Careers

CLS Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications firm, is currently seeking applicants with extensive litigation communications experience.

CLS Strategies serves a range of clients – including Fortune 500 corporations, trade associations, foreign governments, international organizations and non-profits. Litigation communications is one of CLS’ specialties. The firm has many clients that face government investigations or litigation and require skilled and experienced professionals to help them manage their reputational challenges. CLS also has a substantial public affairs practice, helping clients manage communications in connection with regulatory and legislative challenges both in the U.S. and abroad. 

Responsibilities include:

• Lead strategic planning and account execution for multiple clients facing legal issues
• Manage client business relationship 
• Oversee and/or draft content needed to support client and communicate its story
• Lead efforts to pitch stories, and manage coverage as appropriate 
• Help build the firm’s litigation communication practice through thought leadership activities and business development
• Support firm through active engagement in such activities as staff recruitment, training, mentoring.

Ideal candidates will have a minimum of 8 years of communications experience, including substantial experience involving high profile litigation and crises. Experience in supporting clients facing government investigation and different stages of litigation including trials and appeals is desired.  Candidates should possess deep knowledge of the legal process, strong writing skills, experience in managing media relations, and ability to formulate effective and successful communications strategies and messages in a litigation environment. 

Candidates who have worked closely with external legal counsel and managed the development of materials that balanced legal and reputational interests will be especially strong candidates for this role. 

If you thrive on the challenge of finding solutions to complex challenges and want to join our team, please send your resume with “Litigation Comms” in the subject line to careers@clsstrategies.com 

CLS Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based mid-sized strategic communications firm is currently seeking applicants for Managing Director.

CLS Strategies serves a range of clients focusing on public affairs, crisis and legal issues, and international matters. Our clients include Fortune 100 corporations, trade associations, foreign governments, international organizations and non-profits. Some are in the midst of regulatory and legislative challenges, or high-stakes litigation. Others are facing government investigations or reputational threats. Many of the firm’s clients come from the financial services, healthcare, and technology sectors. All are looking for creative solutions at the intersection of politics, public policy and communications.

Responsibilities include:

• Manage activity workflow for multiple client teams – we place a high bar on high quality work product delivered on time
• Assist the agency leader (partner) or Senior Vice President in driving client account teams and in meeting the client objectives 
• Support the firm’s business development, specifically through assisting with assigned opportunities
• Manage and participate in client work, ranging from media relations, alliance development, coalition and campaign management, digital strategy, and content development.

Qualified candidates must have a minimum of 8 years of experience in public affairs, political, corporate or crisis communications, are driven, self-starters with the ability to grasp complex subject matter quickly. Candidates must possess prior experience in managing communications at another agency, company, association, on Capitol Hill, or something similar. This experience should include a range of managing campaigns and team member deliverables, media relations, op-ed writing and placement, digital and social media strategy, budgeting, and more.

If you thrive on the challenge of finding solutions to complex challenges and want to join our team, please send your resume to careers@clsstrategies.com with “Managing Director” in the subject line. 

CLS Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs and strategic communications firm, is currently seeking applicants for a Managing Associate position.

CLS Strategies serves a range of clients – including Fortune 100 corporations, trade associations, foreign governments, international organizations and non-profits. Some are in the midst of regulatory and legislative challenges, or high-stakes litigation. Others are facing government investigations, reputational, or competitive threats. Most of our clients choose CLS because they have a terrific story to tell and wish to affect change, yet need help finding their voice, raising the saliency of their message, and engaging and persuading target audiences. All are looking for creative solutions at the intersection of politics, public policy and communications. That’s where the team at CLS Strategies comes in, and where we thrive. 

Responsibilities of Managing Associate include:

• Contributing to strategic planning and account execution for clients
• Assisting in the day-to-day management and client reporting for multiple account teams
• Managing specific projects and work streams for multiple account teams
• Drafting op-eds, talking points, memos, social media content and other communications materials
• Pitching stories, establish / cultivate media relationships, organize press events and other media relations activities
• Supporting firm leadership in business development, including writing proposals and participating in pitches

Qualifications: Ideal candidates are driven self-starters with the ability to grasp complex subject matter quickly and work well within teams. Candidates must possess strong writing and research skills, experience in media relations, and ability to formulate creative communications strategies and messages. Four to seven years of experience in journalism, political campaigns, on Capitol Hill, a PR agency, or association is the kind of background that helps an application stand out. 

CLS Strategies offers a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Employer-subsidized medical/dental insurance
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Optional Life and AD&D Benefits
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Gym membership
• And much more

If you thrive on the challenge of finding solutions to complex challenges and want to join our team, please apply by clicking the button below, and don't forget to attach your resume. For more information, visit www.clsstrategies.com.

CLS Strategies. We don’t just raise the issue. We raise the game.

CLS Strategies, a mid-sized Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications firm, is currently seeking interns for fall 2019.

CLS Strategies serves a range of clients – including Fortune 100 corporations, high-profile individuals, foreign governments, international organizations, trade associations and non-profits. Some need to protect their reputations from intense threats. Others are trying to shape new laws. All are looking for creative, outside-the-box solutions that bring together politics, public policy and media/communications.

Interns are an integral part of CLS Strategies. They monitor the media for breaking news and relevant commentary, research public policy issues, attend briefings on the Hill and at local think tanks, plan and execute events, provide administrative support and assist with strategic thinking for a broad range of domestic and international clients. The small size of our firm allows interns to work closely with senior staff members and provides opportunities for substantive work.

Candidates must be able to juggle a range of tasks and work well under pressure. Previous office environment experience and a major in communications, public relations, journalism or political science is preferred, but not required. Foreign language proficiency, especially in Spanish, and social media expertise are pluses.

This is a paid internship to begin after Labor Day and end in mid-December. Please indicate in your cover letter whether you are applying for a full time (5 days/week) or part-time (3 days/week) internship.

Interested applicants should e-mail a PDF copy of their resume and cover letter to internships@CLSstrategies.com with the subject header “Fall 2019 Intern Application.” Please be sure to include your name in the file names.

Do you hope to one day design a website for a presidential campaign, influence national audiences with compelling online visuals, or produce video content viewed by millions? If so, then you should apply to join the CLS team. You would assist in the production of creative solutions at the intersection of politics, public policy and communications.

We’re looking for creative, self-motivated individuals to participate in our paid internship program. This is an opportunity to be a crucial part of our team in this hands-on position by:

• Designing ads, website properties, social media graphics and more
• Creating issue campaign branding
• Working on multiple projects simultaneously
• Creating quality deliverables in a high pressure, fast-paced work environment
• Communicating and collaborating with a team

This internship is an excellent opportunity for a student with a hybrid interest in political affairs and creative services, with an emphasis on graphic design. You might be a good fit if you’re:

• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
• Extremely detail-oriented and well-organized
• Familiar with current design trends
• Can provide a portfolio of recent design samples
• Video editing and HTML/CSS experience is preferred but not required

If you are eager to learn, enjoy coming up with creative solutions to challenges, and want to get real-world design experience with political and non-profit clients, you may be the right candidate!

This is a paid internship to begin after Labor Day and end in mid-December. Please indicate in your cover letter whether you are applying for a full time (5 days/week) or part-time (3 days/week) internship.

Interested applicants should e-mail a PDF copy of their resume, cover letter and portfolio (or link to online portfolio) to internships@CLSstrategies.com with the subject header “Fall 2019 Digital Intern Application.” Please be sure to include your name in the file names.