Job description
Penta Group is a global company providing data-driven solutions to help clients achieve their objectives in an increasingly complex stakeholder environment. We provide cutting-edge intelligence products to help clients understand what their stakeholders think, see, and hear, and then leverage that intelligence to develop and execute effective, measurable strategies.
Our global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include companies across a variety of industries, including technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and more. Penta has offices in New York, London, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Dublin, London, Brussels, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
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 15+ years of public affairs, crisis 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:
- Client Retention & Project Success: Oversee existing client work and overall project success by developing a strong, trusted relationship with client leads. The managing director is expected to maintain project profitability and integrate cross-functional teams and services where applicable.
- Client Strategy: Lead development and articulation of strategy for each client and/or project, taking client issues from problem to solution to strategy. Provide clients with confidence and structured responses to their needs as they develop.
- Team Management: Set and hold a high bar for execution and client deliverables, establishing standards, systems, and processes that ensure seamless communication and 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.
- Public Affairs Expertise: Oversee team 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. Maintain relationships with key reporters, producers, think tanks, academics, etc.
- 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.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Political Science/Government, Business, Journalism, Public Policy, or a related field
- 15+ years of professional experience in communications or policy roles in a related field: political campaign, Hill, Administration, consultancy, nonprofit or corporate enterprise; 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 or issues management, media relations, and public affairs campaigns
- 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
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Preferred but not required: Significant experience in performing financial or economic analysis; in-depth knowledge of capital markets, financial institutions, asset management, hedge funds, etc.
Salary Range:
The base salary range for this position is $205,000 - $300,000 annually, depending on a candidate’s experience and qualifications as they relate 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)
Additional Perks & Support:
- 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 issuesHealth & 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
Location and Hybrid Schedule:
For this position, we are only considering applicants in the greater Washington, D.C., area and 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.
Penta Group, LLC values diversity and inclusion, is committed to equal employment opportunity, and to compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. We also comply with District of Columbia law, which prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, applicants for employment and interns based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, reproductive health decisions and breastfeeding), national origin, disability, age (18 and over), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family responsibilities, matriculation (e.g., being enrolled in a college or university or in a business, nursing, professional, secretarial, technical or vocational school), political affiliation, genetic information (including family medical history), lawful use of tobacco products, unemployment status and status as a victim or the family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense or stalking.
