Senior Director

Penta is a global company providing data-driven solutions to help clients achieve their objectives in an increasingly complex stakeholder environment. We provide cutting-edge intelligence products to help clients understand what their stakeholders think, see, and hear, and then leverage that intelligence to develop and execute effective, measurable strategies. 

Our global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include companies across a variety of industries, including technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and more. Penta has offices in New York, London, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Vail, Dublin, London, Brussels, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Summary of Position:

Penta is seeking a Senior Director to join our dynamic team of public affairs professionals. Senior Directors on the Advisory team at Penta lead multiple client teams and internal projects and work in a fun, fast-paced, and challenging environment. Senior Directors are responsible for all components of client and internal project management: strategy setting, daily client interactions, organizing teamwork internally, and guiding and mentoring associates. Senior Directors are also responsible for managing resourcing and staffing decisions for their client projects. The successful candidate has 8-12 years of relevant experience, is intellectually curious, eager to learn and contribute, and has an interest in public policy.

Duties & Responsibilities:

- Management: Day-to-day manager on multiple clients, including leading client engagement, team management, and deliverable planning, execution, and delivery. This includes managing internal team assignments, setting deadlines, reviewing and providing substantive feedback on deliverables, regularly engaging management, and developing and implementing processes to ensure quality, effective, and efficient client service.

- Client Service: Ensure the highest quality of client service by leveraging prior experience and strengthening individual and team issue expertise on clients’ business and issues. This includes serving as the primary lead for all client communications to ensure clear, timely responses; proactive, thoughtful idea generation; and quality deliverables.

- Staff Development: Ensures the internal team has the necessary skills and substantive client/issue expertise to develop high quality products. This includes providing clear, constructive feedback on deliverables and day-to-day direct coaching and mentorship, as well as developing, implementing, and enforcing appropriate norms and processes for teams.

- Policy & Business Expertise: Develops, maintains, and strengthens understanding of the core business, industry, and policy issues of clients, which is essential to translating complex policy issues to target audiences.  

- Public Affairs Expertise: Develops and executes bespoke public affairs strategies for clients that may include stakeholder mapping and engagement, media relations, event planning, message development, collateral development, and more. This also includes building and maintaining relationships with key reporters, producers, think tanks, academics, etc.

- Client Acquisition: Participate in proposal writing process and pitch preparation and coordination, contributing to potential clients understanding the value proposition of Penta.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in economics, political science/government, business, journalism, public policy, or related field 

- 8-12 years of professional experience in communications or policy roles in a related field: political campaign, Hill, Administration, consultancy, nonprofit or corporate enterprise; experience working in a client service environment preferred

- Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, mentor, and motivate multiple talented, high-achieving teams at once, empowering different types of personalities with a team-first mentality

- Expertise and interest in conducting research and/or working in a relevant policy field (ideally technology, financial services, transportation, food/agriculture, healthcare and/or energy); familiarity with politics, the legislative process, and corporate industries

- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills; coupled with some analytical skills.

- Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple, competing priorities.

- Willingness to learn new skills and participate in new projects, leading by example and embracing new challenges.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Salary Range:

The base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $180,000 annually, depending on a candidate’s experience and qualifications. This role is eligible for annual salary increases based on individual and firm performance and an annual incentive bonus based on firm performance.

Benefits:

Penta Group is proud to offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees. Please find a list below of our current benefit offerings:

- Excellent health care, vision, and dental coverage provided by United Healthcare with the majority of individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums covered by Penta

- Competitive retirement benefits with a 401(k) match of 100% up to 3% of an employee’s deferred salary, and 50% of the next 2% deferred

- Employer paid short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance, with the option to buy additional coverage

- Twelve weeks paid parental leave.

- Monthly stipend for cell phone

- Generous paid time off and holiday schedule 

- Frequent firm-wide social events and activities

-  Excellent environment for learning and growth

Location and Hybrid Schedule:

For this position, we are only considering applicants in the greater Washington, D.C., area. This person will be expected to join our team in our downtown DC office in person Monday through Thursday and has the option to work remote on Fridays.

Penta Group, LLC values diversity and inclusion, is committed to equal employment opportunity, and to compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. We also comply with District of Columbia law, which prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, applicants for employment and interns based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, reproductive health decisions and breastfeeding), national origin, disability, age (18 and over), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family responsibilities, matriculation (e.g., being enrolled in a college or university or in a business, nursing, professional, secretarial, technical or vocational school), political affiliation, genetic information (including family medical history), lawful use of tobacco products, unemployment status and status as a victim or the family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense or stalking.