Program Manager - Public Affairs

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. 

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

Edelman India is looking for a talented public affairs professional with a minimum of 4 years of experience in an agency, and/or in a similar Indian institution with interest and experience in Indian policy frameworks, an account management background, excellent communication and writing skills and an eye for detail. The clients are demanding, and our work is fast-paced – you will need to be a quick thinker, a strong multi-tasker and thrive in a dynamic environment. We are a team of collaborative professionals who enjoy answering complex questions and looking at the world through a lens of curiosity. We know the policy, we drive trust, and we strive for excellence in our work. If this resonates with you, apply to be our next Public Affairs Account Manager.

Job Responsibilities

The precise nature of activities will depend on the priorities and client work during the time of the placement, to be agreed upon. However, the responsibilities and tasks are likely to include the following:

Key Responsibilities

• A focus on general Indian policies, strategy, engagement and communication programmes for clients, including but not limited to transport, sustainability and energy;
• Serving as the day-to-day contact with clients, identifying and flagging policy challenges and opportunities and providing related strategic advice;
• Supporting the organisation and preparation of materials for meetings, events or other clients/stakeholders/media engagement activities;
• Providing day-to-day support, both agency and client-side, including regular conference calls and clear, concise public affairs briefings for planning roll-outs;
• Liaising with India and regional Edelman teams and managing the roll-outs of different client workstreams;
• Indian govt policies and media monitoring across different accounts and being able to identify and articulate the impact of legislation for clients.
• Contributing to research and analysis on various policy issues, identifying policy and market trends, reporting relevant developments, drafting briefings, reports, updates and other forms of communication;
• Day-to-day support to junior team members;
• Understanding budget management across projects.

Qualifications and requirements

• Articulate and well spoken
• University degree in public policy / political science / communications / international relations / law or other relevant fields;
• A thorough understanding of the Indian Govt and ministerial decision-making processes and its stakeholders;
• Excellent analytical and written skills;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - a positive approach with a self-learning attitude;
• Ability to work under pressure and on multiple assignments;
• Proactive approach, willingness to take the initiative, and ability to develop and maintain a network of contacts with key stakeholders active in the policy field;
• Experience in working with the media (strategy, outreach, coordination) to support public affairs goals and objectives, and/or a good understanding of the media landscape would be nice to have;
• Ability to work effectively in a varied environment and within small dynamic teams;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and additional IT skills are a plus.
• Interest in digital forms of communication and a good understanding of the social media landscape relevant to public affairs.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.