Senior Director, Public Affairs

Jobtailor; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Arlington, VA seeks a seasoned public affairs leader to guide day-to-day communications and long-range strategy for a healthcare client. You will craft narratives, distill complex policy into engaging messaging, and oversee the development of press materials and talking points.

In this role you will coordinate among internal teams, the client, agency partners, and vendors while managing billing and contracting processes, ensuring high-quality results under tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of relevant experience in public affairs or PR.
• Experience ideally in a PR agency, corporate communications function, or Capitol Hill/administration setting.
• Interest in public affairs and policy issues.
• Ability to synthesize technical content.
• Experience managing comprehensive communications campaigns.
• Understanding of digital, print, social, and broadcast communications channels.
• Proven experience writing and editing materials and working with the press.
• Strong understanding of AP Style.
• Ability to build trusted relationships and navigate difficult situations diplomatically.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage several projects simultaneously.
• Solutions-oriented mindset.
• Ability to balance a high-volume workload while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to motivate a team to deliver high-quality results.
• Willingness to meet demanding time commitments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key advisor to the healthcare client on day-to-day communications efforts and long-term strategies
• Drive the workflow of a large-scale client campaign
• Craft narratives by distilling complex policy and regulatory information into tangible messaging for varied audiences
• Oversee development of press releases, talking points, media statements, opinion pieces, and fact sheets
• Liaise among PLUS’ internal team, the client, agency partners, and external vendors
• Manage account administrative procedures, including billing and contracting

Skills

Public Affairs Experience

Comprehensive Campaign Management

AP Style Proficiency

Press Writing & Editing

Relationship Building

Project Management

Billing & Contracting

Team Leadership

Job description

• Serve as a key advisor to the healthcare client on day-to-day communications efforts and long-term strategies
• Drive the workflow of a large-scale client campaign
• Craft narratives by distilling complex policy and regulatory information into tangible messaging for varied audiences
• Oversee development of press releases, talking points, media statements, opinion pieces, and fact sheets
• Liaise among PLUS’ internal team, the client, agency partners, and external vendors
• Manage account administrative procedures, including billing and contracting

Requirements

• 8–10 years of relevant experience in public affairs or PR
• Experience ideally in a PR agency, corporate communications function, or Capitol Hill/administration setting
• Interest in public affairs and policy issues
• Ability to synthesize technical content
• Experience managing comprehensive communications campaigns
• Understanding of digital, print, social, and broadcast communications channels
• Proven experience writing and editing materials and working with the press
• Strong understanding of AP Style
• Ability to build trusted relationships and navigate difficult situations diplomatically
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage several projects simultaneously
• Solutions-oriented mindset
• Ability to balance a high-volume workload while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to motivate a team to deliver high-quality results
• Willingness to meet demanding time commitments

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in managing comprehensive communications campaigns and crafting narratives that simplify complex policy and regulatory information. Proven ability to build relationships, navigate challenges, and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Public Affairs Experience
• Comprehensive Communications Campaign Management
• AP Style Proficiency
• Press Writing and Editing
• Digital and Print Communications Understanding

Hard Skills

• Communications Strategy
• Narrative Crafting
• Policy Synthesis
• Press Release Development
• Media Statement Creation
• Fact Sheet Development
• Talking Points Preparation
• Opinion Piece Writing
• Project Management
• Billing and Contracting Management

Soft Skills

• Relationship Building
• Diplomatic Navigation
• Organizational Skills
• Solutions-Oriented Mindset
• Team Motivation

Industry Keywords

• Public Relations
• Healthcare Communications
• Capitol Hill Experience
• Corporate Communications
• Regulatory Information