Senior Managing Director - Public Affairs

At Burson, we blend craft, curiosity, counsel, and camaraderie to deliver cutting-edge public affairs and communications strategies. Thriving in Europe’s political heart, our dynamic team excels in navigating complex policy and communications challenges, shaping reputations, and driving meaningful business outcomes for our clients across diverse sectors. We combine strategic expertise with proprietary AI-driven insights to uncover opportunities, crafting compelling narratives that influence key decision-makers. Backed by our global network, we provide innovative, data-driven solutions that connect with audiences and deliver impact. Our inclusive, high-performance culture fuels innovation and empowers individuals to excel, creating a vibrant environment where collaboration and growth thrive. Burson clients gain more than consultancy—they gain a trusted partner committed to achieving success today and anticipating the challenges of tomorrow.

More about the role:

The (Senior) Managing Director is a senior client and commercial leadership role within Burson Brussels. Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, you will help shape the future direction of the Burson business while also leading our largest and most strategically important client relationships.

You will advise global organisations as they navigate complex political, regulatory, business and reputational challenges. Drawing on expertise from across Burson’s international network, you will bring together multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated public affairs and communications programmes that create measurable value and business impact.

Combining strategic client counsel, commercial leadership and business development, this role is suited to someone who is as motivated by building and growing a business as they are by advising clients. You will be equally comfortable acting as a trusted adviser to senior decision-makers, leading international client teams, developing future leaders and identifying new commercial opportunities.

Success in the role will be reflected in the strength and growth of your client portfolio, your contribution to new business and your ability to build high-performing teams. You will also play an important role in strengthening Burson’s market reputation, shaping the strategic direction of the business and building lasting relationships across the Burson network that create value for clients and colleagues.

What you'll do:

Client and Commercial Leadership

• Lead Burson’s largest and most strategically important client relationships, acting as a trusted adviser to C-level executives and senior communications and public affairs leaders.
• Develop integrated public affairs, communications and reputation strategies that address complex business, political, policy and regulatory challenges.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across Burson’s international network, bringing together the right expertise across markets, practices and specialisms.
• Manage a significant client portfolio, maintaining oversight of client service, revenue, profitability, forecasting, resourcing and long-term commercial performance.
• Deepen and expand client relationships by identifying opportunities to introduce the broader capabilities of Burson and WPP.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with senior policymakers, regulators, business leaders, media and other key stakeholders.

Business Development and Growth

• Lead major new business opportunities from initial qualification and strategy development through to successful conversion.
• Generate new opportunities through your professional network, market profile and understanding of emerging client needs, while driving organic growth across the existing client portfolio.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Burson and WPP to develop integrated, cross-practice and cross-market opportunities, contributing to the commercial strategy and future sector focus of Burson.

Business, People and Market Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team to shape the strategic direction, commercial performance and continued growth of Burson, bringing an informed perspective on market trends, competitor activity and evolving client expectations.
• Champion innovation and AI-enabled consulting, develop high-performing teams and future leaders, and represent Burson externally as an ambassador across clients, industry networks, WPP and the wider communications community.

Experience that contributes to success:

• Extensive senior-level experience in public affairs, strategic communications, corporate affairs, reputation management or management consulting.
• A proven track record of advising C-suite executives and senior leaders within multinational organisations on complex political, regulatory, business and reputational matters.
• Significant experience leading major international, European or multi-market client relationships and integrated, multidisciplinary teams across functions and geographies.
• Strong commercial acumen, with demonstrated success in growing existing client relationships, developing new business and winning significant opportunities.
• Experience managing substantial client portfolios, with responsibility for revenue, profitability, forecasting, resourcing and overall financial performance.
• The ability to connect public policy, business strategy, corporate reputation and communications to develop clear, integrated and commercially relevant client solutions.
• Strong knowledge of the EU political, regulatory and business environment, supported by an established network of policymakers, regulators, industry stakeholders and senior business leaders.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with experience coaching and developing consultants and future leaders, and the ability to influence within complex, international and matrixed organisations.
• Excellent strategic thinking, commercial judgement, problem-solving and communication skills, with the credibility to engage senior audiences. Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French, or another European language would be an advantage.

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