Trident DMG has partnered with Chaloner on their search for a Vice President or Senior Vice President.

Firm Overview

Trident DMG is an award-winning, and nationally recognized boutique strategic advisory agency based in Washington, D.C. that helps clients build value and navigate risk. Founded in 2016, Trident’s founders pioneered the approach of combining media, political, and legal expertise in one team, managing some of the highest-profile crises of the past 30 years, from the White House to Wall Street to Silicon Valley and around the world.

Today, Trident is as focused on strategic and corporate storytelling for clients as we are on risk. Our services span the full range of strategic and risk advisory needs: stakeholder engagement; strategic, corporate and policy communications; thought leadership; reputation management; public affairs; crisis and issues preparation; litigation and investigations communications; media investigations; crisis management; and transactional risk. Our team members have worked in the White House, Congress, national news outlets, global law firms, and corporations.

The Role

Trident DMG is seeking to add a Vice President or Senior Vice President to its Risk Advisory practice. We’re looking for a hungry and ambitious team member with an entrepreneurial mindset who has sterling judgment, is confident as a leader, has a zeal for getting stuff done for clients and, importantly, is dedicated to nurturing more junior talent. The candidate should be a collaborative credit-sharer who knows the joy of working with supportive, friendly colleagues at all levels and works to contribute to this kind of culture.

Our recruit might be someone who’s ascended the ranks at a large agency, has political campaign experience, or come from an inhouse role at a company or NGO.

This position will carry with it a substantial amount of delegated authority from the partners to lead and manage client matters. We’re looking for people who can own client relationships. Candidates should be self-starters who have proven track records of successfully managing multiple clients with little supervision and obtaining positive results. They should also have a passion for the news, stakeholder relations, and nurturing client relationships; strong experience working with the media; and strong and varied writing experience. 

The following are core responsibilities:

• Oversee and execute efforts for multiple clients, setting strategy and tactics, managing day-to-day relationships with clients, and running the client team, ensuring that client objectives are accomplished;
• Work closely with clients to develop effective messaging for targeted audiences, starting at the fact-finding stage;
• Be the last pen on writing, such as talking points, Q&As, fact sheets, press releases, and other documents to support messaging and work execution. Do the same for bylines, blogs, and other thought-leadership pieces (and occasionally be the first pen);
• Work closely with reporters on sensitive matters, pitch stories that require senior-level attention, set direction for responding to incoming media inquiries, and chart out the development of and participate in building longer-term media relationships – and teach junior team members how to do the same;
• Able to engage reporters and editors – and work with outside counsel –  on adverse media investigations to ensure that clients are treated fairly;
• Help clients identify, reach out to, and obtain the support of third-party validators for communications campaigns and policy issues;
• As with other responsibilities, have ultimate oversight of clip monitoring to build knowledge for the team and the client and opportunistically obtain coverage for clients;
• Provide and/or be ultimately responsible for regular updates to clients about the work;
• Supervise, coach, and mentor junior team members and help ensure they are developing professionally;
• Help partners to secure new business, including drafting proposals and attending meetings with potential clients;
• Engage in marketing for the firm, including drafting blogs for the website, connecting with others in the industry and potential clients, and speaking at events; and
• Coordinate digital and social media campaigns that amplify earned media work.

Qualifications include:

• A minimum of 8 years of broad client experience, with agency experience being preferable;
• Bachelor’s degree or higher;
• A strong work ethic and a desire to over-deliver;
• A passion to create and implement tailored, strategic communications campaigns that drive client reputations and brands;
• Leadership experience and a desire to manage a team that executes day-to-day;
• Excellent written and oral communications skills;
• Ability to manage multiple clients and client projects simultaneously; and
• Substantial experience working with reporters.

Interested candidates should apply by using the application form. Chaloner will review all applicants and, upon qualification, contact you to determine next steps.