Ketchum Public Affairs practice works to harness and channel the influence of elected officials, regulators, non-governmental organizations, influencers and the online community to help companies, associations, foundations and sovereign governments achieve their business and reputation objectives. The multinational team, with joint headquarters in Washington, Berlin, and Brussels, helps clients manage the dialogue between society, public policy and politics from the local to the international level.

We believe that the most effective public affairs campaigns complement our clients' public policy objectives with a combination of some or all of the following elements: opinion research, third party outreach and coalition building, grassroots and grasstops programs, political insight, traditional media relations, social media, and issue advertising. Whether the task requires using the latest technology to mobilize grassroots support, coalition building with third parties to ensure your allies are on board and on message, sophisticated media strategies and monitoring of the delivery of your message, or strategic planning followed by creative execution, Ketchum Public Affairs offers a range of services to find the right solution.

We are looking for talented, experienced, team-oriented senior public affairs practitioner to join our team of professionals to help provide counsel to our marquee clients; seek out and win new business; and, in concert with the other senior members of the team, grow the Washington, DC practice.

Ketchum is a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC; www.omnicomgroup.com.) Additional information on Ketchum, its award-winning work, and past press releases can be found at www.ketchum.com.

The Individual

The qualified candidate will have a track record of professional achievement including 12+ years in Public Affairs, ideally with at least 25-50% of his/her experience spent on the agency side. He /she will have significant expertise and demonstrable experience growing business, leading staff and managing P& L responsibilities. He/she will be an engaging leader with in-depth knowledge of the RFI/RFP process. The successful candidate will have in-depth knowledge and experience in one or more of the following industries and issue areas: healthcare, energy, international trade, or technology. Adept at providing senior-level counsel, issues and crisis communications, and leading multi-faceted public affairs campaigns. He/she will be an optimistic team builder and leader who fosters a fun energetic environment, possesses superior verbal and written communications skills, exudes confidence in all settings, particularly new business, encourages a team approach to management, self-motivates, and dedicates him/herself and team to achieving client satisfaction and internal goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as senior counselor and client relationship manger for key clients


• Explore, pursue and lead new business opportunities


• Build and maintain relationships with Ketchum office, practice and specialty leaders and identify opportunities to introduce public affairs offerings to clients


• Lead team to ensure delivery of results that meet and/or exceed clients' expectations and achieve business objectives; assure the team is staffed appropriately


• Service on DC Management Committee


• Oversee the professional development of team members to ensure they receive appropriate development opportunities, conduct annual performance reviews and address performance goals/issues


• Manage the day-to-day financial responsibilities of the team

Success Factors:

• High integrity and ethics with an impeccable reputation and commitment to excellence and world class client service


• Highly conceptual thought leader and process developer


• Analytical, strategic mindset


• Assertive, self-starter, decisive, results-oriented, but also adaptable style in order to develop strong relationships at every level of the organization


• Works well and is comfortable performing in a team-oriented environment

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English, Marketing, or a related field


• A minimum of 12 years experience in public relations, a combination of agency and corporate experience preferred


• Proven strategic development and implementation, as well as general management experience


• Track record of strong leadership and influencing skills, working across organizational boundaries


• Strong leader with the interpersonal skills to deal effectively with colleagues and clients


• Highly intelligent; possessing very strong critical thinking skills. Capable of assimilating the framework of Ketchum products/services, value proposition and target markets


• Ambitious, high personal goals; committed to making Ketchum successful


• An organized individual possessing excellent verbal and written communication skills


• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead and develop teams


• Proven track record for winning new business


• Successful track record of managing financial and operational aspects of business