Managing Director, Public Affairs | Strategic Communications

About FTI

FTI Consulting offers its clients a multi-disciplinary, sector-focused approach to tackling complex public, corporate and government affairs challenges. We are a global business advisory firm with a 30-year track record providing strategic counsel, and acting as trusted advisors, on complex communication challenges to the management teams and Boards of Directors of public and private companies.  This includes companies seeking to seize market opportunities, manage reputational crises, navigate market disruptions, articulate their brand, stake a competitive position, and preserve their permission to operate.

FTI Consulting Public Affairs

The US Public Affairs practice is comprised of 80+ professionals in Washington, DC and across the country, and is led by former House, Senate, White House and federal agency senior staff members, policy experts, press secretaries, journalists, and Congressional and Presidential campaign veterans. Our practitioners possess highly relevant public and government affairs experience and deep subject matter expertise in energy, industrials, health care, financial services, and technology. Together with our Financial Communications, Crisis and Litigation, and Corporate Reputation practices, we are uniquely qualified to help clients navigate complex challenges at the intersection of government and business.

About The Role

We provide our clients with a comprehensive suite of strategic communications services that leverage our integrated offering, including financial communications, corporate reputation, transaction communications and public affairs in all the major markets around the world.

Our Retail and Consumer Products sector team is growing quickly and we are looking for a Managing Director to be a key leader in establishing our Public Affairs offering, driving that growth by leveraging their own network and contributing to sector development initiatives. The ideal candidate has strong capabilities in developing business, which is underpinned by a public affairs background. This person will both leverage their own book of business to help lead business development efforts while also handling day-to-day management of client accounts and firm initiatives.

A successful Managing Director will be responsible for bringing in business, leading and growing business with current clients, managing teams, and take a key role in pursuits. This individual will interact with and provide communications counsel to C-suite, corporate affairs and communications executives; develop and execute integrated communications strategies to deliver results and meet client expectations; review and draft a variety of materials for client use; and actively participate in firm development and new business pursuits to help grow the sector. Coaching and mentoring early and mid-career colleagues is an important part of the Managing Director role to ensure all team members have the skills and tools to perform well at their level.

Client Service

•         Strategic Counsel: providing expert communications, advocacy, positioning and other strategic counsel to clients

•         Account Management: managing overall quality and delivery of work on multiple accounts in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

•         Oversee project management efforts on client projects and workstreams, including market research, strategy formation, and content creation, such as conducting a multi-stakeholder materiality     assessment

•         Anticipate client needs and concerns and work proactively with colleagues to address them

•         Identify creative ways to engage on core issues and create new opportunities for clients to advocate for key priorities through events, meetings, and partnerships

•         Build and/or manage coalitions, maintain relationships with third-party stakeholders, and mobilize like-minded outside groups to advance client priorities

•         Exhibit commercial excellence: overseeing/managing budgets, invoicing, etc.

Business Development

•         Generate and lead new business development efforts

•         Identify emerging opportunities to add greater value for clients

•         Lead the business development, production, and continuous improvement of client proposals and practice marketing materials

•         Recognize and apply global and regional social, economic and other impactful policy trends, and translating those insights into actionable ideas

•         Grow the Retail and Consumer public affairs practice through marketing and networking to showcase the expertise of FTI public affairs and sector professionals; and

•         Possess, develop and maintain relationships with applicable trade associations, journalists/media outlets, think tanks and relevant industry leaders to enhance and grow business.

Practice Leadership

•         Effectively lead account teams on complex client communications challenges

•         Actively manage, develop, inspire, and motivate staff to excel

•         Anticipate potential challenges and evaluate strategies with senior management

•         Work with a growing team across multiple locations to develop project deliverables

•         Participate in thought leadership on emerging trends and issues

•         Assist in mentoring, training, and integrating junior/ new teammates and interns

•     Lead overall client strategy, programming and execution.