Managing Director

Penta is a leading corporate affairs advisory firm that helps organizations predict what matters and shape outcomes. By combining proprietary intelligence, stakeholder insights, and strategic counsel, we help CEOs and leadership teams navigate the increasingly complex intersection of business, policy, culture, and reputation. Our clients turn to us when the stakes are high, the signals are difficult to interpret, and the consequences of getting it wrong are significant. We are building a new model for corporate affairs advisory and are seeking leaders who want to help define the future of the industry.

Penta’s global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include many of the world's most influential organizations across technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and other sectors, including over 25% of the Fortune 100. Penta has offices in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, London, Brussels, Dublin, and Singapore.

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 12 - 16 years of public affairs, crisis communications, litigation 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:

• Public Affairs Expertise: Oversee 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. Possess a strong understanding of the evolving public affairs landscape and bring a set of skills and/or relationships with key reporters, producers, think tanks, academics, etc. to the team. 
• Client Retention & Project Success: Build strong relationships with clients, becoming a trusted partner and strategist they confidently turn to for results. Lead existing client work and overall project success by developing a deep understanding of the client’s business, industry, and issues; anticipating their needs and challenges; and overseeing the strategic execution of the work.  
• Client Strategy: Support the development and articulation of strategies for each client and/or project, taking client issues from problem to strategy to solution. Provide clients with confidence and structured responses to their needs as they develop.