Strategic Communications Director

Is this the next step in your career Find out if you are the right candidate by reading through the complete overview below. FTI Consulting's Strategic Communications team is seeking an experienced Director to lead paid media planning and execution for clients in Washington DC. This role is ideal for seasoned professionals with experience at premier media planning and placement or public affairs media firms who are ready to leverage their expertise in a global consulting environment.

We are looking for a strategic media professional with deep experience in public affairs campaigns, political advertising, and advocacy communications. You will be responsible for directing paid media with a primary focus on public affairs activations, leveraging audience data, overseeing external vendors where applicable, and assisting with campaign budgeting, fulfillment, performance reporting, optimization and financial reporting.

As part of FTI's Strategic Communications segment, you'll work on complex public affairs campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and government entities, providing strategic counsel that shapes public opinion and drives policy outcomes.

What You Will Do

Lead comprehensive paid media strategies for public affairs, advocacy, and corporate reputation campaigns

Integrate advanced audience research and behavioral data into sophisticated targeting strategies

Develop multi-platform media plans spanning digital, traditional, and emerging channels

Serve as a strategic advisor on media planning and audience engagement for corporate and association clients

Hands-On Execution

Execute direct media buys across platforms including Facebook / Meta, Google Ads, LinkedIn, Twitter / X, YouTube, and emerging social networks

Manage programmatic advertising campaigns and negotiate direct publisher relationships

Oversee connected TV (CTV), over-the-top (OTT), and streaming audio placements

Direct sophisticated audience modeling and lookalike targeting strategies

Track and manage paid media budgets and invoices; coordinate closely with the finance department to ensure accurate reconciliation and timely payments

Vendor Management & Optimization

Manage relationships with specialized political and public affairs media vendors

Oversee external agencies and freelance specialists for specialized placements

Lead real-time campaign optimization based on performance metrics and shifting political landscapes

Coordinate with polling, research, and creative teams for integrated campaign delivery

Client Advisory

Provide strategic counsel on media mix optimization and budget allocation

Present campaign performance insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders

Identify opportunities to expand FTI's digital capabilities within existing client relationships

How You'll Grow We are committed to investing and supporting you in your professional development and we have developed a range of programs focused on fostering leadership, growth and development opportunities. We aim to promote continuous learning and individual skills development through on-the-job learning, self-guided professional development courses and certifications. You'll be assigned a dedicated coach to mentor, guide and support you through regular coaching sessions and serve as an advocate for your professional growth.

What You Will Need To Succeed Basic Qualifications :

5-8 years of progressive experience in public affairs, political advertising, or advocacy media buying

Proven track record managing monthly budgets of $500K+ across multiple simultaneous campaigns

Experience with crisis communications and rapid-response media activation

Background working with corporate, association, or political clients on complex public affairs initiatives

Technical Expertise

Audience Insights Platforms : Proficiency with Catalist, TargetSmart, Aristotle, or similar voter / consumer databases

Media Buying Software : Hands-on experience with platforms such as :

Political / Advocacy : Campaign Grid, Campaign Manager, Political Ad Tracker

Programmatic : The Trade Desk, StackAdapt, Google Display & Video 360, Amazon DSP

Social : Facebook Business Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, Twitter Ads

Planning Tools : Comscore, Nielsen, Kantar, Scarborough

Analytics & Reporting : Advanced skills in Google Analytics, Facebook Analytics, and campaign reporting dashboards

Experience with polling integration and message testing platforms

Core Competencies

Deep understanding of Washington DC media landscape and political ecosystem

Expertise in audience segmentation, persuasion modeling, and voter / stakeholder targeting

Strong analytical skills with ability to translate complex data into actionable insights

Exceptional project management abilities with experience managing multiple concurrent campaigns

Superior written and verbal communication skills for client-facing interactions

Preferred Qualifications

Political campaign experience (federal, state, or local)

Corporate communications or crisis management experience

Knowledge of lobbying, and advocacy advertising compliance requirements

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