Director - Tech, Media and Telecoms in London

About Public First

Public First is a policy, economic, opinion research and strategy consultancy. We work with global companies, governments, start-ups, institutions and foundations around the world to tackle major public policy and strategic challenges. Combining policy and strategy, data and economics, opinion research and communications we help organisations, from private companies to charities to universities, understand complex issues, make informed decisions, and engage effectively in public debate. Public First operates globally, is headquartered in London, and has offices in Washington DC and Singapore.

Our recent projects have included:

• Measuring AI adoption by public servants across 10 countries, including the UK, USA, Japan and Singapore with Google and the Centre for Data Innovation.
• Examining how bots, synthetic media and deepfakes are reshaping trust in the internet with Tools for Humanity.
• Exploring how the media and entertainment sector underpins the UK’s wider creative economy for the BBC.
• Understanding the role that text and data mining and AI adoption will play in UK economic growth over the next ten years with Microsoft.
• Helping TikTok explain its economic impact across the European Union.

Shape the Future of Tech, Media and Telecoms Policy

At Public First, we help some of the world’s most influential organisations navigate a fast-changing policy landscape. Our Tech, Media & Telecoms team works on the issues defining the digital age — from AI and online trust to media, platforms, connectivity and wider questions about how technology is reshaping the economy and society. The team works across disciplines and sectors, with exposure to a wide range of issues and clients.

We’re looking for a Director who wants more than just a job. This is a senior role for someone who can lead outstanding client work, build trusted relationships at the highest levels, develop ambitious new ideas, and help grow both the TMT practice and Public First more broadly.

What You’ll Do

• Lead major client projects from start to finish, delivering excellent research, policy analysis and thought leadership, with an eye to activation campaigns and bringing our research to life.
• Act as a senior adviser to clients, building strong, trusted relationships and serving as a primary point of contact on complex accounts.
• Drive new business by expanding our portfolio of clients, identifying opportunities for growth, and deepening established relationships.
• Lead presentations and pitches, bringing clarity, authority and energy to senior client and stakeholder conversations.
• Contribute to the team’s overall growth, including supporting Public First’s marketing, thought leadership and events programmes.
• Support Public First’s wider growth, particularly our international growth across the USA, Europe and APAC.
• Collaborate across disciplines to build out Public First’s offer to TMT clients, including by working across and leveraging our other policy practices and functions such as education, energy, housing and infrastructure, defence and industrials and corporate affairs.
• Lead, support and develop more junior colleagues, including through line management, coaching and quality control.

What We’re Looking For

• Approximately 10 years’ experience in policy, public affairs, research or communications.
• Excellent policy knowledge and skills, with a strong grasp of UK and global tech and media policy.
• A strong understanding of how opinion research and economic modelling can be used to create compelling policy narratives and to develop or test new policy ideas.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into plain English and tell clear policy and political stories using data.
• Excellent presentation skills, including the ability to lead senior presentations and pitches and to direct a team to deliver them well.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Strong leadership skills and line management experience.
• A strong client and customer service instinct.
• Intellectual curiosity, sound judgement, and a willingness to take on hard problems and find new solutions.
• Ambition, drive and a desire to be part of a highly motivated team.
• A commercial mindset and enthusiasm for helping grow the fast-moving part of the business.

Why Public First?

Working at Public First means tackling complex, real-world problems alongside people who care deeply about evidence and ideas. Our teams work across disciplines and sectors, and we invest in our people through on-the-job learning, mentoring and opportunities to take responsibility early. We value intellectual curiosity, collaboration and clear thinking, and careers at Public First are flexible and merit-based. We are a family-friendly business. The company was established by people with young children and we allow for flexible working arrangements to support people with young children.

Salary and Benefits

Salary dependent on experience, starting at £90,000 - £110,000 for a Director level in this sector. Competitive benefits including 25 days annual leave, 5% pension contribution, private healthcare and a profit share (bonus) scheme. Hybrid working environment.