Strategic Communications Principal

New York, NY
Full Time
Strategic Communications
Manager/Supervisor

SM+K is seeking a Public Affairs Principal specializing in integrated campaign management to join our team, where you will lead a diverse array of mid to large-size client accounts.

who you are

SM+K is seeking a Public Affairs Principal that values innovative ideas, professional growth, and creative solutions to tough challenges. A strong candidate is:

  • A creative strategist who can quickly analyze an issue, and mobilize a team around creative solutions
  • Comfortable applying a range of communications approaches – earned, paid, digital – capabilities and data insights into comprehensive public advocacy and reputation campaigns
  • An exceptionally organized project manager undaunted by balancing multiple priorities, objectives and task lists
  • Intellectually curious and seeks genuine understanding of forward-thinking objectives, strategies and all moving parts
  • An entrepreneur at heart and takes pride in delivering exceptional work products and client solutions
  • Excited to work on a diverse variety of projects which draw on an array of skills
  • Motivated and fulfilled by succeeding as a team  
  • Understanding of the importance of establishing credibility and earning the trust of stakeholders vertically, laterally, internally and externally 

what you’ll do

  • Serve as the account lead for a portfolio of clients across a range of sectors and issues directing day-to-day client interactions and strategy implementation
  • Oversee the development of strategic plans that integrate public relations, digital, social media, grassroots organizing, events and other innovative tactics
  • Work closely with our insights, creative, digital, and design teams to develop and execute cutting-edge campaign strategies that integrate media relations, opinion research, paid media, social media, stakeholder engagement, events, and other innovative tactics
  • Apply creative concept ideas to work products and manage creative teams in the development and production of messaging and content to support plans
  • Deliver regular work plans, account budgets and client updates to firm leadership
  • Manage campaign and insight reporting, both internally and externally, with an eye on improving and optimizing campaigns and providing transparency and accountability to our clients
  • Deliver regular work plans, account budgets, and client updates to firm leadership
  • Manage, mentor, and cultivate junior staff to deliver high quality work products and foster professional development
  • Aid in new business generation, and serve as the lead project manager on proposals and pitches

your experience

As a qualified candidate, you have experience in all areas below:

  • Quickly understand and analyze complex client challenges
  • Demonstrate a deep understanding of social, political, and economic issues
  • Clearly communicate strategies and tactics using compelling written and visual materials
  • Track record of managing teams, time-sensitive workplans and budgets in a highly organized and efficient fashion
  • Ability to build trust and relationships with clients and clearly communicate strategies and tactics
  • Strategically engage corporate executives, journalists, government officials and staff, advocates and other public affairs stakeholders

As an exceptional candidate, you possess many of the following attributes:

  • Excellent writing, research and presentation skills
  • 7+ years of experience at an agency or newsroom or in public relations, corporate communications, government, and/or political campaigns
  • Subject matter expertise in at least one issue area or industry of focus for SM+K, including media and communications, campaign management, real estate and land use, labor, technology, education, energy & environment, health and life sciences, transportation & infrastructure, financial services, or law.
  • Fluency in standard practice digital communications strategies and tactics including paid media, organic social media, email/mobile campaigns, etc.
  • Understanding of reporting and application of analytics tools, and an eagerness to use in-house research tools to glean valuable campaign insights to ensure we are constantly optimizing. 

Candidates need not possess every attribute listed above to qualify for a role.  If you identify with this profile but don’t quite meet all the criteria, we strongly encourage you to apply to joining our winning team!

Who we are

Subject Matter+Kivvit, where creative advocacy meets data-driven communications.

Our diverse skill sets deliver unexpected solutions that break through a complicated communications and policy landscape. We are an integrated consultancy, offering strategic communications, data analytics & insights, government relations, digital strategy, creative content, and advertising services. 

With 200+ employees in Washington D.C., Chicago, New York, New Jersey, and Miami, we are one of the largest independent agencies, providing the attention you expect of a boutique firm with the resources of a national agency.

We are here for what is now, and what is next.

SM+K cares about our team’s quality of life outside of work.  That’s why we offer a uniquely rich benefits package that includes: 

    • 100% Company-paid medical, dental and vision insurance
    • Paid parental leave
    • 401(k) contribution
    • Flexible work arrangements
    • 12 paid company holidays per year, 22 days individual paid time off 
    • Early close every summer Friday

Team SM+K prides itself on the kind of innovation that is only achieved through inclusive collaboration and equal opportunity.  Maintaining a diverse staff of first-class talent (including those from BIPOC, LGBTQ communities, and others from traditionally underrepresented groups), and conferring a sense of value and belonging on each team member is central to our mission as expert communicators. 

SM+K is also committed to providing necessary assistance or modifications to the application process for prospective candidates. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected] and include your full name and the accommodation needed to assist you with the Talent Acquisition process. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*