Senior Associate Director, Internal & Change… | Gagen MacDonald

Senior Associate Director, Internal & Change Communications

ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Chicago, Gagen MacDonald is a wholly owned subsidiary of APCO, a global advisory and advocacy communications consultancy. 

Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, people-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We are dedicated to accelerating human-centered transformation and enhancing business performance by connecting strategy, structure and culture to purpose, brand and reputation.

For more than 25 years, we have been working with organizations to navigate the human struggle of change. By changing the employee experience through culture, communication, leadership and design, we unite employees across all levels of an organization around a single vision, working from the inside out.

At Gagen, we are committed to delivering on our firm’s core value, “Our cause is our clients’ success,” to help organizations build a healthier business for a better world. 

To do that, we need highly talented people for whom client service and high-quality change communication is a priority. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Senior Associate Director, Internal & Change Communication to develop and implement strategic communications programs that deliver business results. This is a role for someone who has passion for leading communication strategies that rally employees behind a shared purpose. 

You will be part of a collaborative team that supports clients from the corporate office to the frontline, leveraging an organization’s brand, culture, vision and history to motivate and align employees to accomplish their business objectives. 

The job can be based at one of APCO’s U.S. offices (Chicago, NYC, DC, Raleigh) or a home office and it requires some travel to client sites and company meetings. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Great work begets great work. 

Join us and make a positive impact with some of the world's most admired brands using your expertise in internal communications, change management, employee engagement, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), business transformation and other types of large-scale organizational change. 

You'll make an impact with our clients by:

  • Developing and leading client solutions and deliverables that meet highly complex project and client needs and result in successful and measurable strategy execution. 

  • Leading project and/or account management activities to ensure execution on client requirements, managing teams on multiple projects and/or multi-disciplinary workstreams for projects of high complexity, size and/or scale.

  • Ensuring all work product outputs and deliverables adhere to Gagen MacDonald quality standards. 

  • Building, managing, and developing client teams and individuals by coaching and mentoring to grow technical expertise and interpersonal skills in their day-to-day work.  

  • Anticipating, managing, and resolving client issues and/or conflict resulting in mutually satisfying client and firm needs. 

  • Using your deep knowledge and mastery of technical skills to be regarded as an expert in your discipline by the client and your colleagues. 

You'll make an impact with our teams by:  

  • Leading the performance and development of team members by inspiring and empowering them to deliver great results. 

  • Providing career coaching and long-term professional development opportunities. 

  • Serving as a leader on one of our consulting teams, contributing to the team's overall success and providing strategic counsel to the team lead. 

You'll make an impact at our firm by: 

  • Participating in business expansion, along with other leaders at the firm, by recognizing new opportunities within existing accounts; and developing new relationships with a focus on Gagen's capabilities and expertise.

  • Cultivating, expanding, and maintaining professional working relationships with clients, prospects and industry leaders to identify business opportunities and ensure client satisfaction through regular relationship-building activities. 

  • Contributing to the firm's growth by generating new business and leading the development of proposals and RFP responses for multi-disciplinary engagements with new clients. 

  • Leveraging knowledge, market/industry insight, and experiences to enhance and evolve our thought leadership strategy and content as well as oversee and lead case study development, and review and/or author our blogs and white papers.

KEY COMPETENCIES

It's not only what we do, it's how we do it.

Building and maintaining the firm’s reputation and contributing to business success depends on each and every one of us. It requires us to approach everything we do with the core skills and competencies that our firm has become known for in the industry. As a member of the Gagen MacDonald team, you are expected to demonstrate our six core leadership competencies. 

Intellectual Horsepower
Thinks things through carefully and critically before defining issues. Analyzes opportunities and problems from a broad perspective. Anticipates consequences, objections, and impacts before arriving at solutions. Shows curiosity and drive to uncover new data, root causes, new perspectives and solutions. 

Dealing with Ambiguity
Sees a path forward in dynamic situations and is able to push ahead despite 'unknowns.’ Makes progress and is productive in situations that are not clearly defined and/or may change frequently. Is able to act thoughtfully and productively even when 'things are up in the air.' 

Strategic/Conceptual Agility
Takes the initiative to learn/educate themselves quickly when confronted with first-time or unusual problems or concepts. Pulls together varying elements into coherent concepts or strategic view. Simplifies complex initiatives into manageable, actionable steps. Articulately paints credible pictures and visions of likelihoods, possibilities and end states that get clients and co-workers on board. 

Driving for Growth
Continuously drives to identify and build knowledge and skills that can benefit the firm and our clients. Puts new skills and capabilities into practice. Pushes to find and do work outside of the comfort zone. Identifies opportunities to do something extraordinary, and does it. 

Interpersonal Chemistry
Instills confidence in his/her abilities immediately with clients and colleagues. Shows empathy toward clients and colleagues, and considers the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of others. Works collaboratively to enhance work quality. Seeks variation in thought, ideas and experience. 

Relationship Building
Establishes and maintains productive relationships with clients and Gagen colleagues built upon inclusivity and collaboration. Demonstrates respect and accountability to colleagues and clients. Manages through differences by direct feedback, effective coaching and mentoring. 

KEY QUALIFICATIONS 

  • 8+ years of corporate, agency or consulting experience in strategic communication roles with a focus on internal communication, employee engagement, change management, culture change and/or leadership development. Experience consulting to global Fortune500 corporations is preferred.

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, English, journalism or related field, or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training. An advanced degree is a plus.

  • Demonstrated experience in successfully creating and delivering strategic communication programs aligned with business goals that deliver real results.

  • Experience working both independently and collaboratively while partnering across organizational functions.

  • Experience navigating large, complex organizations.

  • Strong writing skills, especially the ability to articulate complex situations or topics simply and in an engaging style.

COMPENSATION 

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the anticipated starting pay for new hires for this position is between $110,000-$140,000 per year. Full-time employees are also eligible for performance-based bonuses and benefits. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as a final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, education, location and shift.

APPLY HERE

OUR VALUES

As a woman-owned business, we believe strongly in creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Gagen MacDonald’s company culture exemplifies our Beliefs and Values.

Our cause is our clients' success.

  • We act with integrity, humility and kindness in everything we do. 
  • We are inspired by courage, passion and a sense of fun. 
  • We celebrate individuals and their contributions to the vitality of our firm. 

  • We build our community upon inclusive and collaborative teams, sustained through individual accountability.

    For more information on Gagen MacDonald, visit https://www.gagenmacdonald.com.

CAREERS AT GAGEN MACDONALD AND APCO

With our commitment to recruit, hire, promote and retain people who reflect the diverse communities in which we operate, APCO ensures our teams bring the best possible expertise and diverse perspectives to our clients. We embrace diversity of identity, experience and thought, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, national origin, citizenship, native language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, religion, age, veteran status, neurodivergence, mental or physical disability, medical history, pregnancy, political belief or affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law. 

EOE M/F/V/D 

ABOUT APCO

APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.  

Founded in 1984, with one woman’s vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of more than 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world. 

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, working together across borders and functions, to provide services and expertise on financial, competitive, political and societal issues.  

APCO is a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders in the health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure and food & consumer products sectors. For 40 years, the firm has provided public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation and global solutions services.  

APCO is renowned for its ability to champion clients’ interests and permission to operate, build their reputation and strengthen their standing. APCO’s integrated approach and team of tenacious and empathic talent create connections and winning strategies that accelerate progress and deepen impact. 

By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.