Partner, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs

About the Role

Our client operates as a strategic advisory firm that integrates primary research, stakeholder insights, and communication strategies to assist organizations in handling complex challenges related to business, reputation, and public affairs. The company collaborates with top organizations across multiple sectors, crafting impactful messaging, shaping narratives, developing stakeholder understanding, and driving significant business results. They are searching for a Partner who will help broaden the firm's market presence, lead crucial client projects, and drive the firm's growth into its next phase.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will act as a senior consultant to clients, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative insights to guide communication strategies, stakeholder engagement, reputation management, and public affairs efforts. Responsibilities include:

• Advising executive-level and C-suite clients on communications, public affairs, reputation, and stakeholder-related challenges.
• Leading the creation of messaging frameworks, narrative strategies, positioning, and communication recommendations rooted in primary research.
• Navigating complex client issues by transforming stakeholder insights into practical business and communication strategies.
• Delivering presentations of findings and strategic advice to senior leadership and key decision-makers.
• Managing qualitative and quantitative research initiatives, ensuring insights translate into precise business and communication guidelines.
• Collaborating with research teams to design and analyze stakeholder interviews, focus groups, message testing, audience research, and reputation studies.
• Linking research outcomes to communications, public affairs, corporate reputation, and overall business goals.
• Ensuring counsel provided is insight-driven rather than solely research-focused.
• Building and nurturing relationships with current and potential clients to spur business growth.
• Generating new business via personal industry networks, thought leadership, and market presence.
• Leading proposal creation, pitch presentations, and contract discussions.
• Spotting opportunities to deepen client engagements across strategic advisory, communications, public affairs, and research services.
• Driving revenue growth and contributing to long-term business development initiatives.
• Leading, mentoring, and supporting consultants, researchers, and client teams.
• Encouraging collaboration across research, strategy, and client service departments.
• Participating in leadership meetings focused on business growth, service expansions, talent management, and operational improvements.
• Contributing to the development of methodologies, intellectual property, and thought leadership content.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• A minimum of 15 years' experience in communications agencies, public affairs firms, strategic consultancies, research consultancies, or advisory groups.
• Proven track record advising senior executives on communications, reputation, stakeholder engagement, or public affairs projects.
• Strong expertise in qualitative research techniques including focus groups, in-depth interviews, stakeholder interviews, message testing, and audience research.
• Ability to convert research insights into messaging, narrative, positioning, and strategic guidance.
• Experience successfully generating new business and cultivating client partnerships.
• Skilled in leading complex client engagements and managing high-level stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams and developing talent.

Preferred Experience

• Background in public affairs, corporate affairs, government affairs, policy communications, or reputation management.
• Experience managing or contributing to profit and loss responsibilities, business units, or practice areas.
• Sector experience in healthcare, life sciences, biotechnology, financial services, technology, or other regulated industries.
• Established network of senior contacts in corporate, association, nonprofit, public affairs, or policy circles.