Associate Vice President

CLYDE is a fast-paced, impact agency committed to delivering innovative, strategic, and visually compelling communications solutions for our diverse portfolio of clients. We work with clients who want to make a difference by moving the world forward – helping them do it through earned, owned, and paid media programs, creative solutions, and smarter, informed strategies. We are passionate about pushing the boundaries of design while staying grounded in strategy, brand integrity, and results. We are seeking a talented and dynamic Associate Vice President to join our growing team and bring our core values to life.

The Associate Vice President should have 7-10 years of communications experience in communications agencies, political campaigns, non-profit advocacy organizations, or Capitol Hill, with experience leading projects and clients, departments, and managing people.

The ideal candidate should be established as a voice for an industry, specialty, or principal. The AVP will shape and support execution of strategies for a portfolio of clients. This person will empower team members to achieve outcomes for clients by leading entire account teams and serving as the primary point of contact for clients. They will develop strong personal and professional relationships with clients, advise on the design and implementation of creative strategies for key audiences (from consumers to opinion elites), and play an active role in shaping our team and firm. They will also lead business development efforts and proactively bring in new client opportunities.

Our Core Values:

• Be Better Than We Were Yesterday
• Our Clients’ Success Defines Ours
• Be The Blueprint
• Creativity is Our Idea of Fun
• We Want to Go Far, So We Go Together

What You’ll Do:

• Play a critical role on 5+/- client teams, building relationships with clients, serving as a go-to resource for clients, and providing proactive strategic communications advice and direction to achieve client goals
• Work closely with client and internal teams to develop sophisticated and creative communications strategies—and be confident in shifting strategies to address emerging issues
• Proactively own a variety of projects and deliverables that achieve client goals while ensuring all client deadlines are met and quality of work is high 
• Actively look for ways to grow existing client business
• Collaborate with internal client delivery teams, including content, digital, and creative, to improve offerings across accounts
• Oversee financial aspects of the client work, including SOW development, budget tracking, monthly reporting, monthly billing, client profitability, and team member utilization
• Confident standing up new client accounts, including developing the resources and tools needed to execute against SOW and achieve client goals
• Direct business development process for potential clients
• Manage two or more direct reports and guide their professional development
• Support CLYDE initiatives
• Make recommendations on how to grow CLYDE beyond client work

Our Core Competencies:

• Client Service
• Communications
• Critical/Strategic Thinking
• Professional Development
• Leadership 

Position Expectations:

• Adheres to firm’s policies and procedures
• Ensures direct reports are adhering to firm policies and procedures
• Fierce commitment to, and respect for, a diverse and inclusive workplace
• Contributes to CLYDE visibility efforts and seeks out external opportunities for personal visibility (contributed articles, speaking opportunities, etc.)
• Taps own network to find business development connections
• Strong sense of EQ with internal team members and external clients and vendors
• Builds positive relationships with internal team members, across functions, and can inspire, lead, and motivate teams
• Excellent verbal communicator in 1:1, small group, and large group presentations
• Able to communicate around sensitive/challenging client issues
• Show initiative in suggesting improvements and solving problems
• Expert in time and project management 
• Mentor junior staff and participate in professional development opportunities for self
• Provide meaningful constructive feedback to senior leadership
• Support hiring efforts

Qualifications/Required Skills:

• 7-10 years of communications experience (Capitol Hill, Administration, political experience highly preferred); 5+ years of management experience
• Experience independently running, or serving as a key team member for, small and medium clients 
• Experience as an on-the-record spokesperson (for candidate, organization, elected official)
• Established media relationships with political beat reporters
• Desire to manage people, mentor junior team members, and lead teams
• Seeks and is receptive to constructive feedback
• Possesses excellent writing and grammar skills, including the ability to write concisely, clearly, and logically
• Can edit the work of junior team members and explain edits in a way that improves their skills
• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail
• Comfortable with Microsoft and Google office products
• Interested and comfortable learning and adopting new tech platforms including practical applications of AI
• Experience with media relations techniques and pitching media
• Professional and mature demeanor in working with peers and more junior team members directly to solve problems, address issues, diffuse internal challenges

The salary range for this position is $88,300 - $127,200. The position is based in our Washington, DC office.