Director, Public Affairs

Teneo; New York; On-site; GBP 101,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

Teneo is seeking a high-calibre Director to join our Strategy & Communications team in Berlin. This senior, client-facing role requires building trusted relationships with German blue-chip firms and international clients, while leading multidisciplinary teams through complex mandates.

Based in Berlin, you will collaborate with colleagues across Europe and the global network to deliver integrated advisory services, spanning corporate reputation, crisis management, policy, geopolitics, and digital

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Public Affairs or strategic communications, ideally with consulting experience.
• Strong political and regulatory understanding with international exposure.
• Proven ability to manage senior client relationships and multi-stakeholder teams.
• C-suite presence and exceptional communication skills in high-pressure contexts.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive business development.
• Strategic, creative thinker with executive presence; knowledge of AI and media.
• Native-level German and fluent English.

Responsibilities

• Shape and develop the Public Affairs offering within Strategy & Communications in Europe.
• Lead integrated Public Affairs strategies for national and international clients.
• Advise executive boards and senior management on political, regulatory, and societal issues.
• Oversee key client mandates, ensuring strategic direction and quality.
• Contribute to business development and pitches with strategic thought leadership.
• Lead and inspire consulting teams and foster a high-performance culture.

Skills

Public Affairs

Strategic communications

Client relationships

Business development

Team leadership

C-suite engagement

Regulatory insight

Digital media understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

The Opportunity

Teneo is seeking a high-calibre Director to join our team in Berlin. This is a senior, client-facing role for an experienced Public Affairs Director advisor. The successful candidate will bring a strong network across German blue-chip companies and listed businesses.

The Role

As a Director in Teneo Strategy & Communications business in Europe, you will be responsible for building trusted senior client relationships, developing new revenue opportunities, leading complex client mandates and contributing to the growth and reputation of the business.

Based in Berlin, you will work closely with Teneo colleagues across Europe and the global network to deliver integrated advice to clients. This will include collaboration with specialists in corporate reputation, crisis preparedness and response, public affairs, geopolitics, management consulting, risk advisory, people advisory, sustainability, digital and creative campaigning.

This role requires both strategic advisory excellence and a strong commercial mindset. The successful candidate will be expected to bring market credibility, senior relationships, origination capability and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through complex, high-profile and often sensitive client situations.

Responsibilities

• Play a key role in shaping and further developing the Public Affairs offering within the Strategy & Communications practice, working closely with Senior Management.

• Develop and lead integrated Public Affairs strategies for national and international clients, aligned with their business, reputation, and transformation objectives.

• Advise executive boards, CEOs, and senior management on political, regulatory, and societal issues, as well as complex stakeholder situations.

• Take responsibility for key client mandates, including strategic direction, quality assurance, and the continued development of existing engagements.

• Actively contribute to business development, particularly by expanding existing client relationships, identifying new advisory needs, contributing to pitches, and providing strategic thought leadership.

• Lead, develop, and inspire consulting and project teams, including talent development and fostering a high-performance, entrepreneurial culture.

Requirements

• An entrepreneurial leader with an excellent command of language, a strong team orientation, and a genuine passion for politics, business, and the media.

• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in Public Affairs, political consulting, strategic communications, or related fields—ideally with significant consulting experience and/or an international background.

• A deep understanding of political decision-making processes, regulatory frameworks, and the interplay between politics, business, and society.

• A confident and persuasive presence at C-suite level, excellent communication skills, a high level of personal commitment, reliability, and outstanding organizational abilities.

• Strong service and client orientation, combined with the ability to strategically leverage, deepen, and further develop existing relationships at senior management level.

• Strategic, creative, and innovative thinking, with the ability to quickly grasp new topics and industries; ideally complemented by experience using artificial intelligence and a very good understanding of traditional and digital media.

• Native-level German and fluent English.

About Teneo

Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm. We partner with our clients globally to do great things for a better future.

Drawing upon our global team and expansive network of senior advisors, we provide advisory services across our five business segments on a stand-alone or fully integrated basis to help our clients solve complex business challenges. Our clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 and FTSE 100, as well as other corporations, financial institutions, and organizations.

Our full range of advisory services includes strategic communications, investor relations, financial transactions and restructuring, management consulting, physical and cyber risk, organizational design, board and executive search, geopolitics and government affairs, corporate governance, ESG and DE&I.

The firm has more than 2,000 employees located in 50+ offices around the world.