Associate

Comella & Co.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Comella & Co. is seeking a junior Associate to help with day-to-day operations and client communications. You will report to the COO and contribute to scheduling, contact management, and research while gaining hands-on experience in public affairs.

The role emphasizes initiative, attention to detail, and professional writing, with a collaborative team focused on delivering clear, effective communications for clients and leadership.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in communications, political campaigns, or government.
• Excellent organizational skills and close attention to detail.
• Initiative and resourcefulness; ability to own assignments and follow through.
• Judgment to balance independent work with seeking guidance as needed.
• Comfort in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines.
• Clear, professional writing and communications with internal/external contacts.
• Discretion handling confidential firm and client information.
• Curiosity about news, media, business and public affairs; willingness to research new topics.
• Familiarity with calendars, spreadsheets, and shared documents; willingness to learn new tools.
• Proficiency with Canva is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the COO to support day-to-day firm operations and client communications work, with time split between the two.
• Coordinate scheduling and maintain calendars; arrange meetings with clients and prospects and resolve conflicts.
• Maintain accurate contact lists for clients, prospects, and leadership, updating records as relationships evolve.
• Coordinate light office needs, including supplies, mail, meeting setup, and vendor communication.
• Support client teams by monitoring news, pulling media clips, and compiling coverage summaries.
• Research issues, companies, reporters, and developing stories; help build targeted media lists.
• Assist in developing presentations and decks by gathering research and formatting slides for client work.

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Initiative

Time management

Professional writing

Discretion

Research skills

Presentations

Collaboration

Tools

Google Workspace

Monday.com

Canva

Job description

At Comella & Co., we help organizations tell their most important stories and reach the audiences that matter most. We were founded by Maria Comella, a nationally recognized strategist who has guided presidential campaigns, led communications for fast-growing companies, and advised governors in both New York and New Jersey. Her experience across business, government, and politics gives our work its distinctive edge: clear strategy, creative thinking, and the ability to navigate complexity with purpose and impact.

We’re an entrepreneurial and growing firm seeking an organized, resourceful Associate to support our day-to-day operations and client communications work. Reporting to the COO, you’ll help keep the firm running smoothly while gaining hands-on experience in communications and public affairs.

This is a junior role for someone who takes initiative, pays close attention to detail, and enjoys a varied workload. You’ll work closely with our leadership and client teams, bringing the same care and follow-through to scheduling and administrative responsibilities as you do to communications assignments.

What You’ll Do

• Work closely with the COO to support day-to-day firm operations and contribute to client communications work, with time divided roughly equally between the two as needs evolve.
• Coordinate scheduling and maintain calendars by arranging meetings with clients, prospects, and other contacts; keep details accurate and resolve scheduling conflicts.
• Maintain accurate contact lists for clients, prospects, and the firm’s leadership and business development network, updating information and keeping records organized as relationships evolve.
• Coordinate light office needs, including supplies, mail, meeting setup, and occasional communication with building management and vendors.
• Support client teams by monitoring news, pulling media clips, and compiling clear, accurate coverage summaries.
• Research issues, companies, reporters, and developing stories, and help build and maintain targeted media lists.
• Help develop presentations and decks by gathering research, organizing content, and formatting slides into clear, polished materials for client work and firm initiatives.

What You’ll Bring

• 1-2 years of relevant experience in communications, political campaigns, or government.
• Excellent organizational skills and close attention to detail.
• Initiative and resourcefulness. You take ownership of assignments, use available information and tools to work through questions, and follow through without needing reminders.
• Good judgment about when to move work forward independently and when to ask for guidance, clarify priorities, or flag an issue.
• Comfort working in a fast-moving environment, adapting as priorities change, and managing multiple assignments while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Clear, professional writing and communication skills, including careful proofreading and confidence coordinating with colleagues and external contacts.
• Discretion and professionalism when handling confidential firm and client information.
• Curiosity about news, media, business, and public affairs, and a willingness to research unfamiliar topics and learn from the team.
• Comfort working with calendars, spreadsheets, and shared documents. Familiarity with Google Workspace and Monday.com is helpful, and a willingness to learn new tools is essential.
• Comfort creating and formatting presentations, with an eye for clear layouts, consistency, and detail. Proficiency in Canva is a strong plus.
• A collaborative attitude, openness to feedback, and equal care for administrative responsibilities and communications assignments.

Why Join Us

You’ll join a collaborative, ambitious team that values creativity, curiosity, and results. Working closely with experienced colleagues, you’ll contribute to the daily life of the firm and gain firsthand exposure to communications work across business, public affairs, and beyond.

This role offers opportunities to build your research, writing, and organizational skills, learn how a growing communications firm operates, and contribute to meaningful client work.

This is a hybrid role. Work from home or in the office on Tuesday and Friday, and in our New York City office on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.