Associate Director, Communications

Wachsman is a global communications and strategy consultancy focused on advising Founders and Executives at the cutting edge of emerging, transformative technologies. 

Built for the digital and decentralised age, we provide our clients with advisory services spanning strategic and communications consulting, PR and media relations, reputation and issues management, investor relations, and policy communications. We enable them to establish and defend their industry position as they drive digital transformation and navigate new challenges and opportunities.

Founded in 2015 with regional headquarters in New York, Dublin, and Singapore, Wachsman is a trusted advisor to some of the world’s most innovative companies. We help rapidly scaling firms at key moments in their journey, including in market entry, fundraising, commercial partnerships, change management, product launches, mergers and acquisitions, corporate repositioning, and regulatory compliance.

Born in the blockchain industry, Wachsman has grown to become a critical partner to a wide array of start-ups and scale-ups, challengers and disruptors across verticals including fintech, payments and financial services, data management, energy and climate tech, e-sports and gaming, arts and entertainment, social media, real estate, law, and healthcare.

Candidates must be based in or close to Manhattan and able to attend in-person meetings at short notice. This role is the equivalent of an Account Manager or Account Director in other agencies.

Duties:

Client

• Translate client business needs into PR action with compelling messaging and strategies that excite and invigorate clients.
• Guide the creation, editing, and standards of client press materials, messaging and strategic plans.
• Provide strategic counsel to ambitious, challenging and technical clients.
• Oversee the planning and successful execution of highly impactful PR campaigns.
• Provide counsel and strategy for branding, reputation management; embrace and understand the principles of global media relations.
• Direct crisis communications response for clients.
• Demonstrate commitment to industry, agency, and clients by mastering industry knowledge and understanding clients’ businesses.
• Develop and maintain relationships with influential media to secure and grow coverage. Be an escalation point for high-stakes, high-value media opportunities and editor-level interactions on behalf of clients.
• Conduct meetings with clients and new business.
• Lead productive internal training and external client strategy workshops, including messaging and narrative development sessions and media training.

People & Agency Operations

• Provide expert counsel and coaching to team-mates on every facet of the PR profession.
• Inspire ambition and enthusiasm from colleagues; take pride in facilitating others’ professional development. 
• Empower client account teams to sustain a high pace of work while maintaining the highest standards of work product and client experience.
• Support the Directors and wider leadership team in the growth of the business.

Skills & Requirements:

• 7-9 years of recent PR agency experience conducting media relations. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of fintech and/or financial services sectors preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to identify opportunities for clients.
• Excellent knowledge of the media landscape.
• Ability to communicate clearly and transfer complex information in a concise and clear form.
• Ability to prioritise and plan effectively.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Accomplished workshop facilitator.
• Crisis communications experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams successfully.
• Excellent interpersonal/soft skills.
• Motivated to excel in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain a high level of social, organisational and professional standards in job-related activities.