Director, Strategic Communications

Bully Pulpit International; Washington; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical, dental, and

vision insurance

401(k) employer match up to 4%

Generous time off

$50 monthly phone reimbursement

Unlimited sick time

16 weeks of paid parental leave

Job summary

Bully Pulpit International is seeking a Director/Senior Director of Public Affairs to lead client relationships from pitch to final reporting. You will balance political insight, creative storytelling, and rigorous project management to deliver strategic campaigns across earned and owned media.

You will coach junior staff, manage cross-office teams, and grow business by shaping proposals and expanding existing accounts. A strong track record in public affairs and media monitoring is essential.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years in public affairs, PR, or strategic comms (agency or political background preferred).
• Master of AP Style; ability to pivot between creative storytelling and analytical strategic reporting.
• Proficiency in media monitoring software (Cision, Meltwater) and social media marketing platforms.
• Proven track record of managing multi-client deliverables and leading cross-functional teams with minimal oversight.
• Ability to stay calm and provide real-time recommendations under high-pressure, tight-timeline scenarios.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Account Leadership: serve as the primary point of contact for senior-level decision-makers with real-time strategic counsel.
• Content & Media Excellence: oversee production of memos, communications plans, press releases, op-eds, and social content; develop earned media strategies.
• Team Management & Mentorship: manage internal teams across offices to ensure quality control and on-time delivery; coach junior staff.
• Business Development: identify, draft, and present proposals for new business and expand existing accounts.

Skills

AP Style Mastery

Media monitoring software

Social media marketing platforms

Strategic account leadership

Client relationship management

Tools

Cision

Meltwater

Job description

Bully Pulpit International is an outcomes agency made up of strategists, data scientists, and artists. We come from politics, brands, and government and we communicate without barriers and measure what matters. We have more than 400 team members in six countries and thirteen offices — Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, D.C., London, Los Angeles, New York, Oslo, San Francisco, and Zürich. We apply our unique expertise across strategic communications, public affairs, research, and digital marketing to create sophisticated and customized strategies that make change possible for both American and European clients.

• Starting Salary Range: $110,000 - $130,000 (+ annual bonus)
• Expectation to work from one of our offices (DC, NYC, SF, CHI, LA) at least 3 days a week

The Impact You Will Make

The Director/Senior Director serves as the primary bridge between agency leadership and client success. You will act as a client lead directly owning the relationship and overseeing the lifecycle of an account from the initial new business pitch to final reporting. This role requires a hybrid skill set: the political savvy of a lobbyist, the creative flair of an ad executive, and the precision of a project manager.

You are a "player-coach" who is just as comfortable in a pitch meeting with a CEO as you are in redlining a press release or managing a complex editorial calendar. You thrive in ambiguous environments and are able to quickly understand what the client needs and translate it into a clear strategy that teams can operationalize. You don't just wait for news to happen; you monitor client issue areas to proactively flag opportunities for engagement before the client even realizes they exist.

What Day to Day Looks Like

1. Strategic Account Leadership

• Executive Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for senior-level decision-makers, offering real-time strategic counsel with minimal oversight.
• Campaign Architecture: Implement the strategy for and oversee the execution of earned and owned media campaigns, ensuring they align with the client’s long-term goals.
• Integrated Execution: Shepherd projects across multi-disciplinary service teams, including media planning, media buying, creative, measurement, and data insights.

2. Content & Media Excellence

• High-Stakes Writing: Oversee the production of everything from high-level strategic memos and communications plans to tactical press releases, op-eds, and social media content.
• Media Relations: Proactively develop earned media strategies, leveraging existing reporter relationships to place stories that move the needle on key issues.

3. Team Management & Mentorship

• Workflow Oversight: Manage internal teams across different offices to ensure quality control and adherence to tight deadlines.
• Professional Development: Act as a coach and/or direct manager for junior staff, providing clear feedback and supporting their professional development.

4. Business Development

• Growth Strategy: Partner with agency leadership to identify, draft, and present proposals for new business opportunities.
• Relationship Building: Expand existing accounts while establishing trust with prospective clients through compelling pitch decks and presentations.

• 8–10 years in public affairs, PR, or strategic comms (agency or political background preferred).
• Master of AP Style; ability to pivot between creative storytelling and analytical strategic reporting.
• Proficiency in media monitoring software (Cision, Meltwater) and social media marketing platforms.
• Proven track record of managing multi-client deliverables and leading cross-functional teams with minimal oversight.
• Ability to stay calm and provide "real-time" recommendations under high-pressure, tight-timeline scenarios.

BPI offers a wide range of benefits to U.S.-based employees, including100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) program with employer match up to 4%, generous time off for vacation, $50 monthly phone reimbursement, unlimited sick time, and 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents. BPI’s benefits prioritize employee wellness and progressive support to our diverse workforce.

We’re looking for all kinds of people.

BPI Group is an integrated public affairs agency that delivers outcomes for the top organizations and leaders around the world. With expertise in strategic communications, digital marketing, creative, research, and measurement, we offer a cohesive approach across corporate, policy, and public affairs strategy in today’s interconnected world. By combining incisive strategy and deep tactical expertise, we make change possible. Our transatlantic presence includes offices across eleven markets in the US and Europe.

We are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions based on individual commitment to excellence. We want to have the best qualified people in every job. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state or local laws. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. BPI is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description. We consider applications holistically and you may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!