Associate Director

Milltownpartners; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay with salary bands

401(k) with company match

Comprehensive health coverage

26 days PTO + 10 sick days + 10 public

Two‑week winter break

parental leave

Sabbatical leave

$100/month commuter benefit

Hybrid model: 3 days in office

Structured career development

Job summary

Milltown Partners in San Francisco seeks an Associate Director to lead client work and shape strategic direction across technology, investors, and leaders. You will deliver high‑level advisory, manage client relationships, and help grow the firm’s capabilities through AI‑enabled insights.

You will mentor teams, drive cross‑functional collaboration, and contribute to new business opportunities while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and performance.

Qualifications

• Around 8 years+ of corporate communications experience in consultancy or in‑house roles.
• Demonstrable ability to take a strategic approach to reputation challenges, rooted in research, data, and insight.
• Experience building advisory relationships with senior stakeholders and delivering strategic counsel in high‑pressure situations.
• Experience taking an integrated approach to communications campaigns, engaging with a range of audiences and channels.
• Track record of developing media strategies and maintaining an active network of media contacts.
• Existing network within technology, policy, media or investor communities.
• Experience managing and developing others through coaching and feedback.
• Strong grasp of AI tools and their application in advisory work, with ability to drive adoption across teams.
• Intellectual curiosity to develop expertise in new areas and an entrepreneurial approach to building networks.
• Commitment to seeking feedback and contributing to an inclusive culture.
• Excellent command of written and verbal English.

Responsibilities

• Lead client work: take strategic responsibility for clients’ most important communications challenges and deliver impactful advice.
• Drive teams and develop colleagues: structure work, delegate, coach, and foster collaboration across US teams.
• Contribute to AI‑enhanced advisory: guide use of AI in advisory work and share best practices.
• Support business development: identify opportunities and nurture external networks for growth.
• Shape our culture: foster feedback, inclusion, and collegiality across the firm.

Skills

8+ years experience

Strategic reputation management

Senior stakeholder advisory

Integrated campaigns

Media relations & networks

Tech/policy/investor networks

Coaching & people leadership

AI tools in advisory

Entrepreneurial networking

Inclusive culture & feedback

Excellent English writing

Job description

Milltown Partners

Our clients operate at the frontiers of innovation - we advise technology companies driving change, global investors funding the future, the giants of sport and entertainment, and influential individuals on the communications and policy challenges that define their reputations. Our work spans corporate and financial communications, policy and public affairs to engage regulators and policymakers, policy communications and leadership communications. We underpin the full breadth of our capabilities with research-driven insights and campaigns. We’re also pioneering AI-enhanced advisory work for both our clients and internal innovation, using technology to unlock insights from data at unprecedented scale and speed.

The role

Our Associate Directors are experienced communications leaders who combine real advisory authority with a genuine appetite to keep developing – working alongside senior leaders to deliver exceptional client work and grow their own leadership capabilities.

Your work could span AI companies defining responsible innovation, investors backing the next generation of technology, sports franchises building global audiences, and leaders whose decisions shape industries. The clients are category-defining. The challenges are complex. The standards are uncompromising.

You’ll lead client relationships, shape strategic direction, and ensure the work your teams deliver consistently meets the highest standards. This is a hands‑on role. You’ll advise clients directly and play an active part in delivering work alongside your teams, not just directing from a distance. Beyond client delivery, you’ll build your external network, contribute to new business opportunities, and support the development of colleagues at earlier stages of their careers.

What you’ll do

Lead client work

You’ll take strategic responsibility for our clients’ most important communications challenges, whether that’s navigating policy debates, preparing for major announcements, or protecting reputation when stakes are highest. You’ll build the trust that lets you deliver genuinely impactful advice, drawing on the full resources of the firm to help clients build and defend their reputations.

Drive teams and develop colleagues

You’ll structure work clearly, delegate effectively, and hold yourself and others to high standards. You’ll coach colleagues on your teams, sharing your experience in ways that help them develop their own advisory instincts. You’ll work alongside your peers to lead and inspire colleagues across our US team, fostering a culture where exceptional advice, continuous learning and collaboration are the norm.

Contribute to AI‑enhanced advisory

You’ll help drive how we’re using AI to transform the quality and precision of our work. You’ll guide colleagues in developing AI capabilities, document and share best practice across the firm, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in advisory work through technology.

Support business development

You’ll identify and contribute to converting new opportunities and extending existing client relationships. You’ll cultivate an external network that’s useful to clients and the firm, and you’ll bring an entrepreneurial mindset to how you think about growth – whether that’s identifying new ways to help existing clients or contributing to pitches and proposals.

Shape our culture

You’ll give and receive regular feedback at all levels, demonstrate allyship to colleagues, actively seek input from others, and support the wellbeing of everyone on the team. You’ll contribute to a culture where brilliance, restlessness, comradeship, inclusivity and integrity aren’t just values – they’re how we operate every day.

We’re looking for someone who combines deep expertise with the energy and vision to keep pushing forward.

Essential Qualifications

• Around 8 years+ of corporate communications experience in consultancy or in‑house roles, including time working with technology companies and/or investors

• Demonstrable ability to take a strategic approach to reputation challenges, rooted in research, data, and insight

• Experience building advisory relationships with senior stakeholders and delivering strategic counsel in high‑pressure situations

• Experience taking an integrated approach to communications campaigns, engaging with a range of audiences and channels

• Track record of developing media strategies and maintaining an active network of media contacts

• Existing network within technology, policy, media or investor communities

• Experience managing and developing others through coaching and feedback

• Strong grasp of AI tools and their application in advisory work, with ability to drive adoption across teams
• Intellectual curiosity to develop expertise in new areas and an entrepreneurial approach to building networks
• Commitment to seeking feedback and contributing to an inclusive culture
• Excellent command of written and verbal English

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience advising on technology regulation or emerging technology challenges

• Experience working within scaling teams

Why join us

We’re an independent, employee‑owned firm, which means the people who work here share in our collective success. We operate across London, Brussels, San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C., advising technology companies, global investors, iconic brands and influential individuals on the communications and policy challenges that define their reputations.

Our culture is built on five values: brilliance, restlessness, comradeship, inclusivity and integrity. We expect a lot from each other, but we also invest in each other—through honest feedback, shared learning and genuine care that goes beyond the work itself.

We’re also serious about building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. We have measurable commitments around representation, inclusion, and supporting underrepresented communities through pro bono work. Creating an environment where everyone can thrive is central to how we operate.

By joining us, you’ll have access to:

• Competitive, transparent pay with open salary bands, plus twice‑yearly bonuses
• 401(k) with company match, eligible from day one
• Robust healthcare options, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus dedicated mental health support
• 26 days PTO, 10 sick days, and 10 public holidays
• Two‑week company‑wide winter break
• Paid parental leave
• Sabbatical leave
• $100/month commuter benefit
• Hybrid working model with three days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
• Structured career development with clear progression pathways and a defined career framework

Ready to apply?

If this sounds like the right place to progress your career, we’d love to hear from you.

If the years of experience or salary band don’t quite align with your expectations please don’t hesitate to reach out and we can talk it through.