The Opportunity 

You will play a leading role in the continued growth of Brunswick's Public Affairs offering in Australia, helping clients navigate complex policy, regulatory, political and reputational challenges in an increasingly dynamic environment.

The Director is a  leadership role within Brunswick's Public Affairs practice in Australia and across Asia-Pacific. You will work closely across Brunswick's global network, bringing together expertise from corporate communications, regulatory and public affairs, crisis, financial situations and stakeholder engagement.

You will develop and deliver strategic public affairs programmes for leading Australian and international organisations, providing senior-level counsel to CEOs, boards and executive teams on issues that sit at the intersection of business, government, policy and society.

You will help clients anticipate and respond to evolving political, regulatory and stakeholder expectations, while identifying opportunities to shape policy discussions, strengthen stakeholder relationships and advance business objectives.

Key responsibilities of the role

In this role, you will work across a variety of industries with Australian and international companies. This includes the following responsibilities:

Client leadership and advice

• Lead multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of client mandates, from research and analysis through strategy development, stakeholder engagement and implementation.
• Serve as a senior day-to-day adviser to clients, providing thoughtful counsel on public affairs, government relations, policy communications, issues management and reputation.
• Develop high-quality, impactful client-ready materials and presentations suitable for executive and board-level audiences.
• Help clients understand and navigate the political, regulatory and stakeholder environments in which they operate.
• Design and execute stakeholder engagement campaigns that support business objectives and strengthen relationships with government, policymakers, industry bodies, advocacy groups and other key stakeholders.
• Advise clients facing high-stakes situations, including regulatory scrutiny, legislative change, government inquiries, licence-to-operate challenges and public policy debates.
• Translate complex policy and political developments into clear strategic implications and recommendations.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, deepening existing relationships and expanding Brunswick's network of senior decision-makers and influencers.

Business development and practice growth

• Pursue new business opportunities, working with colleagues to identify prospects, develop proposals, pitch for mandates and secure extensions of existing client relationships.
• Build Brunswick's profile and Public Affairs offering across Australia and the wider region.
• Foster innovation by identifying emerging issues, policy trends and stakeholder dynamics that create opportunities for clients and for the firm.
• Contribute significantly to the continued development of Brunswick's Public Affairs practice in Australia and Asia-Pacific, helping to build a world-class offering that delivers outstanding client outcomes.
• Leverage personal networks and relationships to generate commercial opportunities and market insight.

Team leadership and collaboration

• Ensure the smooth running of client teams, maintaining oversight of account performance, project delivery, resource allocation and financial management.
• Work closely with Partners to deliver exceptional client service and manage account profitability.
• Develop, mentor and support colleagues below Director level, helping them build their public affairs expertise and progress their careers.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture consistent with Brunswick's values.
• Partner effectively with colleagues across sectors, practices and geographies to bring the best of Brunswick's expertise to clients.

The knowledge, skills and attributes we're looking for

• 10+ years of relevant experience in public affairs, government relations, policy, strategic communications, political advisory, regulatory affairs, consulting or a related field.
• Strong understanding of Australia's political, regulatory and policymaking environment, including federal and state government processes.
• Experience advising senior executives and business leaders on complex public affairs, policy and stakeholder issues.
• Credible and compelling with senior leaders, ministers, policymakers and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in developing and delivering strategic public affairs, stakeholder engagement or policy advocacy programmes.
• Strong networks across government, politics, business, industry associations, think tanks, media and other influential stakeholder groups in Australia.
• Proven track record in business development, including originating opportunities, leading pitches and growing client relationships.
• Experience managing complex projects and leading high-performing teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear, compelling advice.
• Strong judgement, discretion and ability to operate effectively in sensitive and high-pressure situations.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to combine political awareness, commercial understanding and stakeholder insight.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, intellectual curiosity and a commitment to delivering exceptional work.
• High emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative leadership style and commitment to mentoring and developing colleagues.
• A global perspective and experience working with multinational organisations or across international markets.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, client-service environment while maintaining the highest standards of quality.
• A terrific sense of humour.