Public Affairs & Public Sector Manager

Chernoff Newman is passionate about solving problems through creative communications. We enjoy the folks we spend our days with, whether it’s inside the office or outside after hours. We have a relentless curiosity, no matter what discipline we’re working within, and that drives our passion for creativity. It also fuels a culture of collaboration and fun. We live in a team environment, where we truly work across all disciplines in our marketing efforts. And the most important member of our team? That's our client. This approach, where we put our clients first, helps us work together as a unified team. A team built to connect with consumers on a personal level. Technology may drive this engagement, but people are who really make it happen.

We are seeking a strategic communications professional with sharp communications skills, strong project management abilities, and a creative mind to think outside the box to serve our public affairs and communications work with a diverse portfolio of public and private sector clients. At Chernoff Newman, we believe in supporting the growth of our public affairs team in a collaborative environment with opportunities for advancement.

This role has primary responsibility for strategically building, managing, and executing communication plans, tasks, and deliverables that seek to shape, advance, and protect the reputation of clients as well as advance their goals and initiatives.

This position will also coordinate with internal teams to execute on client deliverables and provide regular updates to clients on project progress.

Location: Columbia, SC Office

Responsibilities

• Manage, build, and execute strategic communication plans that seek to shape, advance, and protect the reputation of clients
• Measure and analyze effectiveness of communications programs and identify needed changes
• Develop high-quality content including press releases, statements, executive briefings, scripts, speeches, collateral copy and editorials
• Track and analyze traditional media and social media events using 3rd party tools
• Serve as media point of contact and respond to media inquiries, oversee media lists, pitch stories, identify national, regional, and local media opportunities, and support media and community engagement events
• Cultivate strong relationships with national, regional, and local media contacts including traditional news outlets, influencers, as well as relevant partners and stakeholders.
• Conduct routine client contact including tracking and reporting project progress and deadlines
• Support the internal development of creative materials to support campaigns
• Support the development of new business proposals and ideas
• Develop meaningful relationships with clients as the main point of contact
• Cultivate new business opportunities within existing and new client accounts
• Quickly demonstrate understanding of a client’s industry, including top stakeholders, influencers and competitors
• Stay up to date on industry and platform trends and tools that may impact clients and the agency

The responsibilities of this role are many, various, and not limited to the list above.

Requirements

• 3+ years of communications experience working at a public relations agency, corporation, government, or political campaigns.
• Preference of a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or similar field
• Familiarity with current events in the news media
• Strong writing and editing skills: the ability to write for different audiences/client voices, experience writing social media content, press materials, and opinion editorials, ability to translate complex policy into simple messaging
• Strategic planning and project management: developing rollout plans, project timelines, and tracking deliverables.
• Experience managing multiple deadline driven projects in tandem
• Presentation and speaking skills
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Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Flexible PTO + holidays
• 401k matching program
• Paid parental leave
• Life Insurance (100% company paid)
• Short and Long Term Disability (100% company paid)
• Training & Development