Director Job Description

Company Information

We focus on the moments that matter most—high-stakes issues where how an event is managed can have lasting repercussions on stakeholders’ trust and reputation. You get an A-team of seasoned communicators developing the strategy, doing the critical work, and delivering results with an eye to value. 

Arena is a global communications advisory firm, founded in 2021, with headquarters in New York City and a presence in San Francisco. Our team comprises communications veterans who have led high-profile engagements across various industries and geographies, both in-house and as consultants.

Position Summary

Arena is seeking a Director to work closely with the firm’s partners to provide critical support on special situations for companies and individuals, including transactions, crises, litigation, a new strategy, and other key moments that matter to the firm’s clients. This is a partner-in-training role where the right candidate who consistently exceeds expectations will have the opportunity to be promoted to the partnership. 

The ideal candidate will have the experience to develop strategy and take the lead on execution and client interface to provide counsel in high-pressure situations. They will also be an excellent writer, excel at managing numerous and sometimes competing assignments, be intellectually curious about business, policy, and current events to quickly assess issues and fast-changing news environments, and be organized and driven. The Director must have strong existing media relationships and should have an established network of business contacts to play an active role in new business development. The Director must provide leadership to more junior team members to help them learn and advance their careers.

Arena is a fast-growing firm that requires employees to be entrepreneurially minded to contribute to strategy and planning for firm growth, which may include taking responsibility for a range of tasks outside the job description.  

Responsibilities

Strategy

• Clients: Based on research and input from the client, develop strategies for mandates; outline execution plans, timelines and budgets. 
• Arena: Participate in firm management to contribute to growth planning and execution. Build the practice and operational structure of the firm through the execution of a wide variety of tasks, including identifying new business opportunities, developing and tracking progress against OKRs, and designing and formalizing operational processes. 

Client Engagement & Management

• Serve as a day-to-day lead for client engagements, managing relationships and ensuring high-quality execution.
• Develop client materials, onboard new assignments, lead calls, and deliver strategic counsel across complex issues.
• Draft, edit, and finalize strategic communications deliverables, including communications plans, talking points, Q&As, timelines and rollouts, media backgrounders, and materials for journalist interviews. 
• Execute on plans to advocate the client’s point of view to the media, investors, employees, regulators, and other critical stakeholders and manage announcement and/or event logistics as needed. 

Research and Analysis

• Oversee research assignments on fast-moving situations with tight deadlines; framing topics; distilling large volumes of market, legal, and media information into clear analysis and recommendations.
• Be prepared to conduct research directly with key stakeholders.

New Business Development 

• Grow and build upon an existing network of trusted contacts, clients and potential clients, reporters, legal and financial advisors to support the firm in current and future engagements. 

Team Management

• Manage and mentor team members, working with partners and directors on the day-to-day management of junior employees and client deliverables. 
• Promote a high-performance culture by developing junior team members and contributing to firm-wide learning, training and leadership initiatives.

Key Requirements

Experience & Education 

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a commercial environment is required. The ideal candidate will have worked closely with senior leadership to originate and deliver complex assignments at an advisory firm focused on reputation. 
• Experience in communications, consulting, and professional services is required.
• Experience working in or closely with legal or in a regulatory environment is a plus.

Skills & Core Competencies

• Client Handling Skills – leads and manages client relationships seamlessly. Manages difficult conversations or other sensitive issues tactfully.
• Strategist – can devise and implement plans to meet the client's challenge. Possesses excellent judgment in navigating complex situations, assessing risk, and advising accordingly.
• Communicator – is an exceptional written and verbal communicator who is able to distill complex information and write persuasively. 
• Leader– is a skilled manager and leader of teams. 
• Resourcefulness – able to solve problems creatively and quickly. 
• Judgment – possesses excellent judgment in navigating complex situations, assessing risk, and advising accordingly.
• Relationship Builder - thrives being out in the business community to network and develop business.
• Influencer Fluency – understands news organizations, knows how reporters and analysts think; has a network of reporter relationships.
• Organization & Triage – highly responsive, organized and detail-oriented, able to prioritize competing deadlines. 
• Creativity – is adept at coming up with creative ideas for clients and seeing them through to completion.

Arena provides all full time employees with comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, and offers a 401k plan with a generous company match. Learn more about us at https://arenaadvisorygroup.com/. 

Annual Salary Range

$195,000—$275,000, with an annual company bonus.