Associate Director - Corporate Affairs London, England, United Kingdom

Portland is a global advisory firm, helping companies, foundations, governments and organisations communicate effectively, grow and succeed. We advise clients navigating business and reputational challenges, including regulatory change, political transition, and legal disputes and crises, ensuring they seize opportunities to engage in policy discussions and in the media when it matters most.

The Team: Our Corporate Affairs team advises some of the biggest and most exciting organisations in the world on their communications and reputation. Our team combines experience from the highest levels of the media, business, politics, government and the City. We build and deliver communications strategies for major corporates, challenger brands, campaign groups, charities, and industry bodies.

The Role: We’re looking for a senior corporate affairs professional with deep expertise in corporate affairs and the judgement, credibility and presence to advise senior leaders through complex, high‑stakes situations. You’ll be as comfortable shaping strategy as you are leading teams, developing talent and driving excellent execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set strategic direction and oversee delivery of complex, high‑profile client accounts, ensuring work is well‑structured, insight‑led, and delivered to consistently high standards.
• Manage account operations including team resourcing, prioritisation, quality control and client satisfaction.
• Provide high‑quality senior counsel on all areas of corporate affairs including reputation, transactions, issues, crisis and corporate positioning.
• Devise and lead integrated communications strategies and campaigns, spanning media, digital, stakeholder and issues engagement, thought leadership platforms and executive profiling.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, analysts, investors and other key external stakeholders.
• Originate and lead new business opportunities, proposals and pitches from opportunity through to conversion.
• Support practice growth through marketing activity, profile‑raising, events, content and market engagement.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience in corporate affairs and strategic communications either in an agency or in‑house, with a deep understanding of the media and wider political, business and policy landscape.
• Well‑connected across media, business and financial audiences.
• Experience utilising and integrating AI tools within the execution of communications programmes, including for research, insight and analysis alongside more advanced functions.
• A strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness, understanding how communications drive business objectives, reputation and growth.
• Proven leadership with the ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast‑moving consultancy environment.
• Proactive and creative in spotting opportunities and bringing fresh thinking to clients and colleagues.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to produce and oversee high‑quality strategic and client‑facing materials.
• Proven new business success, with experience generating opportunities, leading pitches and converting them into lasting client relationships.

Nice to have:

• Experience in FMCG, financial communications and/or working with government and public sector bodies.
• Experience in crisis communications management or disputes communication.

What we offer:

At Portland we offer hybrid working, with our teams working together from the office three days a week. We are committed to development and have an open‑doors culture where you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced people in the business. Our remuneration package also includes competitive pension contributions, private healthcare or health cash plan, life assurance cover, company contribution to gym membership, wellbeing workshops and activities, company parties, birthday day off, lunch contribution each week and much, much more!

We are committed to recruiting, retaining and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our vision is to be the most diverse and inclusive PR agency, for the work and the workforce to reflect the society we live in. We are completely committed to creating a culture which celebrates and welcomes all. A culture where everyone feels supported, free to be who they are, and where their needs are met so they can flourish.