Director

NKE Strategies; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package

In-office 3x per week

Job summary

NKE Strategies, a boutique Sacramento public affairs firm, seeks an Account Director to lead strategic communications for high-stakes issues in the Capitol, media, and public square. You’ll shape strategy, build client relationships, and ensure execution with visible impact.

You’ll thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment focused on public affairs, with strong writing, messaging and leadership responsibilities. In-office presence in Sacramento is required.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years in public affairs, public relations or politics; agency experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of California's political and media landscape with relationships to match.
• Track record spanning earned media, creative, digital and coalition/partner outreach.
• Strong writing and messaging skills that adapt to different clients and audiences.
• Project management chops: set clear expectations, manage up and provide useful feedback.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and basic design tools like Canva and Adobe.
• Experience with Meta Business Suite and social placement, with advisory on paid social strategy.
• Self-starter capable of handling a range of duties from strategic counsel to media relations and writing.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills; clear communication with clients and external audiences.
• Knowledge of California’s public affairs, legislative, regulatory and political arenas.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.
• Bachelor’s Degree in public relations, communications or related experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated communications programs for diverse clients (earned media, digital/social, coalitions).
• Own day-to-day account management with client service, proposals, monitoring reports, meetings and calls.
• Drive media relations strategy; build relationships with reporters and place stories.
• Develop digital engagement strategies, content for social platforms, basic design.
• Craft messaging and narratives aligning client goals with the news cycle.
• Set and track performance metrics; manage client budgets across workstreams.
• Supervise account teams and external partners (designers, researchers).

Skills

Public affairs

Public relations

Politics

Writing

Project management

Microsoft Office

Canva

Adobe

Meta Business Suite

Social analytics

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Public relations/communications

Tools

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Meta Business Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

NKE Strategies is a boutique Sacramento public affairs firm looking for a driven, strategic communications professional to join our team as an Account Director. We work on the issues shaping California's future, in the Capitol, in the media and in the public square, and we're looking for someone who wants to be in the middle of that work.

This is a chance to do more than execute. You'll help lead, shape strategy and build client relationships at a firm small enough that your work is visible and large enough to be working on real, high-stakes issues.

This role is ideal for you if you seek a collaborative, fast-paced environment. Focused on public affairs, you will thrive if you like to tackle high-profile, complex political and policy issues. Creativity and attention to detail are a must. NKE Strategies specializes in policy advocacy, public affairs, public education and outreach, crisis and reputation management and media relations.

The NKE Strategies Difference…

We're a tight-knit team that moves fast and works closely together. You'll have direct client access from day one, real input on strategy and a genuine hand in the growth of the firm. The work stays stimulating. You won't get stuck running the same playbook on the same issue, and there's real room to grow professionally. We invest in our people: competitive pay, a full benefits package and a culture that takes the work seriously without taking itself too seriously.

• Lead integrated communications programs (earned media, digital/social, coalition building, thought leadership) for corporate, trade association, nonprofit and public agency clients
• Own day-to-day account management, providing superior and meticulous client service with attention to detail, including writing new business proposals, company marketing, producing monitoring reports, attending client meetings and participating in conference calls
• Drive media relations strategy: build and maintain relationships with key reporters, place stories and manage rapid response
• Develop and execute digital engagement strategies, including content development via online social platforms, including basic graphic design, placement and posting
• Develop compelling messaging, narratives and content that connect client goals to the news cycle
• Set and track performance metrics, and manage client budgets across multiple workstreams
• Supervise account teams and outside partners, including designers and research firms

What we’re looking for…

• 5-7+ years in public affairs, public relations or politics; agency experience preferred
• Working knowledge of California's political and media landscape, and relationships to match
• A track record spanning earned media, creative, digital and coalition/partner outreach
• Strong writing and messaging skills that adapt to different clients and audiences
• Project management chops: you set clear expectations, manage up and give useful feedback
• Skilled at Microsoft Office and basic design tools like Canva and Adobe
• Experienced with Meta Business Suite and other social placement, scheduling and analytics tools, with the ability to advise clients on paid social strategy, along with the use of other social tools
• Self-starter who willingly and competently completes a range of work, from high-level strategic counsel to media relations to writing, media pitching and other duties as required
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills; articulate and able to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and external audiences
• Knowledge of California’s public affairs, legislative, regulatory and political arenas
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities
• Bachelor’s Degree in public relations, communications or related experience preferred

This full-time position will be in the company’s Sacramento office (in-office 3x per week). Position will offer a competitive salary and benefits package.