Job Description
About Us
Forbes Tate Partners, LLC (FTP) is a full-service bipartisan government and public affairs advocacy firm based in Washington, D.C. FTP provides a combination of creative thinking and established expertise in the core services of government relations, public affairs, digital services, and strategic consulting. We work closely with government officials, C-Suite executives from Fortune 100 companies, and leaders to some of America's most dynamic organizations and have developed working relationships with local, state, national, and international policymakers. At FTP, everyone is a hands-on "doer"— whether jobs are big or small, all team members are expected to roll up their sleeves and contribute as needed.
FTP is also one of the founding member companies of Public Policy Holding Company, Inc., providing the unique ability to collaborate with both domestic and international leading government relations and public affairs firms to best serve client needs, and to provide employees with the benefits that come from working in a publicly traded company (LSE and NYSE).
How To Apply
Interested parties should send their resume, cover letter, and one writing sample (three pages or less) to careers@forbes-tate.com with the subject line of the position and department (i.e. Account Executive, Public Affairs). Please save each attachment with your full name (first and last) and document title. For example: John Smith Resume, John Smith Cover Letter, John Smith Writing Sample.
No calls, emails, or faxes please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Position Overview
The Vice President plays a critical role in Public Affairs leadership through managing various clients, contributing to thought leadership activities, supervising mid-level and junior staff, third-party consultants, and participating in business development. Our Public Affairs team crafts and executes sophisticated communication strategies that help our clients connect with and influence key stakeholders across industries - from innovative healthcare solutions and cutting-edge technology, to global finance and national defense.
As part of our team, you'll develop comprehensive engagement strategies including state field campaigns and grassroots/grasstops advocacy programs, identify and analyze target audiences, and create persuasive messaging that resonates with decision-makers at both national and state levels. This role combines strategic thinking, creative storytelling, and the excitement of seeing your work influence positive change in the public sphere, while working with diverse clients who are leaders in their fields.
Vice Presidents are expected to be proficient in three key areas: client service and retention, new business generation, and leadership. Service and retention centers existing clients, providing them with exceptional service that leads to retention, while business generation focuses on new business development and cross-selling of FTP services. As a leader at FTP, this ideal candidate must exemplify exceptional corporate citizenship by prioritizing firm best interests, guiding and mentoring team members, and actively contributing to firm-wide growth.
As a Vice President, you will:
• Collaborate with Senior Vice Presidents and Partners on client management and business development, leading project development work across teams.
• Lead client meetings, conference calls, and in-person meetings, presenting insights and recommendations to client teams and senior leadership.
• Provide strategic direction and support to staff and vendors on client activities, including management of third-party field vendors.
• Track and monitor legislation as it relates to client priorities at both federal and state levels. Work with legal counsel to ensure proper disclosure of campaign activities at the state and federal levels as needed.
• Act as primary point of contact for clients, providing exceptional service through answering questions and being available for one-on-one meetings as needed.
• Develop, execute, and oversee strategy, execution, and optimization of multi-channel communications campaigns including state field operations, working closely with third-party state field teams and vendors.
• Oversee deliverables across all channels, including message development, media relations, coalition building, social media, paid advertising, grassroots and grasstops advocacy, and events.
• Lead new business development efforts and departmental growth through creating and maintaining lists of contacts to support stakeholder engagement, coalition development, etc.
• Manage and execute client projects from beginning to end, including state and federal advocacy campaigns, strategic communications, and research; delivering work products on time and in-budget.
• Supervise, lead, and assist with the professional development of Directors and junior staff through providing actionable direction to accomplish established goals, help navigate challenges, and step in as needed to support success.
• Review, revise, and approve campaign materials, including press releases, talking points, editorial content, and social media created by team members.
• Manage recurring reports and deliverables to ensure deadlines are met and campaign success is tracked both quantitatively and qualitatively, allowing for evaluation of vendor performance.
• Collaborate with accounting team to track, invoice, and budget appropriately for complex, multi-state campaigns.
• Create and update client contracts and maintain budget tracker in Excel with input from senior leadership.
• Serve as an expert resource on local, state, and federal field campaigns within FTP.[CS1]
• Aid in new vendor and business requests for proposal writing, planning, and pitching process, bringing expertise in field campaigns and advocacy strategies.
• Follow and report on new industry developments and best practices in public affairs, grassroots advocacy, and field campaigns.
• Complete projects as requested by the Public Affairs Partners.
• Support firmwide generation of new client contracts and management of clients cross-functionally.
• Perform other duties as necessary to achieve departmental goals.
To be successful, you will need:
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or equivalent experience
• Minimum 10+ years of industry specific professional experience in issue or political campaigns, communications, or public affairs; some agency experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing and executing grassroots and grasstops campaigns at both state and federal levels
• Proven track record managing strategic campaigns, working with third-party vendors, overseeing budgets, and tracking and meeting KPIs
• In-depth understanding of Washington, D.C., national and state politics, and media landscapes
• Tech savvy with a strong familiarity with the Microsoft Suite (including advanced Excel skills), Google Drive, and social media platforms.
• Experience managing internal and client teams, including Directors and cross-functional project teams
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with demonstrated ability to manage across different personality styles and seniority levels
• An understanding of how public policy decisions impact clients' abilities and needs
• Ability to leverage field operations and grasstop activations to advance key causes, issues, and advocacy initiatives
• Demonstrated capacity for teamwork, including prior experience effectively engaging supervisors and managing staff under quick, tight deadlines within and across teams
• Exceptional organizational and priority management skills with ability to effectively manage up and oversee multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills with experience mentoring and developing team members
• Proficiency in creating and developing media strategies and strategic communications materials
• Passion for researching, writing, and editing content pieces while utilizing strong grammar skills
• Independent, strategic thinking and creative problem-solving with an “I’ll figure it out” attitude. Proven ability to operate with integrity and ethics, and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality
• High level of detail orientation and demonstrated work output with little/no errors
• Sense of urgency; willingness and ability to meet and exceed established deadlines
• Organizational agility
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple client projects and requests at once
We prefer that you have:
• Master's degree or advanced degree from an accredited university
• Experience managing field campaign operations across multiple states simultaneously
• Track record of successful coalition building and stakeholder engagement at state and national levels
• Established relationships with in-state field operatives
What We Offer:
• Generous PTO policy of 4 weeks per year
• Competitive coverage for employees and families Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• 3 months paid Maternity/Paternity leave
• 401K plan with traditional and Roth options
• $80 monthly phone stipend
• Summer Fridays
• Opportunities to enroll in Flexible Spending and commuting accounts.
• Company-paid basic life insurance of $50,000, long-term disability, and short-term disability coverage
• Company paid access to a wide range of health and well-being resources and services including telephonic counseling, legal advice, and other services
• Salary Range: ($110,503-$153,000)
Additional Information
May require occasional travel and attendance at industry events, including state-level meetings and field campaign oversight.
While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to handle, feel, or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Forbes Tate Partners, LLC (FTP) is an equal-opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. FTP does not discriminate based on disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local laws.