Managing Director, Digital Strategy

Bully Pulpit International; Washington (Washington County); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Bully Pulpit International is seeking a seasoned Managing Director to lead and expand our Digital Communications practice. You will oversee complex, multi-channel programs for high-stakes public affairs clients and act as the primary senior relationship owner with C-suite executives.

You will shape digital strategy, guide narrative and content architecture, and drive new business through strategic proposals and pitches.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in agencies or consulting, with a focus on digital and public affairs.
• Deep expertise advising executive-level clients on corporate reputation and policy.
• Proven ability to manage large multi-million dollar client portfolios and drive growth.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior strategic advisor to Partners and Executive Leadership across a high-impact client portfolio.
• Own senior relationships with C-suite, guiding direction and ensuring flawless delivery of digital and strategic work.
• Develop narrative, messaging, and multi-platform digital campaigns with cross-team alignment.
• Stay informed on political, policy, tech developments and translate shifts into actionable client recommendations.
• Lead, grow, and mentor multidisciplinary teams, driving operational excellence and collaboration across offices.
• Originate and close major new business opportunities, including proposals and pitches.

Skills

Executive leadership

Digital communications

Public affairs

New business development

Strategic advising

Job description

Hybrid - Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Jul 6, 2026

$200,000/year

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.

The Impact You Will Make

We are seeking a seasoned, outcomes-driven Managing Director to lead and expand our Digital Communications practice across a portfolio of high-stakes public affairs clients. This is a leadership role for a proven professional who can operate at the intersection of technology, business, politics, and public policy, combining strategic digital consulting rigor with the speed, agility, and experimentation of a modern digital campaign. This role reports to a Partner.

The Managing Director oversees complex, multi-channel digital programs and drives agency growth by managing a client portfolio averaging $2M+ in annual net revenue, shaping the agency’s digital strategy, and contributing to culture, talent development, and retention. They are also responsible for leading digital-centric new business efforts and serving as a visible external thought leader in technology and digital communications.

This role requires a unique blend of high-level digital strategy, senior client counsel, team leadership, and business development, all grounded in deep expertise within the corporate sector.

• Location: Expectation to work from our NYC, DC, Chi, SF or LA office at least 3x a week
• Salary: Starting range of $200,000

What Day to Day Looks Like

• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to Partners and Executive Leadership across a portfolio of high-impact accounts, helping shape client vision, long-term strategy, and integrated digital communications programs.
• Act as the primary senior relationship owner, engaging directly with C-suite and executive-level decision-makers to guide direction, anticipate needs, and ensure flawless delivery of high-stakes digital and strategic communications work.
• Drive high-level strategic development, including narrative, messaging, digital campaign architecture, and multi platform content strategy—while providing rigorous review, direction, and approval across all deliverables (memos, briefs, digital assets, presentations, paid social, etc.).
• Stay deeply informed on real-time political, cultural, policy, and technology developments, proactively translating fast-moving shifts into actionable recommendations and strategic pivots for clients.
• Team Leadership & Operational Excellence
• Lead, grow, and inspire a high-performing multidisciplinary team, developing future agency leaders through structured coaching, real-time feedback, and long-term career path planning.
• Set and uphold the standard for operational excellence, ensuring teams consistently deliver high-quality, strategic work on time, under budget, and aligned with client priorities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration across offices and departments, breaking down silos and driving seamless integration across digital, creative, strategy, public affairs, and analytics teams.
• Model clear, transparent communication and empower teams with the context and guidance they need to excel in a fast-paced client environment.

New Business & Market Growth

Partner with senior leadership to originate, shape, and close major new business opportunities, leading strategy development, proposal creation, and pitch delivery for complex digital and communications programs.

Strengthen and expand the agency’s client base, maintaining strong relationships with existing clients while identifying, cultivating, and converting new prospects.

Independently lead proposal development, producing high-quality pitch materials, strategic frameworks, and scopes of work with minimal oversight.

Build the agency’s market presence and credibility by cultivating senior industry relationships, representing the firm at key events, and elevating your external profile.

Contribute to the agency’s intellectual capital, developing case studies, thought leadership, POVs, and other content that advances the agency’s reputation in digital communications and positions you as a recognized industry expert.

Help attract top talent by identifying, engaging, and recruiting leaders who can strengthen the agency’s capabilities and culture.

15+ years of progressive, senior experience in communications, public affairs, and a leadership role at an integrated agency or consulting firm.

Deep and demonstrated expertise in advising executive-level clients within the Corporate sector on high-stakes corporate reputation and policy challenges.

Proven ability to manage and grow a multi-million-dollar client portfolio (on track to manage over $2-3M in annual net revenue), including responsibility for profitability and revenue targets.

A track record of success in new business acquisition and leading large, complex pitch processes.

Exceptional executive-level communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex policy or technical details into compelling, high-impact narratives.

Must be deeply knowledgeable about the current political, media, and cultural landscape, with experience running integrated campaigns (combining earned, owned, and paid media).

Bully Pulpit International is an outcomes agency that combines political expertise with innovative strategies to enhance brand reputation and consumer engagement in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Advertising Services Professional Services

Company size 51–200 employees

Company type Privately held

Total funding 0 Series Unknown

Where they work

Headquarters Washington, District of Columbia

1445 New York Ave NW, Floor 5, Washington, District of Columbia 20005, US 100 Pine St, Suite 3050, San Francisco, California 94111, US 30 W 26th St, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10010, US 212 W Superior St, Suite 505, Chicago, Illinois 60654, US