ABOUT BERLINROSEN

BerlinRosen is a fast-growing, full-service consulting and communications firm with more than 300 communications and campaign strategists in New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2005, BerlinRosen has powerfully expanded its presence in corporate, social impact/ESG, nonprofit, entertainment, media, racial justice, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, architecture, design, urbanism, land use, lifestyle, technology, issue advocacy and workers’ rights communications. They have received more than 50 awards and recognitions, including being the only agency to be named #1 on Observer’s PR Power List for three consecutive years, PRNews’ Large PR Agency of the Year (2023; 2021), PR News’ Digital Firm of the Year (2023) and 5/5 Stars on Forbes’ latest Best PR Agencies in America list.

People of color, people with disabilities and women are strongly encouraged to apply. BerlinRosen is committed to building and maintaining a diverse staff, and recognizes that its continued success depends on hiring and retaining high-quality, creative professionals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Opportunities for advancement exist, and we are committed to helping all staff develop and grow.

ABOUT THE CITIES TEAM

BerlinRosen’s Cities practice comprises over 70 communications professionals who bring a unique campaign-style approach to strategic communications. We work with visionary clients in New York, Los Angeles and other major cities across the country on issues ranging from healthcare, urban planning, affordable housing, issue advocacy, social impact and progressive policy, public affairs, higher education, real estate, travel, lifestyle, arts & culture and more. Whether it’s winning community and political support, policy change, elevating new projects and brands or launching some of our city’s most visited attractions, we help our clients shape the future of cities.

We work with thought leaders, award-winning institutions and major foundations including Northwell Health, the New York Proton Center, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Regional Plan Association and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

BerlinRosen is seeking an experienced public affairs strategist to join us as an Account Director. In this role, you will create strategies, manage campaigns, and promote programs that drive media coverage, persuade stakeholders, and grow coalitions in support of your clients’ public affairs priorities at the local, state, and federal levels. You will work with a team of expert colleagues and lead the day- to-day account flow by managing junior staff and client relations. 

You will have the unique opportunity to join a talented and growing team working on an exciting mix of projects and issues facing the future of New York City and State, as well as locations around the country—including land use and urban planning, social equity, supportive, affordable and market-rate housing, clean energy, economic development, and health care.

Role location: This role is based in ourNew York, N.Y. office on a hybrid basis. The Cities team is in-office 2-3 days per week.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

As an Account Director on the Cities team, you will…

• Lead development of large-scale public affairs strategies along with teammates
• Drive high-touch, daily client communications with the same client leads: brainstorming, flagging concerns and problem-solving
• Manage a team of junior staff on each account you lead, strategically influencing deliverables’ quality and staff development by delegating, modeling smart practices and providing feedback
• Coordinate across internal and external teams to deploy integrated services (media relations, digital advertising, research) to meet your clients’ goals
• Conceptualize and drive new story angles and other media opportunities for clients: such as landing feature stories even when there is no news to announce, or drafting a persuasive and compelling pitch on behalf of a client for a high-profile interview, award or conference
• Work closely with senior team leaders on capacity planning to ensure that the team is running efficiently
• Place numerous stories through persistence and creativity, identifying new targets and trying new approaches until the story lands
• Contribute to business development and growth efforts

Essential skills:

• At least 6 years of experience working in politics, government, advocacy, or strategic communications
• Understanding of New York City and State politics and media, with experience working in other geographies a plus
• Strong storytelling skills with the ability to provide examples of materials that clearly demonstrate these capabilities
• At least 1 year of experience managing teams
• Coalition-building experience in support of political candidates, policy issues, or public affairs clients
• Versatile writer who is comfortable and well-versed in writing in an informal, conversational tone and addressing people more formally when necessary
• Savviness and creativity in media relations and pitching, social media content ideation and influencer engagement with the knowledge to identify new targets and thoughtful angles until the story lands
• Ability to confidently communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing, with varying levels of staff, clients, the media and is comfortable thinking on their feet
• Organized and used to a fast-paced environment with the capability to handle multiple assignments at once, work quickly and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to become a savvy and nimble student of the “news” and quickly identify new media opportunities and narratives to insert our clients’ voices into the news cycle

Note: Interested in this role but it’s not quite the right match? Applicants who meet some but not all or exceed the above criteria are still encouraged to apply! We are eager to speak with candidates with diverse backgrounds and can assess role leveling on an individual basis.

WORKING AT BERLINROSEN

Compensation philosophy: BerlinRosen offers competitive industry rate salary bands with the goal of retaining and growing talented individuals. We regularly review and adjust our compensation structure as needed to ensure equity across teams and levels.

Salary range (commensurate with experience and skills): $110,000-$130,000

Account Directors are eligible for end of year bonuses based on firm, team and individual performance.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Pre-tax Health Savings Account Savings Plan (HSA-SP) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Mental health assistance with company-sponsored memberships to Talkspace and Calm
• 401K with a 4% employer match and no vesting period
• Generous paid time off (PTO)
• 20 vacation days, 10 wellness days, 1 day for your birthday, collective PTO between Christmas and New Year’s Day, plus 11 holidays
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Mobile phone reimbursement for data and minutes
• Employer-funded life insurance
• Discounted annual bikeshare membership
• Corporate discounts through Tickets at Work

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