Vice President of Public Affairs

Information Systems of Maryland (ISM), LLC is seeking a Vice President of Public Affairs with an entrepreneurial spirit to join our growing team. ISM is an IT consulting firm that specializes in providing small, medium, large and public sector organizations with IT project solutions, security solutions and talent acquisition services.  To meet the increasing needs of our organization we are seeking a Vice President of Public Affairs that wants to take part in our success and become a key member of the company.

We’re passionate about expanding the boundaries of what we offer our clients by bringing diverse perspectives to the table. We’re always looking for new colleagues who reflect the best of our values: curiosity, inclusion, courage and impact.

Candidates should demonstrate a proven track record of leading external communications, including working directly with senior-level clients/stakeholders to shape strategies and messaging. The ideal candidate will have experience leading communications functions, strong skills and experience supporting executive and leadership communications – including speechwriting and crisis planning and response. The chosen candidate must have a strong public affairs and media relations background. Public affairs experience should include a thorough understanding of the technology sector in the U.S. and abroad. They should be able to draft and execute media strategies as part of corporate, public affairs and issues/crisis communications.

Candidates must be driven, poised and team-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to learn issues quickly and communicate effectively with internal and external audiences. They must possess exceptional judgment when working with team members, client contacts and vendors, including legal and government relations partners, and experience managing teams and supervising individuals. As a Vice President, the candidate should be committed to serving as an energetic and constructive team lead and a supported, trusted supervisor and mentor for junior colleagues.

If you would like to learn more about ISM and this exciting opportunity, please visit us on the web at www.is-md.com

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS:

This position reports to the President and will interface with executive staff, all internal and remote employees, including current and/or prospective customer(s).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a primary client contact responsible for strategic counsel, management of account deliverables and deadlines.
• Design and implement public affairs and issue advocacy campaigns on behalf of corporate, coalition and trade association clients, including in highly-regulated industries.
• Manage cross-functional teams, providing direction and guidance to ensure we deliver our best work and exceed client expectations.
• Create opportunities for team members to learn and grow – promoting and retaining a collaborative, inclusive work environment conducive to success.
• Provide oversight of budget, multi-agency and vendor contracting, timelines and reporting.

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Integrity: The candidate must be honest and ethical at all times.
• Work Ethic: The candidate must be dependable, hardworking, and willing to go the extra mile.
• Team Player: The candidate must be collaborative and work well with others.
• Positive Attitude and Enthusiasm: The candidate must focus on the positive and not the negative. The candidate must also exude a “can do” attitude.
• Adaptability and Flexibility:The candidate will be someone who is not resistant to change and able to adapt to a new direction, often at a moment's notice.
• Effective Communication and Confidence: The candidate will be someone who is a good listener and who must clearly articulate their ideas verbally or via written form.
• Openness and Receptivity to Feedback:The candidate must be able to accept feedback, learn from it, and grow from the feedback, positive or negative.
• Creative Thinking:  The candidate should be an individual who is intentional about innovating and “thinking outside the box”.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: The candidate must be able to see the link between different aspects of the organization and creatively find solutions to problems.
• Collaboration & Conflict Management:The candidate must be able to work with people and organizations that may not be easy to work with take ownership of the relationship.
• Negotiation Skills: The candidate must be able to persuade and influence others.
• Entrepreneurial Thinking: The candidate must have clarity on why we are in business, how we overcome challenges and capitalize on our experience and knowledge.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree and 10 years’ experience; Candidate can supplement degree requirement with years of functional and verifiable work experience.

Experience:

• Integrated communications and political/legislative experience
• Significant media relations experience and contacts
• Work History in a Public Affairs/Public Relations Agency
• Experience managing significant client programs, cross-functional teams and integrated campaigns
• Fluent in technology, and business in general, domestically, as well as digital strategy and social media
• Can turn ideas into workable plans, while anticipating client and team needs
• Ability to work in, motivate, and mobilize fast-paced, highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams
• Proactive self-starter and problem solver with meticulous attention to detail
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Resilient mindset, deep curiosity, and a healthy sense of humor

About ISM:

Information Systems of Maryland is a leading-edge information technology services firm that provides information technology services and solutions to the public sector and commercial markets. With over 15 years of information technology experience, we deliver solid solutions for today’s technology needs. To learn more about ISM, visit us on the web at https://www.is-md.com