ABOUT M&C SAATCHI WORLD SERVICES

M&C Saatchi World Services is a full-service marketing company renowned for using commercial advertising to solve the world’s toughest challenges. World Services is a specialty branch of M&C Saatchi Group, and we provide strategic communications, behavior change, and marketing support to Public Sector clients with special emphasis on the US Federal Government and State, Local, Tribal, & Territorial leaders. M&C Saatchi World Services US is seeking an experienced and highly strategic Account Director, VP. This role ensures all communications, outreach, and engagement activities integrate seamlessly across functional teams and output, providing structured operational oversight and ensuring mission continuity across interconnected workstreams.

THE ROLE

M&C Saatchi World Services is seeking an accomplished Account Director to provide strategic leadership for stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and outreach activities across a high-profile federal portfolio.

Serving as the senior engagement lead for the program, this role is responsible for shaping and executing enterprise-level stakeholder strategies that support organizational priorities, inform decision-making, and strengthen relationships with key internal and external audiences. Working closely with senior government stakeholders, program leadership, communications teams, and cross-functional partners, you will act as a trusted advisor and strategic partner, ensuring stakeholder insights are translated into meaningful action and measurable impact.

You will lead engagement planning, oversee stakeholder governance and reporting, and drive collaboration across diverse stakeholder communities to support mission success. You will combine strategic vision with operational leadership, balancing stakeholder needs, client priorities, and program objectives to deliver measurable outcomes.

This role requires exceptional relationship-building skills, executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate complex organizational environments while fostering collaboration across multiple teams and stakeholder groups. As a senior leader within the Account Handling team, you will help shape the long-term direction of stakeholder engagement efforts, mentor team members, champion best practices, and identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships, enhance program effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement.

This is a hybrid role; however, the ideally you live in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of enterprise-level stakeholder engagement strategies that support program objectives, policy priorities, and organizational goals.
• Serve as the senior strategic advisor to client leadership on stakeholder affairs, engagement priorities, stakeholder risks, and relationship management approaches.
• Own the stakeholder engagement vision, governance framework, and long-term engagement roadmap across the program.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, client leadership, partner organizations, and cross-functional teams.
• Act as the primary escalation point for stakeholder engagement matters, ensuring challenges are addressed proactively and effectively.
• Design and oversee stakeholder engagement activities, including consultations, listening sessions, workshops, forums, working groups, and executive engagements.
• Lead stakeholder consultations across multiple organizations and functional areas, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and program priorities.
• Capture, analyze, and synthesize stakeholder feedback, translating qualitative insights into strategic recommendations that inform decision-making, communications, and program execution.
• Partner with communications, analytics, research, and program leadership teams to integrate stakeholder insights into campaigns, outreach strategies, reporting frameworks, and operational planning.
• Develop and oversee stakeholder engagement plans, executive briefings, reports, dashboards, and performance measurement frameworks.
• Monitor stakeholder sentiment, participation trends, engagement effectiveness, and emerging issues to identify opportunities, risks, and areas for improvement.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to stakeholder engagement and account teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement of engagement methodologies, stakeholder management processes, and reporting practices.
• Represent the program in senior-level meetings, discussions, and engagement activities, serving as a credible and trusted ambassador for both the client and M&C Saatchi World Services.
• Identify opportunities to expand stakeholder impact, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the overall effectiveness of engagement efforts across the portfolio.
• Ensure all engagement activities are delivered in accordance with client requirements, organizational standards, and applicable federal policies and guidance.

Key Attributes:

• Experience leading large-scale stakeholder engagement, public affairs, communications, outreach, or account management portfolios.
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining trusted relationships with senior executives, government leaders, clients, and external stakeholders.
• Strong expertise in stakeholder engagement strategy, relationship management, facilitation, and strategic communications.
• Experience in leveraging AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to improve project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and operational efficiency.
• Curiosity in the technology landscape and how AI is changing communications.
• Experience designing and leading executive-level consultations, workshops, forums, and collaborative engagement initiatives.
• Ability to serve as a strategic advisor, translating stakeholder insights into actionable recommendations and long-term engagement strategies.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of an organization.
• Strong executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to influence decision-making in complex stakeholder environments.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and fostering collaboration across communications, analytics, research, policy, and program functions.
• Ability to anticipate stakeholder needs, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and develop proactive engagement solutions.
• Strong analytical skills with experience synthesizing qualitative and quantitative insights into meaningful business and program recommendations.
• Experience developing executive briefings, engagement strategies, performance reports, dashboards, and stakeholder governance frameworks.
• Commitment to high-quality client service, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Experience supporting federal government, Department of Defense, military community, or other public-sector programs is preferred.
• Familiarity with stakeholder engagement technologies, virtual collaboration platforms, and data-informed engagement methodologies.
• Degree or relevant experience in Communications, Public Affairs, Public Administration, International Relations, Behavioral Science, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Must possess, be eligible to obtain, and be willing to maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Location: Hybrid, able to commute regularly to Washington DC office spaces.
Language Requirements: Fluent written and spoken English required.
Educational Requirements: BA/BS in Public Relations, Communications, Public Affairs, Marketing or a related field.

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Work on impactful programs supporting federal and defense-related initiatives.
• Collaborate with high-performing cross-functional teams across communications, digital and analytics disciplines.
• Opportunity to shape strategic public engagement initiatives at enterprise scale. • Flexible hybrid working environment.
• Exposure to complex, mission-driven stakeholder engagement challenges.
• Career development opportunities within a fast-growing global organization.

Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen (required by government contract).
• Clearance Eligibility: Must be able and willing to obtain a U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance immediately upon employment.
• Background Screening: Must be willing to submit to a rigorous federal background investigation, which includes an in-depth review of personal finances, criminal history, employment history, and drug use.

The salary range provided reflects the anticipated compensation for this role across our Washington, DC and New York locations. Actual starting salary will be determined based on geographic location, relevant experience, skills, and other job-related factors.

WHAT YOU GET

• We offer a competitive salary and a benefits package designed to support your health, family life, financial wellbeing, and growth.

Family & parental support
• 12 weeks’ full pay for Primary Carers and 6 weeks for Secondary Carers (after one year of service; return requirements apply for subsequent leave)
• Applies to birth, adoption, and surrogacy
• Up to 10 days’ paid fertility leave per year (5 per cycle)
• 2 days’ paid leave for new grandparents
• $2,500 annual interest-free parental loan
• $6,000 interest-free fertility treatment loan Healthcare & wellbeing
• Choice of three medical plans (HSA at $0 cost; EPO 75% employer funded; PPO 65% employer funded)
• 70% employer-funded dental and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, including an office closure between Christmas & New Year's
• Gym membership reimbursement and/or Wellhub subscription
• 401(k) with 4% employer match
• 24/7 mental health support through Self Space
• Social events, happy hours, professional development trainings, etc.
• Work from anywhere for up to 2 weeks per year (subject to approval) Culture & development
• $300 annual cultural stimulation allowance (accrued monthly; available after 90 days)
• Weekly Thursday happy hour • Mentorship and Buddy programs