Director of Public Affairs

Red Flag Consulting

Remit: Public affairs leadership within an integrated strategic communications agency. The team operates without separate PA/corporate comms silos. Staff work across both disciplines.

About the Role

Red Flag is seeking a senior public affairs leader to continue to shape and drive the firm’s public policy and regulatory affairs business for a diverse client portfolio. The Director of Public Affairs will continue to define and refine the public affairs offering, oversee an integrated team delivering across PA and corporate communications, provide C‑suite counsel, and contribute to the firm’s commercial growth in Ireland and, the EU/UK and globally.

This is a key senior hire for Red Flag, the multi-award-winning strategic communications and campaigns consultancy. We specialise in integrated advocacy campaigns on sensitive, complex and business-critical issues – combining public affairs, media relations, digital mobilisation, coalition building and creative activations to deliver for our clients.

From our offices in Brussels, London, Dublin, Washington DC and Cape Town, we advise some of the world’s most recognised companies, coalitions and industry associations.

Now part of Ankura – a global expert services firm with more than 2,000 staff in 35 offices – we are scaling our operations and expanding our international client portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

Continue to define, refine and deliver the agency’s public affairs business for priority clients and for Red Flag’s PA portfolio, aligned to the firm’s growth ambitions.
Serve as lead strategic adviser to senior client stakeholders (Boards, C‑suite), translating complex policy and political dynamics into clear advice and action for these clients.
Oversee, coach and develop a high‑performing team; set objectives, provide guidance on priorities and workload, and foster a culture of excellence and accountability.
Embed and continuously improve best‑practice methodologies for insight, planning, execution and measurement across all public affairs engagements.
Seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the practice in European, UK and global markets.

Policy, Regulation & Insight

Horizon‑scan political, regulatory and policy developments across Ireland and relevant EU/UK institutions; translate insights into timely strategies and recommendations.
Lead development of position papers, consultation responses, pre‑legislative submissions, policy briefings and thought leadership.
Oversee stakeholder and issue mapping; identify allies, opponents and coalitions to shape effective influence routes.

Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy

Build, maintain and appropriately leverage trusted, senior relationships across Government (Ministers, Special Advisers, senior officials), the Oireachtas, regulators, local authorities and key third‑party influencers—operating transparently within statutory lobbying and transparency rules.
Design and execute integrated advocacy campaigns that blend direct engagement with research, content, events and digital mobilisation.
Prepare clients for engagement (briefings, talking points, Q&As) and represent clients where appropriate.

Integrated Communications (in support of PA goals)

Ensure communications strategy and narrative are aligned to policy objectives and advocacy plans.
Coordinate the integrated team’s press office and media relations activity; provide counsel and escalation, with day‑to‑day delivery handled by the team.
Oversee executive visibility (speeches, op‑eds, events) and owned/earned content that advances policy positions.
Partner with digital/creative colleagues on social/digital campaigns and ensure clear measurement of comms impact that supports PA outcomes.

Issues, Reputation & Crisis Preparedness

Advise on sensitive issues, inquiries and media/political scrutiny; develop scenarios, mitigation plans and rapid‑response frameworks.
Partner with Red Flag’s communications colleagues to ensure policy and reputation strategies are fully integrated.

Commercial & Practice Growth

Act as account lead on flagship projects and retainers; ensure delivery to scope, quality, timeline and budget.
Contribute significantly to new business: identify opportunities, shape proposals, support/lead pitches as needed, and nurture a strong market network.
Contribute insights to practice performance and to firmwide leadership initiatives.

Governance & Compliance

Ensure all activity complies with relevant lobbying and transparency regulations (e.g., Irish lobbying returns and EU Transparency Register) and with client governance requirements.
Uphold the highest ethical standards of engagement and data stewardship.

Candidate Profile

Experience & Track Record

10+ years’ experience in public affairs, policy, political advisory, or a closely related field; agency and/or in‑house leadership experience preferred.
Primary specialism in public affairs with proven ability to integrate corporate communications to advance policy objectives.
Demonstrable success shaping policy outcomes or securing regulatory change in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
Deep understanding of Ireland’s political, parliamentary and regulatory systems; familiarity with EU institutions and processes is highly desirable.
Fluent in the machinery of government: Cabinet and Oireachtas processes, Departmental decision‑making, regulatory cycles and public consultations; knows how to progress issues through the system, appropriately and transparently.
Established, trusted relationships across Government (Ministers, Special Advisers, senior officials), the Oireachtas, regulators and key policy fora; recognised as a credible, solutions‑focused counterpart. Brings a current network and can convene the right people quickly, operating with discretion and integrity.
Experience overseeing media activity in support of public affairs objectives; able to provide counsel and escalation on sensitive issues while day‑to‑day media relations are delivered by the integrated team.

Skills & Behaviours

Strategic thinker with excellent judgement; able to simplify complexity and set clear, outcome‑focused plans.
Exceptional written and verbal communication: drafts persuasive submissions, briefings and thought leadership; confident presenter.
Media‑savvy operator: message development, press office oversight, media relations and spokesperson coaching.
Advanced stakeholder mapping, coalition‑building, and negotiation skills.
Political nous and institutional fluency; can navigate and convene at senior levels across government and policy circles.
People manager who develops talent and builds inclusive, high‑performance cultures.
Commercially astute with a track record in new business development, client growth, proposal development and effective budget stewardship.

Measures of Success (First 12 Months)

Delivery of measurable policy or regulatory milestones for priority clients.
Strengthened reputation metrics (e.g., share of voice, sentiment, message penetration) achieved alongside policy outcomes.
High client satisfaction and retention; growth of key accounts.
Establishment of robust practice standards (insight, planning, measurement) and uplift in team engagement.
Significant contribution to new business targets.

What Red Flag Offers

Competitive compensation with performance‑related and new business bonuses.
Hybrid working.
Ongoing professional development, mentoring and access to senior networks.
Opportunity to lead a marquee practice with real scope for impact and growth.
Be part of a global team which works for some of the most interesting and complex clients and associations globally.

How to Apply

Please apply via https://redflag.global/careers/ by 17:00 Wednesday 28th January 2026.

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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