Senior Vice President - OPR Communications

Written By William Gibbons

OPR Communications is a fast-growing public affairs firm with offices in Riverside and San Diego, California. OPR is known for providing excellence in client strategy and delivering impactful public affairs campaigns that drive local, regional and statewide economic development throughout California. Our agency is known for outstanding creativity and execution.

As the agency continues its rapid growth, we seek a dynamic, strategic and hands-on Senior Vice President to join our leadership team to oversee overall program execution across all clients.

Role Overview: The Senior Vice President will lead OPR’s client relations management and help drive client program success, client renewals and organic growth. Since the agency maintains a dynamic business development function, the Senior Vice President position is focused on account operations, providing guidance to and managing account team leaders, providing high-level counsel and ensuring overall excellence in client service. 

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Senior Vice President will be immediately responsible for directly overseeing all account teams and all aspects of client relationships, ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction. This role requires a seasoned public affairs agency professional who can keep watch over many accounts, managing multiple account team leaders “in-the-moment.” The successful candidate must embrace a “hands-on” approach to bring out the best in team leaders. 

The successful candidate will offer deep public affairs knowledge with a proven track record in successful client management, revenue growth and team leadership. The ideal candidate will thrive while managing multiple priorities in a constantly changing mix of activity across numerous accounts and the respective teams. The successful candidate will possess superior strategic thinking; excellent written and verbal communications abilities; strong people skills; and a passion for building long-term partnerships with clients.

The rewards for the successful candidate who joins OPR and succeeds in the role are long-term employment stability with unlimited career/compensation upside. The Senior Vice President role is critical to the continued expansion of OPR Communications in new geographies and markets.

Responsibilities:

1. Client Satisfaction: Work with “pods” of client teams to create and implement dynamic strategies to enhance client satisfaction and retention. Conduct regular client reviews and meetings with team leaders to ensure:

  • The agency and team leaders are thinking proactively about client issues and needs.

  • High quality deliverables are of high quality.

  • Deadlines are met.

  • Ongoing analysis of client program activities to identify areas for improvement and drive program results.

  • Timely guidance and support to clients and team leaders to deliver exceptional service to drive achievement of client public affairs and policy objectives. 

2. Organic Growth: Lead ongoing growth planning in partnership with OPR team leaders (directors). Support team leaders in identifying opportunities for client program expansion and cross-selling to existing public affairs clients.

3. Nurture Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, understanding their needs and fostering tailored solutions. Serve as a strategic counselor.

4. Learn the Landscape: Over time, become expert on the players (e.g., mayors, city councils, regulators, planning commissions) across multiple municipalities and counties. 

5. Maintain Successful Continuity: Develop and implement client onboarding and team training programs to ensure smooth integration of new client account team members and consistency of client agency experience. Implement initiatives and programs to enhance client retention rates.

6. Client Program: Collaborate with the team leaders to develop strategic campaigns and tactical programs.

7. Proactive QA and Problem Solving: Act as a strategic advisor during challenging situations, ensuring swift resolution and maintaining client trust. Anticipate client concerns and promptly address to ensure high levels of client satisfaction.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in public relations, political science/government & politics, communications, business administration or a related field. Advanced relevant degree candidates or holders a plus.

  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in public affairs firm client management with knowledge of local, regional and state government a big plus.

  • Proven experience in a senior client management role with a leading public affairs firm. Superior writing and editing skills.

  • Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset.

  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and guide a diverse team.

  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

  • Proven track record of successfully managing and growing public affairs and/or PR firm client accounts.

  • Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

Compensation and Benefits: 

  • Competitive base salary

  • Performance-focused bonus plans

  • Health, life, dental, vision benefits

  • Paid vacation and personal days

  • Hybrid remote / office work schedule

  • 401(k) plan

  • Full-time presence in either OPR office in Riverside or San Diego, California required. Depending upon the successful candidate’s circumstances, OPR will offer a generous relocation package from elsewhere in the US.

Summary:

As an OPR Senior Vice President, you will lead dynamic teams that are shaping the future of public affairs in California. This is your opportunity to drive success on behalf of OPR clients and to share in the rewards of OPR’s continued growth.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits, along with a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Interested? Contact John Seng at John@grayscalellc.com

 

William Gibbons
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Account Executive, Public Affairs