WHO WE ARE: At Fors Marsh, we take on issues that matter. We are a team of researchers, strategists, and communicators working together to drive lasting change. We look at human behavior from all angles with a deep understanding of people and context to design solutions that influence decision-making and move people to action. Our work promotes health and well-being, shapes resilient communities, and builds effective and accountable institutions. We are a certified B Corporation and a Top Workplace for 7 consecutive years.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
This is a leadership position within a mission-driven practice focused on cultivating strong public institutions and strengthening community resilience. You will lead client delivery, portfolio growth, and market expansion across integrated marketing and communications engagements supporting public service recruitment, public and consumer safety, and disaster resilience initiatives.
We are seeking a strategic leader who can cultivate enduring client relationships, lead high-performing teams, and drive operational excellence while expanding the practice’s impact and market presence. The ideal candidate brings expertise in integrated marketing and communications, including behavior change, digital, and full-funnel marketing strategy and execution, along with experience growing business across federal, state, local, and nonprofit markets. This role requires a leader who can advise executive clients, oversee portfolios, and lead communications efforts that influence behavior, build trust, and engage diverse audiences across complex mission environments.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Portfolio Leadership & Strategy
• Lead one or more client portfolios, serving as a trusted advisor while ensuring high-quality delivery, long-term relationship health, and sustainable growth
• Monitor client satisfaction and proactively address risks, challenges, and opportunities across engagements
• Build and strengthen client relationships that support account expansion, market positioning, and future opportunities
• Translate industry and client trends into actionable strategies, operational and capability improvements, and innovative approaches that support delivery and growth in the portfolio
Operational & Financial Leadership
• Oversee project and contract execution across the portfolios, ensuring delivery aligns with scope, schedule, budget, staffing, and quality expectations
• Manage portfolio financial performance, utilization, resource allocation, and operational metrics
• Ensure operational excellence through strong project management, quality management, and continuous process improvement practices
• Drive accountability across teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, mission focus, and innovation
Business Development & Market Expansion
• Lead business development strategy and execution for one or more portfolios, including client engagement, capture, proposals, and pitches
• Shape pipeline and account growth strategies aligned with practice priorities, market trends, and long-term positioning goals
• Partner with growth and account teams to identify strategic opportunities, partnerships, and competitive positioning approaches
• Leverage existing relationships, market insight, and subject matter expertise to identify, shape, and advance new business opportunities and solutions
• Contribute to thought leadership and external visibility through client engagement, conference participation, authored insights, and market presence
Marketing & Communications Leadership
• Provide strategic leadership across integrated marketing and communications engagements that bring together research, planning and strategy, creative and content development, omnichannel execution, and performance measurement and optimization
• Lead and advise teams on modern marketing strategies that move target audiences through the full funnel through personalized creative execution optimized across paid, earned, shared, and owned media
• Guide integrated campaign planning and execution across multidisciplinary teams of account management, digital, media, outreach and engagement, creative, content management, research, and analytics experts
• Apply audience insights and market intelligence to fuel innovation and amplify mission impact
• Help clients navigate evolving communications environments, audience behaviors, and emerging marketing technologies
Team Leadership & Capability Development
• Develop and lead high-performing client-facing teams
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities to team members while cultivating future leaders
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning across multidisciplinary teams
• Support hiring, team development, succession planning, and capability-building efforts aligned with organizational growth priorities
• Champion employee engagement, morale, and professional growth across teams and portfolios
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications
• 12 or more years of experience in integrated marketing and communications, including at least 3 years in a leadership role supporting public-sector or mission-driven clients
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, public policy, or a related field
• Experience leading integrated marketing and communications initiatives spanning research, planning and strategy, creative and content development, omnichannel execution, and performance measurement and optimization
• Demonstrated experience overseeing complex portfolios, projects, or contracts, including financial, operational, staffing, and quality management
• Proven track record of leading business development activities, including client engagement, capture, proposals, strategic pursuits, and account growth
• Recognized industry influencer with established relationships and market credibility
• Demonstrated success expanding market share, growing strategic accounts, and shaping long-term client partnerships
• Experience using AI and emerging digital technologies to enhance communications strategy and effectiveness, increase operational scale and efficiency, or streamline and improve business development efforts
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing multidisciplinary teams
• Executive presence with strategic, thoughtful, and compelling communication style that inspires clients, partners, and teams to act
Preferred Qualifications
• Master’s degree in marketing, communications, business, public policy, or a related field
• Located in the Washington, D.C. metro area
• Experience supporting clients in disaster preparedness and recovery, public safety, consumer protection, or public service recruiting
We Offer:
Our benefits typically meet or exceed our competitors’ packages. What’s in it for you?
• Ability to make an impact on people’s lives, both internal and external to the organization.
• Top-tier health, dental, vision, and long and short-term disability coverage all covered at 100% for employee coverage.
• Our company culture, which values balance and allows each employee to take leave as they require it to balance the responsibilities of both their work and home lives without worrying about depleting their available leave hours.
• A floating holiday bank so you can celebrate the days you value.
• Generous matching retirement contributions and no vesting period starting the third month of employment.
• Dedicated training and development budgets to expand your expertise and grow your skillset.
• You can volunteer your way with paid time off.
• You can participate in Fors Marsh staff-led affinity groups.
• Our employees receive product and service discounts through the certified B Corp network.
Annual Salary: $165,000-$185,000/year
FM Career Map: Senior Director
Location: Hybrid. Mostly remote with some travel or on-site requirements as needed.
EOE: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
#LI-hybrid
Skills Required
- 12 or more years of experience in integrated marketing and communications
- 3 years in a leadership role supporting public-sector clients
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, business, public policy, or a related field
- Experience overseeing complex portfolios including financial and quality management
- Proven track record of leading business development activities
- Experience using AI and emerging digital technologies in communications strategy
What We Do
Work with purpose. At FMG, we are deeply committed to helping people make better decisions. Society’s greatest challenges won’t be solved on a whim. That’s why we collaborate with our partners and clients to find creative solutions to complex problems through research and strategy to create lasting change. From individuals to institutions, we’re deeply invested in the change we want to see. By delivering behavioral expertise within eight key markets—technology, consumer behavior, policy, health, homeland security, defense, finance, and elections—we’re not just committed to the project; we’re committed to the problem. Our work helps people make better choices. And if we can help them choose better, we can help them live better. If you’re curious, adaptable, and want to change the world, you might do well here. FMG is a place of growth and change for thinkers and doers from all walks of life. Our ambition to make the world better for people begins with a workplace that’s better for people. To ensure every voice is heard, we founded the Driving Inclusion and Valuing Equity (DIVE) Committee, Racial Equity Team, and Affinity Groups, as well as sponsor an annual Indigenous Internship Program. As a certified B Corporation, we partner, lead, and serve our clients, staff, and community through honesty, stewardship, and equity. And as a Climate Neutral Certified organization, we continue to make bold choices and drive innovation moving forward in our goal to become net-zero by 2030. Our commitment to solving economic, social, and environmental problems can be seen in every fraction of our business. Join our team and learn what it’s like to use business as a force for good.
