Lot Sixteen LLC Director, Communications Washington, DC · Full time Company website

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We named the company after a parking lot on Capitol Hill because it was the least pretentious thing we could think of – and in a city full of show horses, we offer a different profile. The actual parking lot is a pretty unglamorous piece of pavement, but it’s one of the places where people who write legislation and make opinions in this town start and end their day. If you want results, you better be prepared to work as hard as they do—and know them well enough to even know where they park their cars. If you want a firm with the guts, perspective and maturity to give you an honest assessment of when, where and how to invest—and where not to—you’ve found it.

THE FIRM 

Lot Sixteen is looking for a Director to join a smart and strategic team of communications professionals. In this role, ownership of and accountability for planning and executing work across a wide variety of functions will be required. 

We are a proactive bunch. We translate our words into actions. We insist on knowing what we are talking about. We view the identification of a problem or task as only the first of many steps required to get results. We prioritize solutions, develop detailed work plans, secure approval to execute those plans, and get to work on implementation. We eat elephants, one bite at a time. We worry, so clients don’t have to. And we want this same approach from the person who takes this job. 

We are focused on building an agency that feels like home, a team of friends who support each other as much as they challenge each other, and a client base whose trust and confidence in us is earned every day. At Lot Sixteen, we prioritize quality and smart thinking, and we actively work to cultivate a more diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment. Accordingly, we strive to meet or exceed all the standard work perks and expectations, including: 

• Competitive salary 
• Generous benefits, including: 
• Health and Dental Plan 
• Retirement Savings program (with company match) 
• Commuter Benefits 
• All-you-can-eat snacks and drinks 
• Colleagues who welcome your family & friends and recognize that balancing both worlds is an essential ingredient to happiness 
• A downtown Washington, D.C. location on McPherson Square Park, near 15th & K Streets NW, easily accessible to the metro, with a gym and a roof deck.

THE ROLE

A Director at Lot Sixteen shows initiative in client materials development, assists meaningfully in proposal writing, and makes a consistent effort to provide clients with ideas and information before they ask for it. Directors should exhibit intellectual curiosity, creative problem-solving skills, and an ability to juggle multiple timelines and deadlines while working independently most of the time. This role requires both strategic planning and leadership skills, and the ability to execute on day-to-day functions like drafting content and managing campaigns. Directors at Lot Sixteen have a fairly diverse set of responsibilities, including: 

• Managing the day-to-day relationships with client contacts, and often serving as deputy account leads;
• Leading interactions with clients and proactively responding to client needs;
• Participating actively in client calls, internal brainstorming and rapid response efforts;
• Developing, pitching, and overseeing the execution of earned media strategies for various clients; 
• Writing press releases, media pitches and op-eds, social media copy, LTEs, talking points, blog posts, and presentations; 
• Developing strategic messaging memos and presentations; 
• Helping to manage paid social ad accounts and budgets, and translating campaign data into clear recommendations for clients;
• Developing targeted media lists and conducting press outreach;
• Monitoring press mentions and headlines relevant to clients and producing corresponding recommendations for client communication tactics and strategies; 
• Facilitating discussions and work with outside vendors including publishers, media buyers, and internal teams like Lot Sixteen’s design and/or paid media professionals; 
• Collaborating with Lot Sixteen team members in order to consult clients on internal and external communications;
• Utilizing, creating and/or updating various databases. 

THE CANDIDATE 

Did we just become best friends? Well... yeah… if you’re someone who: 

• Knows how to balance competing demands with composure, smarts and confidence;
• Thrives working autonomously, exercising judgment about when to elevate issues to senior leadership;
• Enjoys writing, and is good at it (presentations, memos, media pitches, op-eds, general talking points, blog and social media posts and zinger Slack messages); 
• Uses AI tools to accelerate research, content development and strategic planning, while applying human judgment to the final product;
• Feels an obligation to keep people in the loop, rather than cut them out of it; 
• Prides yourself on looking around corners, evaluating scenarios and being prepared;
• Finds fulfillment in developing and implementing solutions to problems that feel unsolvable;
• Seeks feedback and growth while serving as a leader and mentor to more junior staff;
• Likes to lend a hand when you see someone who needs help; 
• Finishes what you start, without anyone checking up on you. 

You are most likely to thrive in this role if you have at least 4–6 years of experience in an agency doing account work, if you have worked in-house doing communications for a company, nonprofit or trade association, or if you have held a communications role on Capitol Hill or on a political campaign. We care less about where or how long you went to school than we do about how eager you are to continue learning. Equally important: a willingness to admit what you don’t know and go find the answers. The ideal candidate has knowledge of and abilities in the following: 

• Authoring and editing written content with excellent grammar, formatting, and tone; 
• Writing for different audiences and in different formats, from slide decks to speeches; 
• Public affairs agency best practices, including those related to pitching reporters, finalizing project deliverables, and keeping clients informed;
• Running MS Office Suite and Google Drive; Slack; and a basic understanding of Canva and web platforms like WordPress, Webflow and Squarespace.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS

The salary range for this full-time, regular, exempt position is $80,000–$120,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Full-time staff are also eligible for an annual bonus of up to 15% of their annual salary. Lot Sixteen offers generous company benefits, including 15 days of PTO per year; 11 paid holidays per year, plus our office is closed for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day; 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance, plus coverage for dependents; a 401(k) match and Metro or parking benefits.

Lot Sixteen operates with a hybrid office environment. Staff are expected to work from the office 3 days per week, with the option to work remotely the other days.

Lot Sixteen is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected under federal or District of Columbia law.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!