BMC Public Affairs and Public Relations Associate Director - Washington DC

Associate Director, Public Affairs and Public Relations (DC Metro)
Brand, Marketing and Communications (BMC) – Americas

Join our Brand, Marketing and Communications (BMC) team as Associate Director – Public Affairs and Public Relations, and play a key role in protecting and enhancing EY’s brand and reputation. Working closely with the Director of Corporate Reputation and Public Affairs, you’ll manage high-impact projects and deliver strategic communications, public affairs, and media relations initiatives to engage a wide range of audiences — including policymakers, regulators, clients, employees, alumni, the media, and the communities in which we operate.

The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and highly organized Associate Director, Public Affairs and Public Relations, to help shape and execute high-impact strategies that protect and strengthen EY’s brand and reputation. Reporting directly to the Director of Corporate Reputation and Public Affairs, you will be a hands-on project manager and trusted partner, supporting the planning, execution, and measurement of public affairs, media relations, and reputation-focused initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with senior leadership, provide strategic counsel, and manage projects from concept through completion in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director to develop and execute public affairs and PR strategies that align with firm priorities and business objectives.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects, ensuring deadlines, deliverables, and quality standards are met across media relations, public affairs, and reputation management initiatives.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders — including Public Policy, Internal Communications, Marketing, and the General Counsel’s Office — to align messaging and approach.
• Support senior executives in preparing for media engagements, including drafting talking points, briefing documents, and press materials.
• Monitor media coverage, legislative developments, and industry trends to identify opportunities and potential risks.
• Draft, edit, and distribute press releases, statements, and other external communications.
• Build and maintain relationships with key journalists, editors, third parties, and external PR agency partners to help generate positive coverage.
• Assist with issues and crisis communications planning and response, ensuring rapid, coordinated execution when needed.
• Track, measure, and report on campaign results, media activity, and reputation impact.
• Uphold the highest standards of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive or confidential information.

Skills and Attributes for Success

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines across multiple workstreams.
• Solid understanding of public affairs, regulatory and legislative communications, and reputation management best practices.
• Proven media relations skills, with experience pitching and securing positive coverage in top-tier outlets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, with a track record of producing clear, compelling content for diverse audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly matrixed organization, building trust and alignment across functions and geographies.
• Comfort working under pressure and adapting quickly to changing priorities.

To Qualify, You Must Have

• 8–10 years of experience in public relations, public affairs, corporate communications, or a related field — preferably in a professional services or large corporate environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, political science, or related field (Master’s degree a plus).
• Demonstrated success in managing projects end-to-end and delivering measurable results.
• Familiarity with the U.S. regulatory and legislative environment and its intersection with corporate communications.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and providing strategic communications counsel.

What We Look For
We’re seeking a proactive and detail-oriented professional who thrives on managing complex projects and delivering high-quality communications that make an impact. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with strong execution, is skilled at building relationships inside and outside the organization, and is motivated by the opportunity to help protect and enhance one of the world’s most respected brands.