Vice President, Public Affairs
VP, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Weber Shandwick is seeking a Vice President to join its Public Affairs team to lead strategy and manage account teams supporting corporate, public sector, and non-profit clients navigating the intersection of business, politics, policy, and political culture. The ideal candidate is a seasoned communications and public affairs professional with deep expertise in policy, advocacy, and media relations. They will have a strong network in Washington, D.C., a track record of success in delivering public affairs campaigns, and the ability to lead a high-performing team. This role will be based in Washington, D.C. on a hybrid basis.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as a trusted client advisor and senior account manager on public affairs, policy, and communications issues.
- Develop and execute comprehensive public affairs campaigns that integrate media strategy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement.
- Provides timely analysis and recommendations on legislative, regulatory, and political developments that impact clients.
- Oversee the development of messaging, content, and advocacy materials that align with client objectives.
- Networks with reporters, policy influencers, and subject matter experts to advance client work.
- Manage cross-functional teams, providing direction and guidance to ensure we deliver our best work and exceed client expectations.
- Serve as a thought leader to advance Weber Shandwick’s unique POV on pressing and complex public affairs briefs.
- Identify new business opportunities and lead proposal development to expand the agency’s client base
- Create opportunities for team members to learn and grow – promoting and retaining a collaborative, inclusive work environment conducive to success.
- Provide oversight of budget, multi-agency and vendor contracting, timelines and reporting.
DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree
- 10+ years related professional experience
Additional Qualifications – Success Factors
- 10+ years of relevant experience in public affairs or communications agencies, Capitol Hill, Executive Branch agencies, political campaigns, media, advocacy, or similar organizations.
- Proven track record of managing complex client accounts and delivering successful advocacy and media campaigns.
- Excellent writing and verbal skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives.
- A voracious consumer of news; closely follows national politics, public policy, and political culture.
- Deep understanding of federal policymaking, political dynamics, and regulatory processes.
- A strong understanding of legacy and new media, ideally with strong media contacts and experience engaging media on crisis and long-lead stories.
- Ability to lead and mobilize fast-paced, highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams.
- Strong network of contacts in government, media, and industry sectors.
- Strong organizational and critical thinking skills.
- A fast learner who can quickly get up to speed on any public affairs topic.
- Resilient mindset, deep curiosity, and a healthy sense of humor.
ABOUT US
Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications network that delivers next-generation solutions to brands, businesses and organizations in major markets around the world. Led by world-class strategic and creative thinkers and activators, we have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Weber Shandwick was named to Ad Age’s Agency A-List in 2020 and Best Places to Work in 2019. Weber Shandwick was also honored as PRWeek’s Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, and PRovoke’s Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2019. The firm earned 25 Lions at the 2019 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Data-led, with earned ideas at the core, the agency deploys leading and emerging technologies to inform strategy, develop critical insights and heighten impact across sectors and specialty areas, including brand and B2B marketing, healthcare marketing, change management, employee engagement, corporate reputation, crisis management, data and analytics, technology, public affairs, social impact and financial communications. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com
Powell Tate is the globally-recognized, premiere, DC-based public affairs unit of the Weber Shandwick network. Built for change, we are nimble, data-driven and led by people who understand fast-changing politics, complex policy debates, emerging cultural trends, the role of third-party stakeholders and digital transformation. We know the motivations that spark movements. The issues that matter most – privacy, environment, sustainability, automation, food safety and healthcare. In short: What to embrace. What to avoid. What you didn’t see coming. We solve complex business, policy and social issues. We mitigate risk and build reputation. We shape opinions and build support for issues that matter.
Washington D.C. Salary range: $119,000 - $155,000
Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.
The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- 401k (with employer match)
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Juice Money - $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
- MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
- Short-Term Disability
- Paid Employee Family Leave
- Family Building Benefit
Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.
We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at JobAppAccommodation@cmgrp.com. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or vendors; rather it is strictly for applicants who require special assistance accessing our employment website. Due to volume, messages sent to this email address that are not related to an accommodation cannot be answered.
We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at JobAppAccommodation@ipgdxtra.com. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or vendors; rather it is strictly for applicants who require special assistance accessing our employment website. Due to volume, messages sent to this email address that are not related to an accommodation cannot be answered.
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