Senior Account Director, Strategy & Crisis

Senior Account Director

Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis has an immediate opening for a dynamic Senior Account Director to join our Public Affairs and Crisis practice. We are looking for a modern storyteller with at least 10 years of experience who understands that in 2026, a reputation is won or lost in the social zeitgeist and the digital-first newsroom.

You are a seasoned strategist who knows that modern crisis management requires a multi-platform narrative that bridges the gap between high-level policy rooms and the rapid-fire ecosystem of social media. You possess the natural gravitas to counsel CEOs and founders through their most challenging moments, providing the creative vision and tactical precision needed to protect and repair brand integrity in an increasingly transparent world.

The Role:

• Reputation Narrative Architecture: Lead the development of 360-degree communications strategies for high-stakes public affairs and crisis accounts. You bridge the gap between traditional earned media, digital advocacy, and community-led storytelling to ensure every client's mission is resilient and heard.
• C-Suite & Crisis Counsel: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, founders, and boards of directors. You provide steady, thoughtful counsel through high-pressure situations, legal challenges, and complex industry shifts, using data-driven insights to prove the value of a modern proactive and reactive approach.
• Modern Media & Policy Authority: Leverage an elite network of contacts across national news, business, policy, and digital-first outlets. You understand how to do more than just manage a story; you architect narratives that shape public opinion and reach the people who matter most.
• Digital Crisis Strategy: Stay at the forefront of the attention economy. You understand how social algorithms, viral sentiment, and emerging digital platforms impact a client's reputation, and you use that knowledge to guide real-time strategy during high-stakes moments.
• Integrated Leadership: Manage and direct multiple account teams, ensuring every campaign is fully integrated with brand strategy and digital creative. You understand how to take a complex policy issue or a corporate challenge and translate it into a narrative that resonates with the broader public.
• Business Development & Practice Growth: Lead high-stakes new business pitches and craft sophisticated proposals. You are an entrepreneurial force, proactive about identifying new revenue opportunities and expanding the agency's footprint in the public affairs and social impact sectors.
• Mentorship & Team Building: Directly manage and empower a team of account leaders, with at least 4 years of previous management experience. You are a natural coach who is dedicated to building the careers of your staff and maintaining a culture of creative excellence under pressure.
• Relationship Driven: You recognize that the world of public affairs is built on trust and discretion. You lead by example in every interactionprioritizing integrity, transparency, and professional poise with your team, your clients, and the media.

Who You Are:

• Industry Expert: You have at least 10 years of experience in public affairs, crisis communications, or corporate reputation, with a proven track record of leading major national and international accounts.
• The Strategic Architect: You are an outside-the-box thinker who can set a big-picture strategy in the morning and lead a tactical response team in the afternoon. You know how to rethink traditional concepts to drive engagement that feels authentic and defensible.
• An Exceptional Storyteller: You are a master writer and presenter. You can take a complex legal or policy issue and translate it into a narrative that compels the most influential editors and audiences to take notice.
• Entrepreneurial & Agile: You have an innate curiosity and a desire to help build the future of the agency. You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are excited to work with everyone from major global conglomerates to mission-driven non-profits and startups.
• Master of Account Health: You are incredibly organized and accountable. You excel at managing the financial and administrative health of multiple high-profile accounts, ensuring profitability and long-term client retention even during the most stressful periods.
• Driven to Over-Deliver: You take genuine pride in the quality of your work and are energized by the challenge of bringing stability and clarity to cultural moments in a way that exceeds expectations.

$120,000 - $135,000 a year

We go well beyond the benefits that you're looking for like medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with matching, annual merit-based bonuses, PTO, fertility, FSA for medical, childcare, and commuter expenses. Eligible employees at Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis may access these benefits, along with many additional perks including, a flexible work schedule, Work from Anywhere program, Summer Fridays, Wellness Days, and a 4-week sabbatical or trip to celebrate select anniversaries. We love to socialize so, we have collaborative workspaces, some offices even have rooftops, celebrations, networking opportunities, and community volunteering. We frequently mark opportunities to listen, learn and act throughout the year (Juneteenth, Election Day, International Women's Day, etc.).

SSM&L is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and ability. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, identity and expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

There's more! From day one, employees are carefully matched with a mentor to guide them on their path to success. Training and mentoring are a big deal here and since we are into promoting from within, we make sure to provide more than enough tools for you to learn and grow. We are proud to offer training throughout the year on topics for professional growth as well as personal growth. We have also developed a series of teaching workshops that are structured for each level of the company. Sunshiners also take love to take advantage of the monthly Meet the Industry series where industry thought leaders provide valuable insider info on how to work with them and their colleagues.