Manager Communications Public Affairs

Spencer Recruitment; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Spencer Recruitment partners with an established strategic communications consultancy to recruit an experienced Account Director in Dublin City Centre.

You will lead major client accounts, provide strategic counsel, manage teams and budgets, and shape integrated public affairs programs across healthcare, energy, transport, technology and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Approximately five years’ experience in public affairs, government relations or strategic communications.
• Experience leading client or stakeholder relationships for a consultancy or in-house team.
• Strong knowledge of the Irish political, policy, regulatory and media environment.
• Proactive and solutions‑focused approach with judgement to advise senior clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead major client accounts and act as a trusted adviser to senior executives.
• Provide strategic advice across public affairs, corporate communications and reputation management.
• Develop and deliver integrated public affairs and strategic communications programmes.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, government relations and regulatory-monitoring activities.
• Identify opportunities to deliver additional value and expand existing accounts.
• Lead proposal development, tender and RFP responses.

Skills

Client leadership

Strategic counsel

Stakeholder engagement

Media relations

Campaign delivery

Business development

Team management

Budget management

Written communication

Presentation skills

Advisory skills

Job description

Account Director – Public Affairs & Strategic Communications

Dublin City Centre | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid

Spencer Recruitment is partnering with an established strategic communications and public affairs consultancy to recruit an experienced Account Director.

Our partner advises organisations operating in complex political, regulatory and reputational environments. Its clients span sectors including healthcare, energy, transport, technology and sustainability.

This senior position combines public affairs, political and policy advisory work with strategic communications, media relations and stakeholder engagement.

The successful candidate will lead major client accounts, advise senior executives and help deliver integrated campaigns that achieve measurable outcomes.

The hybrid working model requires a minimum of three days each week in the Dublin office.

Key responsibilities

Client leadership and strategic counsel

• Lead major client accounts and act as a trusted adviser to senior executives.
• Serve as the principal point of contact for clients.
• Provide strategic advice across public affairs, corporate communications and reputation management.
• Translate complex political, policy and regulatory developments into clear advice and communications strategies.
• Maintain consistently high standards of strategic thinking, writing, presentation and client service.

Campaign and programme delivery

• Develop and deliver integrated public affairs and strategic communications programmes.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, government relations and regulatory-monitoring activities.
• Develop campaign strategies, messaging and communications materials.
• Oversee media relations and digital communications programmes.
• Present recommendations and campaign strategies to senior audiences.

Account growth and business development

• Build and strengthen long-term client relationships.
• Identify opportunities to deliver additional value and expand existing accounts.
• Lead proposal development, tender and RFP responses.
• Prepare and deliver new-business pitches.
• Identify opportunities for growth across existing and prospective clients.

Team and commercial management

• Lead, mentor and develop account teams.
• Support professional development and high-quality client delivery.
• Oversee client budgets, profitability and resource planning.
• Allocate team resources effectively across accounts and projects.
• Ensure programmes are delivered efficiently and to a consistently high standard.

Experience and capabilities

Candidates should have:

• Approximately five years’ relevant experience in public affairs, government relations, corporate communications or strategic communications.
• Experience gained within a consultancy, agency, in-house communications team, membership organisation, political environment or other relevant setting.
• A strong track record of leading client or stakeholder relationships.
• Experience developing and delivering integrated communications or public affairs programmes.
• Strong knowledge of the Irish political, policy, regulatory and media environment.
• The ability to interpret complex policy and regulatory issues and communicate them clearly.
• Experience managing teams, budgets, resources and client profitability.
• Strong writing, presentation, relationship-management and advisory skills.
• Experience contributing to pitches, tenders, proposals or other business-development activity.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the judgement required to advise senior clients.

Knowledge of EU or UK political and regulatory environments would be beneficial. Experience in healthcare, energy, transport, technology or sustainability would also be relevant.