Senior Vice President, Public

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.

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Edelman's public and government affairs team of consultants are trusted and experienced public affairs advisors—including former government officials, political advisors, policy and regulatory experts, lawyers, economists, and industry professionals.
Our experience within national, regional, and global government and regulatory systems allows us to help our clients understand and engage with them effectively. We help our clients engage with government, politics, policy, and regulation to help them earn trust and achieve success. Across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific, our teams are rooted firmly in local markets and local public affairs, and work together across regions and internationally to provide regional and global perspectives.

Our best-in-class consultants ensure our services are business-driven and add value for clients through their insight and impact. We work seamlessly with Edelman's 6,000+ other world-class communications professionals to integrate Edelman's unparalleled suite of services—public and media relations, brand, marketing, digital advocacy, data analytics, and more—to add further value in building client confidence and stakeholder trust.

Position Overview
Edelman Brussels is looking for a talented public affairs professional with extensive experience in energy, transport or industrial manufacturing public affairs and government relations. As a Senior Vice President you will be responsible for client management including strategy support, oversight of the quality of client deliverables, and analyzing relevant policy issues. We are looking for someone with excellent public affairs knowledge and communications skills, who has a keen eye for detail, and who thrives on addressing complex public policy problems through evidence-driven public affairs strategies. As well as playing a senior management role in our Brussels team, you will also identify business development opportunities in your sector of expertise, and oversee business development by providing input to the production of pitch decks and materials to present to potential clients. [AD1] You will be responsible for providing intelligence and analysis on market developments and will ensure a current network of contacts with EU institutions and other key stakeholders. This position reports to the CEO Brussels.

Scope of work:

• Leading day-to-day account management and serve as the working level point of contact for clients, addressing issues thoughtfully, timely and effectively.
• Leading public affairs strategy development for clients .
• Providing real-time strategic and tactical counsel to various clients on relevant energy/transport/industrial policy challenges and opportunities.
• Coordinating the team, setting priorities, and mentoring junior staff to ensure the delivery of top-quality public affairs support.
• Managing account administration, including staffing, budgeting, invoicing, and reporting.
• Pursuing new business/incremental projects for clients to address additional regional or sectoral needs as well as any communications needs, including by contributing to the development of pitch decks and materials.
• Pursuing new business opportunities aimed at growing the client portfolio in the energy, industrial manufacturing and transport sectors.
• Reviewing public affairs materials on energy/transport/industrial policy issues, including briefings, reports, updates, and other of client materials prepared by the team
• Developing innovative and influential thought leadership content (including articles, op-eds, blog posts).
• Representing the firm publicly as a subject matter expert.
• Providing in-depth intelligence and analysis on policy developments beyond the surface-level headlines.
• Maintaining and expanding a network of contacts in EU institutions and other key stakeholder groups.

Basic Qualifications:

• Native or near-native level of English (oral and written) is required; proficiency in additional EU official and/or other European languages is desirable.
• Significant experience in consultancy, government, NGOs, associations, or private firms leading work related to the EU or the transport, energy or industrial manufacturing sectors.
• University degree in politics, law, economics, international relations, environment or climate policy, or another relevant field.
• Experience working with the energy/transport/industrial manufacturing sectors or on related policy is required. Knowledge or experience of sustainability policy (circular economy, sustainable supply chains, sustainable agriculture and food systems) is a plus.
• Excellent knowledge of EU decision-making processes and stakeholders– preferably with previous experience working in the EU institutions and/or Executive Agencies (including internships).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exceptional record of leadership, strategy development and expertise in client management.
• Experienced in effectively managing and developing diverse teams - including nurturing professional development.
• Proactive attitude, willingness to take the initiative and assume responsibility for an assignment.
• Proven ability to support the development of effective pitches for new business, as well as advance internal initiatives.
• Proven commercial acumen to pursue new leads and successfully convert them into clients. Ability to effectively prioritize and solve complex problems while making decisions with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong communicator and presenter, able to present and articulate persuasive and cohesive presentations.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.