Public Affairs Director: Strategic Counsel & Coalitions

Stratacomm; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Open PTO

Paid Parental Leave

Remote-First work policy

Job summary

Stratacomm, a Washington, DC–based public affairs agency, seeks an Account Director to lead strategic client counsel, supervise a team, and drive multi-workstream programs from strategy through measurement.

You’ll manage senior client relationships, develop high-impact communications plans, and coordinate with policy stakeholders across federal, state and local audiences while expanding the Public Affairs practice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public affairs, political science, public policy, journalism or a related field.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in public affairs or policy communications, preferably within a communications or government agency.
• Working knowledge of the legislative and regulatory process and of federal, state and local government audiences.
• Demonstrated experience building coalitions and running stakeholder engagement programs.
• Proven ability to manage senior client relationships and complex, multi-workstream programs.
• Experience supervising or mentoring team members and readiness to manage direct reports.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills across policy, media and executive materials, with the ability to distill complex issues into compelling messages.
• Sound judgment under pressure in rapid response and crisis situations.
• Strong desire and ability to contribute to the firm’s growth, marketing and business development.
• Established relationships with trade, political or sector media a plus.
• Specialized depth in an area such as public sector communications, coalition management, legislative and regulatory communications, or rapid response a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day client relationships as a trusted strategic counselor; manage expectations on scope, timeline and outcomes, and deliver difficult news directly when it matters.
• Engage federal, state and local audiences with fluency; for public sector clients, lead communications that advance agency mission and public understanding.
• Translate client policy and business objectives into integrated public affairs strategy and own the rationale behind the work across workstreams and channels.
• Lead development of high-priority client materials, including strategic recommendations, narrative frameworks, legislative and regulatory communications, communications plans and executive presentations.
• Prepare executives and spokespeople for stakeholder engagements, congressional hearings, public comment opportunities and media interviews.
• Monitor the policy landscape to identify opportunities for clients and lead rapid response during fast-moving policy and political moments.
• Design and manage coalition and stakeholder engagement programs, including third-party validator strategy, aligned partner messaging, and grassroots and grasstops mobilization.
• Lead earned media strategy across trade, regional, national and top-tier outlets, and build thought leadership programs that position client executives as credible, authoritative voices.
• Plan and lead stakeholder gatherings (e.g., workshops, Capitol Hill days and fly-ins).
• Counsel clients through issues management, crisis preparedness and response, and internal and change communications.
• Supervise, coach and develop direct reports, helping them set goals, and owning feedback and performance reviews.
• Manage account scope, budgets, timelines and billing, along with agency partners, vendors and freelancers.
• Identify organic growth opportunities on existing accounts, lead new business pursuits and help grow the Public Affairs practice.
• Apply AI and digital tools with strategic judgment to raise the quality and efficiency of the work, and bring new applications back to your team.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public affairs, political science, public policy, journalism or a related field

Job description

Stratacomm, a Washington, DC–based public affairs agency, seeks an Account Director to lead strategic client counsel, supervise a team, and drive multi-workstream programs from strategy through measurement.

You’ll manage senior client relationships, develop high-impact communications plans, and coordinate with policy stakeholders across federal, state and local audiences while expanding the Public Affairs practice.