Director of Strategic Communications (Corporate Affairs + Politics)

About this role

ABOUT THE JOB

Palette is a fast-growing startup at the center of the creator economy. Our team of 80+ is working towards defining the standard for talent management and marketing in an era of new media dominated by digital-first entertainers.

Our management infrastructure mirrors the depth of attention given to the world’s biggest cultural and entertainment icons, and previously reserved for artists in traditional arenas of entertainment. Today, it services a roster of 200+ creators and influencers with a combined following of 1B+ serving over 45.8B impressions monthly. Our creators have starred in Super Bowl commercials, launched national brands, and have been featured in nearly every major publication.

Our marketing agency executes strategy for some of the most influential brands and organizations in the world, including: The Biden White House, Amazon, simplehuman, and the Gates Foundation. 42% of Americans under the age of 40 are no longer accessible through traditional marketing channels – we enable organizations to speak to those audiences. Our marketing team has been recognized with 5 Shorty Impact Awards, and has advised three US Presidents on the future of the internet.

THE ROLE

Palette is seeking a Director of Strategic Communications to serve as a senior strategic partner to leading brands, institutions, and public figures navigating culture, reputation, and influence in the digital era.

This role sits at the intersection of corporate affairs, politics, media, and the creator economy. You will identify the underlying business and communications challenges our clients face, and design integrated communications strategies across earned, owned, and emerging digital channels to drive reputational, policy, and business outcomes.

You will shape how clients show up in high-stakes moments - developing narrative strategies, guiding decision-making, and translating cultural insight into actionable, high-impact work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Strategic Leadership & Advisory

- Serve as the strategic voice in the room. Translate cultural, media, and digital signals into clear direction clients can act on.

- Diagnose the real problem. Whether it's growth, positioning, trust, or relevance – name it clearly and map a path forward.

- Design communications strategies that leverage earned media, owned channels, creators, and emerging digital ecosystems (e.g. amplification channels, clipping networks, fan pages, meme networks) to solve those challenges

- Develop end-to-end strategies spanning narrative, communications, and distribution ecosystems, aligned to clients’ business and reputational goals

- Bring a clear POV in complex or ambiguous situations.

Narrative & Cultural Strategy

- Drive proactive narrative work. Build the frameworks, positioning, and messaging infrastructure that puts clients ahead of the conversation.

- Identify cultural inflection points and moments of reputational risk or opportunity and advise clients on how to lead conversation, not just participate

- Determine how different forms of communications channels – owned, earned, creators, original content/IP, amplification networks, and community-driven channels – can serve as drivers of narrative, credibility, and reach

- Stay deeply attuned to digital culture, emerging platforms, and the evolving media ecosystem

Campaign & Creative Oversight

- Guide the development of integrated, channel-specific campaigns and content ecosystems, ensuring all work ladders up to broader strategic and business objectives

- Translate insights into clear messaging frameworks, creative direction, briefs, and messaging frameworks

- Working with our measurement team, use social listening reports, audience insights, performance signals to sharpen and inform strategy.

- Develop clear amplification plans in partnership with our distribution team that match the narrative strategy and get the work in front of the right audiences.

- Partner with internal teams, media, external stakeholders, creators,and more to bring strategies to life across formats and channels

Issues & Moment-Based Strategy

- Lead with anticipation. Identify reputational risks across media, political, and digital ecosystems before they escalate – and build strategies that get clients ahead of them.

- Support clients through high-stakes or time-sensitive moments,including crises, reputational challenges, policy moments, and major announcements.

- Anticipate reputational risks across media, political, and digital ecosystems and shape proactive and responsive strategies across channels

Client Leadership & Delivery

- Build trusted relationships with client stakeholders including senior executives, communications leaders, and policy stakeholders

- Oversee development of key deliverables, including presentations, strategic memos, and campaign frameworks, working hand-in-hand with client services leads

- Ensure work is delivered at a high standard, on time, and within scope and budget

Firm Contribution & Growth

- Contribute to new business efforts, including pitch strategy, positioning, and proposal development

- Help shape Palette’s point of view around the future of communications, influence, and narrative strategy through internal knowledge-sharing and external thought leadership

QUALIFICATIONS

- 8–10+ years of experience in strategy, communications, media, or related fields

- Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Communications, Media Studies, or other closely related field

- Deep background in corporate communications, public affairs, or political communications – ideally at an advisory firm with exposure to high-profile brands or organizations.

- You've managed high-stakes communications issues or crises. You know what it feels like when the clock is…