Senior Account Director, Issues Advocacy

Job Description

We have an opening for a Senior Account Director with a focus on Issues Advocacy clients and campaigns. This candidate will help us support our clients as they fight to protect and raise awareness about some of the most pressing social issues of our time – from community challenges to climate change to threats facing our democracy. In this role you must understand the key issues that will dominate the news following the 2024 election and have a passion to tell those stories through powerful and creative integrated communications campaigns to advance social change.

Ideal candidates will have strong media relationships and strategic comms experience spotlighting some of the world's most pressing issues. This candidate will also have a keen understanding of the current media landscape and a growth mindset to strategically adapt as it continues to change. SSM&L is an integrated agency, and this person should have the ability to provide creative ideas and communication counsel across earned, owned and paid media channels to reach a range of audiences across demographics and ideologies Our candidate is a strong leader who enjoys mentoring and nurturing junior staff by creating a positive team culture and demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Responsibilities Include:
• Serving as a thought partner to our clients, providing strategic counsel and ensuring we deliver consistent results for our clients to help them achieve their goals.
• Overseeing the development of integrated communications campaigns that may incorporate PR, digital planning, creative content, and talent including traditional media, digital media and owned media.
• Maintaining and developing relationships with reporters and relevant stakeholders.
• Partnering and collaborating with senior level colleagues throughout the agency on integrated accounts.
• Partnering with senior leadership to drive business growth of the DC office and firm overall.
• Bringing in new business through personal relationships and networking.
• Leading a team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence; establishing and evolving best practices across advocacy campaigns, social good movements and leveraging successes to grow agency work.
• Leading new business meetings and creating proposals as needed.
• Fostering the professional growth of junior team members through mentorship, teaching and training.
• Staying on top of industry trends and serving as a thought leader within the DC office and company overall.

You should apply if
• You have at least 10 years working in PR with direct experience working in social change and advocacy.
• You've managed a team with direct oversight for at least 4 years
• You have demonstrated success in securing top-tier press placements that have an impact on the client's bottom line.
• You have a proven track record of business development and a network of relationships to tap into for new business generation and client collaboration
• You are a strategic and creative thinker, can bring new ideas to the table, and love a good brainstorm.
• You are an excellent communicator with dynamic presentation skills and the ability to convey complex issues clearly and effectively to internal and external audiences.
• You have strong decision-making abilities and accountability.
• You have an innate curiosity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• You are incredibly organized, detail oriented, and able to excel at managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• You're willing to work select evenings/weekends and travel when necessary.
• You enjoy overdelivering rather than meeting expectations and take genuine pride in being part of something good.

$110,000 - $130,000 a year

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g35o9n-18-222-98-91-42 in your application.