Associate Director Public Affairs

About us

We are a global marketing agency that has gone from start-up to multi-national in little over two decades. Our success is due to a combination of factors. Talented people delivering award-winning campaigns. Expanding client relationships into new markets or services. Making strategic acquisitions. TEAM LEWIS has won many prestigious awards, including Cannes Lions, PRovoke Media, ICCO, European Excellence, PRCA Digital, Digital Impact, Global Digital Excellence. 

At the heart of the business is the TEAM LEWIS Foundation (TLF), a non-profit charitable entity. Since its launch in 2021, it has funded over 2,600 causes. The TLF promotes a wide variety of social, cultural, and environmental causes that benefit society. It aims to strengthen the bonds between the creative industries, businesses, government, and non-profits. Community charities are championed by employees who, in addition to the financial donation, volunteer their time and skills to maximise the grants’ effectiveness. 

You can read more about TEAM LEWIS Foundation at .

Purpose of the role

The Associate Director, Public Affairs plays a central role in establishing, shaping, and growing TEAM LEWIS’s public affairs proposition, with a particular focus on EU policy and international affairs. This role combines strategic leadership with business growth, acting as a senior client lead for both new and existing accounts while identifying opportunities to expand services, deepen relationships, and strengthen market positioning. In addition to deep expertise in public policy and advocacy, the ideal candidate will demonstrate strong capabilities in running PR and corporate communications accounts. This dual skillset enables the Associate Director to deliver integrated solutions that advance clients’ policy, commercial, and reputational objectives.

As a trusted advisor and connector, the Associate Director provides expert counsel to clients navigating complex policy environments, ensuring their interests are effectively represented before EU institutions and key stakeholders. The role also strengthens collaboration with the UK and international teams on cross-border public policy projects, annual reports, and wider advisory work. This position is pivotal in driving growth, building long-term client partnerships, and delivering integrated advocacy and communications solutions that support clients’ commercial and reputational objectives.

Main responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Shape and grow the agency’s public affairs proposition, identifying priority sectors, policy themes, and market opportunities.

• Provide senior strategic counsel to clients on policy, regulatory, geopolitical, and reputational issues, aligning engagement with their commercial objectives.

• Lead new business efforts including proposition development, senior relationship building, pitch leadership, and pipeline growth.

• Drive account expansion by identifying opportunities for broader mandates, cross-market work, and integrated agency services.

• Contribute to the agency’s external profile through thought leadership, events, and stakeholder engagement to support market positioning and lead generation.

Senior Client Leadership

• Serve as senior client lead across a portfolio of new and existing accounts, setting strategic direction and ensuring high-value advisory support.

• Lead senior client interactions including strategic reviews, executive briefings, and programme oversight.

• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, positioning the agency as a long-term strategic partner.

Campaign Strategy & Delivery

• Oversee the development and execution of integrated public affairs programmes spanning policy engagement, media, stakeholder relations, and digital advocacy.

• Ensure campaigns are insight-driven, aligned to client priorities, and deliver measurable influence and reputational impact.

• Guide the creation of high-quality content and engagement strategies that strengthen client positioning with decision-makers and opinion leaders.

Team Leadership

• Work with local and regional leadership to train, hire and develop a high-performing public affairs team, embedding a consultative, commercially aware approach to client work.

• Provide senior oversight on key accounts, ensuring strategic quality, delivery excellence, and efficient resourcing.

• Work with HR to develop robust training to existing team members to develop ability to sell in service offering.

About you

• Proven track record of developing and executing successful public affairs campaigns.

• Experience managing PR and corporate communications accounts, with the ability to integrate public affairs objectives into broader communications strategies.

• Whilst the focus of the role is on EU institutions, experience of in country public affairs in one or more EU country would be advantageous. 

• Strong understanding of political, regulatory, and media landscapes.

• Strong networks, networking skills and building new business are essential.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and project management capabilities.

• Experience managing teams and client accounts in an agency environment.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

• Experience in public affairs, government relations, or communications, ideally within an agency environment.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the responsibilities for this role. Other responsibilities may be added from time to time.

TEAM LEWIS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating and fostering an environment focused on equality, empowerment and respect. We strive to create an inclusive workplace that supports and celebrates our diversity. We continue to invest in our efforts to ensure that TEAM LEWIS is a place where everyone can thrive.