The Role
The Director leads strategic public affairs initiatives, manages client relationships, oversees account teams, and ensures effective communication strategies are executed.
Summary Generated by Built In
About UsAs a women-led, Sacramento-based public affairs firm, Lucas Public Affairs is known for its high-level reputation, issue management, and strategic communication campaigns. On every project, we lead with smart strategy, diversity of thought, and deep-rooted connections to get the right people to care about issues that define California’s future.
LPA is also a member company of Public Policy Holding Company, Inc., providing us with 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 (London Stock Exchange).Position OverviewThe Director is a strategic partner to senior leadership, responsible for account management, client team performance, and account team supervision and development. The Director is responsible for ensuring client expectations are met and that the client service team is on-time and on-strategy for completing strategic communications program deliverables and commitments. The Director is also responsible for providing continual mentorship and guidance to the account teams. This role requires occasional travel to attend client meetings and/or events.As a Director, you will:
LPA is also a member company of Public Policy Holding Company, Inc., providing us with 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 (London Stock Exchange).Position OverviewThe Director is a strategic partner to senior leadership, responsible for account management, client team performance, and account team supervision and development. The Director is responsible for ensuring client expectations are met and that the client service team is on-time and on-strategy for completing strategic communications program deliverables and commitments. The Director is also responsible for providing continual mentorship and guidance to the account teams. This role requires occasional travel to attend client meetings and/or events.As a Director, you will:
- Spearhead public affairs/strategic communications key client account activities, work deliverables and strategic planning; be independently accountable for implementation of public affairs strategies.
- Support new business initiatives, departmental growth, and company marketing and branding; be forward-thinking on expanding past existing scope of client work and requests.
- Lead client meetings; develop and present proposals, manage strategic plans, disseminate client memos/correspondence, and deliver client performance reports.
- Develop and monitor account team activity against client budgets and project team hours for accounts.
- Deliver integrated programs (owned, earned, and paid); consistently meet billable and capacity targets.
- Approve and disseminate press releases, fact sheets, news advisories, and social content.
- Simultaneously manage multiple client reports and deliverables; manage client expectations of deliverable due dates.
- Provide continual feedback, mentor, and assist with the professional development of account teams; consistently check in with team to ensure deliverables are on time, in-budget, and high quality.
- Support the supervision and delegation of tasks to junior staff including but not limited to tracking news clips, maintaining and updating key client files, documenting client updates, and other essential client support activities; oversee quality of work deliverables and professional development targets.
- Contribute to the firm’s culture, through agency initiatives & events to support a collaborative and collegial work environment.
- Perform other duties as needed to achieve departmental and company goals.
- Bachelor’s degree with a major in public affairs, government relations, journalism, or related degree field
- A minimum of 6 years of experience in public affairs, government affairs/lobbying, journalism, or related experience
- Proven success in developing, implementing, and executing successful strategic communications programs
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, drive performance, and foster a positive work environment
- Industry knowledge and experience, including a broad knowledge of concepts related to multiple industries, such as: energy, higher education, public health, tourism, technology, health care, insurance and transportation
- Strong knowledge and understanding of California’s political and public affairs environment, regulatory issues, and the news media
- Demonstrate social and digital media enthusiasm and have proven success delivering innovative ways to leverage the latest trends and platforms
- Proven track record of implementing/executing strategic communications programs
- Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and collaborate with senior level staff
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills (e.g., verbal, written, and over the phone)
- Superior organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Agency experience, specifically in public affairs/public policy, is highly preferred
- Typical office hours - Monday through Friday, 8:30-5:30
- Hybrid - Minimum of three days per week in the Sacramento office
- Competitive vacation and sick policies, allowing you to take time off as needed and maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Competitive Medical/Dental/Vision coverage for employees and families
- 401K plan with traditional and Roth options
- $100 monthly phone stipend and company paid parking
- Company paid basic life insurance of $50,000, long-term disability, and short-term disability coverage
- Professional development, mentoring, and community engagement opportunities
- Company paid access to a wide range of health and well-being resources and services including telephonic counseling, legal advice, and other services
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in public affairs, government relations, journalism, or related field
- Minimum 6 years of experience in public affairs, government affairs/lobbying, journalism, or related experience
- Proven success in developing and executing strategic communications programs
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams and drive performance
- Strong knowledge of California's political and public affairs environment
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The Company
What We Do
Lucas Public Affairs is a leading California public affairs firm that specializes in developing strategic communications to help clients meet their business and policy objectives. Our expertise is in developing and managing high-level reputation, issues management and crisis communications campaigns.






