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Junior Associate, Influence

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

JUNIOR ASSOCIATE – PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Powell Tate – the specialty public affairs unit of Weber Shandwick, a leading global communications network – is currently seeking a Junior Associate to join its Public Affairs team in Washington, D.C.

We are looking for someone with entry-level public affairs and integrated media experience, a passion for working across a wide variety of accounts and work streams, and the ability to anticipate client and team needs, develop content and materials, create messaging, and conduct media outreach. The ideal candidate will have a background in and enthusiasm for public affairs, government, policy, advocacy, and/or political campaigns.

Candidates must be driven, poised and team-oriented. They will have an understanding of and interest in the U.S. political landscape at the federal and state levels, as well as the intersection of earned, paid, and owned media. They will also have a base understand of digital strategy and be fluent in social media. A demonstrated ability to learn issues quickly and communicate effectively is required.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a key team member, provide operational support, and engage with client contacts (as appropriate) on multiple integrated public affairs and issues management work streams, including across highly regulated industries.
• Support development of public affairs and media relations plans, including goals and objectives, media targets, pitch angles, and engagement approaches that require input from mid-level to senior team leadership.
• Draft media materials (press releases, media advisories, pitch emails, reporter backgrounders).
• Develop targeted media lists, pitch, and learn/follow clients' priority media outlets, and cultivate relationships with reporters, influencers, and other media stakeholders.
• Monitor media coverage, landscape, trends, and policy issues in key subject areas based on client needs and KPIs, and develop/distribute internal media monitoring reports, leveraging media monitoring tools and accurately maintaining executional tools, trackers, and reporting.
• Support execution of public affairs events and programming, including conferences, Hill events, press events, and public forums or town hall meetings.
• Conduct stakeholder research and analysis to inform stakeholder engagement and public affairs strategies, and support drafting and development of written content for stakeholders.
• Participate in client meetings and/or calls, accurately capturing meeting notes, action items, and next steps.
• Act as coordinator for timelines and weekly action plans to ensure all deadlines on client projects are met, and share results of the work in a structured way via activity reports and/or client summaries.
• Produce high quality work and continually update account leads on progress of activities.
• Track/enter time with precision on a day-to-day basis, and perform other administrative tasks as assigned.

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Basic Skills

• A Bachelor’s degree, preferably in public affairs, communications, journalism, international relations, political science, or other related field.
• 0-2 years integrated communications experience, preferably in an agency or in-house setting and/or a public affairs, government, policy, advocacy, or political campaign environment.

Additional Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communications/presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and project and time management skills.
• Aptitude to work both independently and in a team setting with colleagues at all levels.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and judgment when working with team members, client contacts, and vendors.
• A strong passion and interest in news and information related to policy/political issues.
• Resilient mindset, deep curiosity, willingness to learn new skills and information, and a healthy sense of humor.
• Commitment to maintaining and contributing to a workplace founded on respect, equity, and inclusion.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.

ABOUT US

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.

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