Vice President of Communications

Firm Overview

West End Strategy Team is a premier, full-service strategic communications firm focused on expanding social justice, racial and gender equity, and human rights. We partner with clients to drive meaningful change through strategic communications, including earned media strategy, messaging, digital strategy, and crisis communications.

Through our work with clients, we’re promoting human and civil rights. We’re advocating for reproductive rights. We’re fighting against attacks on our democracy at home and around the world. We’re opposing book bans that threaten the right to education in communities across the country, and we’re pushing back against unconstitutional restrictions on voting access. We’re working on the cutting-edge issues of the moment as we partner with leading organizations working to make our world a better place.

We work closely with clients to define their goals, identify key audiences, and develop and implement customized communications strategies to achieve success. We manage media relations, lead trainings, develop messaging and content, mitigate risks and respond to crises, conceptualize and execute newsworthy events, and leverage media placements to reach key audiences.

We are a team of more than 20 passionate, engaged, talented colleagues, who are committed to creating social change. Every day we drive meaningful change through our strategic communications work.

Position Overview

West End Strategy Team (WEST) is seeking a strategic communicator, experienced manager and entrepreneurial professional to serve as Vice President.

The Vice President will oversee client relationships and work, manage a team to deliver exceptional results for clients, directly manage client work, and bring new clients to the firm.

The Vice President will be a fantastic team manager, investing in the growth and development of a team of four or five talented communicators. The Vice President will foster a culture of accountability to the clients and the firm, while ensuring their team has the support and training needed to succeed.

The Vice President will also lead client work and ensure best-in-class client services, including building and executing communications strategies, providing media and message training, and engaging in thought partnership, all toward the goal of reaching key audiences and driving meaningful and lasting change in partnership with clients.

The ideal candidate will bring a robust professional network, with all candidates able and excited to contribute to business development initiatives for WEST. The Vice President will develop relationships, identify and cultivate new clients, and work strategically to meet business development goals in service of growing the firm and deepening our impact. The VP is also a proven leader in strategic and client communications who thrives in a fast-paced environment supporting mission-driven organizations. The VP will be a strong people manager with experience in client services and new business development. They will share the WEST values of collaboration and commitment to excellence.

Roles and Responsibilities

Team Leadership (40%)

• Supervise a team of four or five staff who are executing client-facing work
• Develop and mentor new and existing staff in alignment with the overall vision and culture of WEST
• Manage their team’s onboarding and training, ensuring their team has the skills and resources to successfully deliver results for clients
• Define, create, drive and be held accountable for their team’s client engagement processes
• Collaborate with fellow senior team members, sharing ideas for client problem solving and team management strategies
• Ensure accountability amongst the team in setting and meeting benchmarks and deadlines
• Lead and mentor in the values of WEST and our clients, with an eye towards growth, sustainability, and retention
• Promote and integrate equity, belonging, and inclusivity principles within the team, ensuring an equitable and inclusive work environment

Client Engagement and Management (40%)

• Responsible for overseeing all client work in their team’s portfolio, and serve as direct client lead with two or three clients
• Develop and implement client engagement and retention strategies
• Lead assessments for client needs and build plans for delivering top-notch client services
• Provide thought leadership to clients and develop strategies that position clients to meet goals
• Conceptualize and develop written materials, including strategy memos and plans, pitches, press materials, talking points, briefing materials, and opinion pieces
• Execute direct media engagement, including pitching and building relationships with press contacts
• Monitor media and social media for coverage of client news and related developments

New Business Development and Marketing (20%)

• Meet quarterly business development goals
• Build and expand personal networks to help identify and cultivate new clients
• Participate in external networking events and opportunities to expand the reach of the firm
• Bring ideas for expanding service offerings to current clients
• Collaborate with the firm’s partner who leads business development on strategies and plans for engaging new clients

Key Competencies and Qualifications

• Minimum 8 to 10 years of professional experience in strategic communications, including experience pitching and placing
• Superb interpersonal skills, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in effectively managing, supporting, and coaching a diverse team, fostering an inclusive environment, and promoting growth and development
• Track record of managing high-performing teams to deliver results
• Experience building and executing communications plans on behalf of clients
• Excellent relationships with reporters and deep experience pitching to media outlets
• Past success in business development and securing new clients
• Experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously and the ability to quickly pivot between clients, products and projects
• Record of building strong and effective partnerships with supervisor and colleagues internally
• Highly organized and detail-oriented in a high-volume and fast-paced environment
• Strong commitment to the WEST mission and passion for expanding social justice, racial and gender equity, and human rights
• Experience in crisis communications a plus

Compensation, Benefits and Location

This position is in Washington, D.C. WEST employees are currently working a hybrid schedule with three days in the office and two working remotely. This role offers a competitive base salary ranging from $140,000 to $150,000, with the opportunity to earn significant bonuses. The average total compensation for this position often exceeds $200,000, inclusive of individual, firm wide, and business development bonuses. Benefits include health, dental, long-term disability, short-term disability, paid parental leave and a 401k plan with an employer contribution.

To Apply

To apply for this position, submit a cover letter and resume via the application link. The cover letter should be concise and compelling and outline the specific ways in which you would be a good fit for this position. Only applications submitted through this website will be considered.

WEST is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants. As we work to create change through strategic communications, we are also working to create change in our firm and our industry.