Managing Director - Strategic Communications

Penta is a leading corporate affairs advisory firm that helps organizations predict what matters and shape outcomes. By combining proprietary intelligence, stakeholder insights, and strategic counsel, we help CEOs and leadership teams navigate the increasingly complex intersection of business, policy, culture, and reputation. Our clients turn to us when the stakes are high, the signals are difficult to interpret, and the consequences of getting it wrong are significant. We are building a new model for corporate affairs advisory and are seeking leaders who want to help define the future of the industry.

Penta’s global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include many of the world's most influential organizations across technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and other sectors, including over 25% of the Fortune 100. Penta has offices in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, London, Brussels, Dublin, and Singapore.

Role Summary:

Penta is seeking a Managing Director to join our Washington, D.C., office. Managing directors are senior leaders who set strategy, drive innovation, and set the bar for exceptional client service across multiple teams. The ideal candidate is a solutions-oriented professional with 12 - 16 years of public affairs, crisis communications, litigation communications, or campaign management experience with a demonstrated track record of leadership, problem-solving, principal and team management, intellectual curiosity, and emotional intelligence. Successful Managing Directors on our team understand the evolving media landscape and the changing nature of our industry and lead clients through it with confidence.

The Managing Director is expected to contribute in the following areas:

• Public Affairs Expertise: Oversee execution of bespoke public affairs strategies for clients that may include stakeholder mapping and engagement, media relations, event planning, message development, collateral development, and more. Possess a strong understanding of the evolving public affairs landscape and bring a set of skills and/or relationships with key reporters, producers, think tanks, academics, etc. to the team. 
• Client Retention & Project Success: Build strong relationships with clients, becoming a trusted partner and strategist they confidently turn to for results. Lead existing client work and overall project success by developing a deep understanding of the client’s business, industry, and issues; anticipating their needs and challenges; and overseeing the strategic execution of the work.  
• Client Strategy: Support the development and articulation of strategies for each client and/or project, taking client issues from problem to strategy to solution. Provide clients with confidence and structured responses to their needs as they develop.
• Team Management: Set a high bar for execution and client deliverables while contributing directly to the work, establishing standards, systems, and processes that ensure seamless communication and consistently high-quality outputs.  Train and provide real-time constructive feedback to teams, with a particular focus on developing directors into strong project managers. Manage upward to partners, informing them of challenges and opportunities with teams and clients.
• Firm Leadership: Develop strong strategic relationships internally and externally. Internally, this means surfacing internal challenges related to staffing, execution, culture, and training and proposing solutions that align with Penta's culture of ownership, empathy, and innovation. Externally, this means building and maintaining strong outside relationships. 

• Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Political Science/Government, Business, Journalism, Public Policy, or related field is preferred
• 12-16 years of professional experience in communications or policy roles in a related field: corporate communications, public affairs consulting, political campaigns, government, nonprofit, or trade associations; experience working in a client service environment preferred
• 10+ years leading, mentoring, and motivating multiple talented, high-achieving teams at once, empowering different types of personalities with a team-first mentality
• Significant experience in crisis, litigation, or issues management, media relations, and public affairs campaigns
• The ability to utilize AI and emerging technologies, where appropriate, to enhance efficiency, quality, and impact, while staying current on evolving capabilities and incorporating relevant innovations into day-to-day work
• Demonstrated expertise in principal or client management, adept at building long-standing relationships with executive level stakeholders
• Comfort in leading internal and external stakeholders through collaborative problem solving in high pressure environments amidst ambiguity
• Expertise and interest 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
• Strong analytical skills coupled with excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Willingness to learn new skills and participate in new projects, leading by example and embracing new challenges

The base salary range for this position is $205,000 - $270,000 annually, depending on a candidate’s experience and qualifications as it relates to the position. This role is also eligible for an annual incentive bonus based on firm performance.

Benefits:

Penta Group is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to support the well-being and financial security of our employees. Our benefits include:

• Healthcare Coverage: Excellent medical, vision, and dental insurance through United Healthcare and UNUM, with the company covering 90% of individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums​
• Retirement Benefits: A 401(k) plan with a generous employer match, contributing 100% on the first 3% of salary deferred and 50% on the next 2%, helping employees maximize their retirement savings​
• Income Protection: Employer-paid short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), and life insurance
• Paid Leave & Flexibility: 12 weeks of paid parental leave​
• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy and a generous holiday schedule​ (Penta follows the federal time off calendar)

• A monthly cell phone reimbursement
• Frequent firm-wide social events and team-building activities​
• Access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), including confidential counseling and resources for personal and work-related issues​
• Health & Wellness Initiatives, including a gym membership program (One Pass Select), mental health resources, and access to virtual health consultations
• Discounted employee-paid pet insurance coverage through Nationwide​​

For this position, we are only considering applicants in the greater Washington, D.C., area and are looking to fill the role as soon as possible. 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.