Job Description
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Dezenhall Resources, Ltd. is seeking a full-time Senior Vice President to serve as a leader within the firm. Based in Washington, DC or remotely, this role is for a seasoned communications and public affairs professional who is ready to advance the business’s competitiveness and profitability across all functions. Our team works in a highly collaborative, results-oriented, fast-paced, and fun environment that values mentorship and offers great opportunities for talented and driven employees to grow and advance. We value strategic thinking, a sense of urgency, integrity, flexibility, and a winning attitude.
Senior Vice Presidents are the leaders our clients, our staff and the public look to as ambassadors of the firm. The firm’s leadership relies on SVPs for advice, counsel, and execution. They help build a larger new business pipeline, develop the right capability mix to meet clients’ changing needs, and serve as an example for Dezenhall staff.
Key Responsibilities
Senior Vice Presidents at Dezenhall play a pivotal role in shaping and executing bespoke, high-stakes communications, reputation management, and advocacy strategies that achieve winning outcomes for our clients — while simultaneously building the firm’s capabilities, pipeline, and bench strength.
Client Strategy & Engagement
- Lead multiple accounts, delivering world-class work to clients through a mix of tangible contributions and stewardship of the work product of others, both on your team and across the firm.
- React on your feet, reflecting high-level subject matter expertise and an ongoing understanding of the client’s needs.
- Fully manage multiple accounts, of a variety of sizes and complexity, at any given time.
- Become conversational in all Dezenhall capabilities, including crisis and reputation management, public affairs, media training, social and digital advocacy, paid media, crisis preparation, and more.
- Actively mentor junior staff in general professional development and any specific skills you possess.
- Communicate regularly with partners regarding personnel issues, including performance, billability, and morale. Offer suggestions to improve firm performance.
- Serve as an ambassador for the firm.
Business Development
- Expand current client work by selling additional capabilities or extending existing engagements.
- Network at a high level, scheduling regular meetings with potential sources of business, capabilities, or information.
- Create a public thought leadership platform for yourself, with content approval by partners.
- Close multiple pieces of new business per year from your leads and network, leaning on partners and other colleagues to win the business.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of professional experience in communications, public affairs, crisis management, advocacy, or related fields, with a demonstrated track record of leading complex, high-stakes engagements.
- Proven ability to serve as the lead client counselor on multiple accounts of varying size and complexity simultaneously.
- Established book of business and personal network capable of generating multiple pieces of new business per year.
- Demonstrated success mentoring, developing, and evaluating staff at all levels — including direct reports.
- Conversational fluency across the full Dezenhall capability set: crisis and reputation management, public affairs, media training, social and digital advocacy, paid media, and crisis prep.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to distill complicated concepts into resonant communications, messaging, presentations, and other work products.
- Exceptional writing and presentation skills, with the ability to produce and oversee messaging documents, narratives, opinion editorials, white papers, memos, and creative copy.
- Strategic operator and networker — comfortable building and maintaining high-level relationships with media, third-party/advocacy organizations, subject matter experts, and potential clients inside and outside the Beltway.
- Established or emerging public thought leadership platform.
- Excels in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines; takes initiative, thinks and reacts quickly, and problem-solves with sound judgment.
- Ability to travel as needed.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for Senior Vice President is $225,000 – $275,000 (Level 1: $225,000 – $245,000 / Level 2: $245,000 – $275,000). Dezenhall Resources employees enjoy competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a generous benefits package, including medical/vision/dental insurance, a 401(k) with company match, 11 federal holidays plus paid time off (PTO), and much more.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates can apply by sending their resumes and cover letters to careers@dezenhall.com. We will reach out if we wish to pursue your submission.