Managing Director, Public Affairs & Strategy

Pentagrp; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 205,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare Coverage

401(k) with employer match

Short-term & Long-term Disability

Paid parental leave

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Penta Group is seeking a Managing Director to lead in Washington, D.C. or New York, driving strategy, client service, and innovation across teams.

The ideal candidate will have 12–16 years in public affairs, crisis communications, litigation, or campaign management, with a proven leadership track record and stakeholder influence. The role emphasizes client retention, strategy development, and firm leadership while navigating the evolving media landscape and complex policy environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred.
• 15 years of professional experience in communications or policy roles.
• 10+ years leading multiple teams and mentoring others.
• Experience in crisis, litigation, or issues management and media relations.
• Comfort in applying AI and emerging technologies to enhance work.

Responsibilities

• Set strategy and drive client service across multiple teams.
• Lead client strategy development and execution for projects.
• Manage directors and teams, ensuring high-quality outputs.
• Oversee bespoke public affairs strategies, including stakeholder engagement and media relations.
• Build strong internal and external relationships and address staffing challenges.

Skills

Public affairs

Crisis communications

Litigation communications

Campaign management

Client relationship management

Leadership

Emotional intelligence

AI adoption

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Political Science/Government, Business, Journalism, Public Policy, or related field

Job description

Penta Group is seeking a Managing Director to lead in Washington, D.C. or New York, driving strategy, client service, and innovation across teams.

The ideal candidate will have 12–16 years in public affairs, crisis communications, litigation, or campaign management, with a proven leadership track record and stakeholder influence. The role emphasizes client retention, strategy development, and firm leadership while navigating the evolving media landscape and complex policy environment.