For this position, we are only considering applicants in the greater Washington, D.C., area and looking to fill the role as soon as possible. This person will be expected to join our team in our downtown DC office in person Monday through Thursday and has the option to work remote on Fridays.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, political science/government, business, journalism, public policy, or related field
• 5+ years of professional experience in communications or policy roles in a related field: political campaign, Hill, Administration, consultancy, nonprofit or corporate enterprise; experience working in a client service environment preferred
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, mentor, and motivate multiple talented, high-achieving teams at once, empowering different types of personalities with a team-first mentality
• Expertise and interest in conducting research and/or working 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
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills; coupled with some analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple, competing priorities.
• Willingness to learn new skills and participate in new projects, leading by example and embracing new challenges.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and compensation structure
• Excellent health care benefits with 100% of individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent health care premiums covered.
• Competitive retirement benefits with 401(k) matching
• Twelve weeks paid parental leave.
• Monthly stipend for cell phone
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule
• Frequent firm-wide social events and activities
• Excellent environment for learning and growth

Apply using this link.