Managing Consultant, Strategic Communications

Job Title: Managing Consultant, Strategic Communications
Location: Remote

Description

Founded in 2004, BME Strategies is a Massachusetts-based consulting firm specializing in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs for local, regional, and state government partners. Our work supports evidence-based, community-driven solutions that strengthen public health systems and advance equity across the communities we serve. At BME, our clients are on the front lines of Public Health. Priorities may shift but our commitment to supporting our partners does not. We take pride in having multi-year, multi-project engagements, often working closely as an extension of their staff. Our success comes from our shared values: a bias toward action; optimistically collaborative; willingness to navigate ambiguity; minimal ego - no job is too small or big; pursuing the equitable solution; always learning, and; committed to quality at every stage.

Position Overview

The ideal Managing Consultant, Strategic Communications is a high-level public health strategic communications expert, with added experience in public policy and regulatory analysis. The candidate possesses a proven track record of steering complex campaigns, ideally within an association or trade organization environment and/or a public health agency; in these roles, they have successfully managed the full lifecycle, from initial strategy development and stakeholder engagement and the deployment of high-stakes public communication, that ideally included policy strategy.

At BME Strategies, Managing Consultants serve as Practice Area Leads. The Strategic Communications Practice Lead (PL) will guide strategy, oversee client engagements, and lead high-quality technical assistance and program implementation projects related to public health communications and advocacy. They will also play a key role in identifying new opportunities within Massachusetts and targeted expansion states, cultivating client and partner relationships, and developing high-quality proposals that expand BME’s impact and reach. This PL should be a collaborative partner who thrives in cross-functional teams, capable of integrating policy insights into broader strategic communications and programmatic efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• BME Org-Wide Responsibilities for Managing Consultants (Practice Area Leads):
• Managing Consultant roles at BME consist of a mix of project work, administrative work, and business development.
• Serves as Account Manager and/or Practice Lead.
• Contributes in a technical and advisory role
• Offers strategic direction and quality oversight.
• Handles relationship management and stewardship.
• Minimal project management; instead managing accounts, staff, and practice/service areas.
• Minimal project & account management; Minimal support of management responsibilities.
• Supervises Associates, Senior Associates, Consultants, and Senior Consultants.
• Manages projects to exemplary client satisfaction.
• Recognizes business opportunities with existing clients and works with leadership to pursue.
• Pursues and closes new business with existing clients.
• Proactively support the outreach and sourcing of new clients.
• Sources RFPs of interest and leads proposal development.
• Participates in pitching of new business.
  
• The Strategic Communications Practice Lead will oversee and provide expertise in the following areas:
• Public Health Communications Strategy (working in partnership with the Senior Consultant for Communications Strategy and Design)
• Co-develop and co-execute end-to-end campaign planning & execution.
• Co-lead brand and identity audits.
• Co-design culturally-responsive / hyperlocal messaging.
• Translate data to storytelling.
• Co-manage digital media planning and digital media buys.
• Provide media outreach / public relations support.
• Creative & Design Support (working in partnership with the Senior Consultant for Communications Strategy and Design)
• Oversee branding and visual identity for programs & campaigns.
• Manage content / template creation.
• Advocacy & Policy
• Advocacy Technical Assistance:
• Policy translation for varied audiences, policy brief & white paper development, and legislative tracking.
• Advocacy Strategy:
• Legislative target selection, issue advocacy education, engagement of stakeholders, messaging, testimony drafting, and implementation strategy.
• Advocacy Training:
• Prepare clients for legislative meetings (in person or online) and delivery of public testimony (in person or online), and conduct role-playing training exercises.
• Strategic Leadership
• Develop and execute a strategic vision and road map for the practice area.
• Monitor emerging trends and best practices to inform BME’s strategy and client support.
• Forecast resource needs and staffing to support current and future projects across the portfolio.
• Business Development
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for growth within the practice area and cross-practice collaboration.
• Lead the capture and onboarding of new clients and growth of current clients with new projects.
• Lead and contribute to proposal development for Strategic Communications contracts, grants, and RFPs.
• Support and strategize with other practice leads and the BME Business Development team to support firm strategy.
• Build BME Strategies’ presence and thought leadership through active participation in professional networks, conferences, and coalitions.
• Stakeholder & People Management
• Manage and mentor Associate- and Consultant-level staff within the practice area.
• Cultivate relationships with public health agencies, community coalitions, and community-based organizations to strengthen collaboration and impact.

Experience, Qualification, & Skills

• Minimum 8 years relevant experience required, including at least 4 years in a consulting firm environment.
• 6-12 years of progressive, relevant professional experience working in public programming  advocacy and/or strategic communications.
• MPH or MPA, or similar relevant graduate degree
• Minimum of 4 years people management experience, with a minimum of 3 years project management/leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years client-facing experience, including 2 or more in project leadership roles.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Additional Required Experience, Qualification, & Skills:
• Experience and confidence with leading business development activities, including sourcing, proposal development and contracting.
• Superior presentation skills; comfortable presenting to leadership/stakeholders/clients
• Comfortable with ambiguity; easily manages adjustments between high level content and detailed deliverables
• Able to translate complex concepts and data across diverse audiences
• Comfortable with travel to client sites/conferences throughout the year and working effectively in a fast-paced, at times demanding environment.
• And an alignment with BME’s shared values. 

Work Environment 

• This is a full-time position based in a home office environment within the U.S.
• BME Strategies in a remote-first organization. This role may require occasional travel to client sites, conferences, or meetings as required; 5-10% of travel is anticipated for this role.

Compensation & Benefits

• BME Strategies offers a competitive compensation package that includes:   
• 6+ weeks total leave, including paid vacation, sick time, personal leave, and floating holidays;
• Health, dental, and vision insurance, with 75% employer-paid coverage for the employee & 50% employer-paid coverage for dependents; 
• Health FSA and dependent care FSA;
• 401(k) with employer match;
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance;
• One-time technology stipend;
• And opportunities for professional development and career growth.

• The salary range for this position is $99,840 - $162,240 annually. 

Please note: New employees are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint, dependent upon internal equity and the budgeted amount for the position.   

How to Apply

• To apply for this position, please complete and submit all information in the application link.
• We expect a large volume of applicants for this position and only those candidates invited to move forward in the interview process will be contacted. 
• Important Notice on Recruitment Fraud: BME Strategies communicates with applicants only through email addresses ending @bmestrategies.com. We do not use third-party domains for recruitment outreach. If you receive communication from a different email address, please do not respond and report it to us at info@bmestrategies.com
• Please note that BME Strategies is unable to sponsor work-related visas.
• BME Strategies is made up of individuals with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one’s identity. These varied points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility. BME Strategies is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, or current employment status.