Penta Entry-level Associate - Start Dates In Summer And Fall 2025

Penta is a global company providing data-driven solutions to help clients achieve their objectives in an increasingly complex stakeholder environment. We provide cutting-edge intelligence products to help clients understand what their stakeholders think, see, and hear, and then leverage that intelligence to develop and execute effective, measurable strategies. 

Our global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include companies across a variety of industries, including technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and more. Penta has offices in New York, London, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Vail, Dublin, London, Brussels, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Summary of Position: Penta is seeking entry-level associates to join our dynamic team in the summer and fall of 2025. Associates receive robust training and mentorship and benefit from immediate client exposure. Penta associates work on multiple client teams composed of partners, directors, and fellow associates, resulting in exciting professional development opportunities in a fun, fast-paced, and challenging environment. This role also offers rotational opportunities for associates interested in developing deeper expertise in one or more of the firm's specialized intelligence products.  

A successful candidate has strong writing and time-management skills and a curious, proactive, high-achieving attitude. Associates typically have experience in writing, research, communications, and data analysis. Over the course of their time at Penta, associates will be trained and work on a range of strategy and data-related projects that could include but not limited to: public affairs campaigns, custom research, media relations, sentiment analysis, stakeholder mapping, and media monitoring. 

Duties & Responsibilities: Communications

• Write communications products like strategy memos, press releases, opinion pieces, and social media posts
• Develop a strong understanding of reporters, policy experts, and policymakers relevant for clients' issue areas
• Draft explanatory materials on complex policy issues and write concise memos that summarize research, detail a policy landscape, and highlight key findings
• Develop and manage digital campaigns on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google, and synthesize results 
• Assist with executing events, including press conferences, speaking engagements, editorial board meetings, and media trainings

Research

• Research and monitor clients' businesses and industries to maintain a current knowledge base and keep team apprised of new and ongoing developments
• Collect, conduct, and present quantitative and qualitative research and analysis in a variety of communication vehicles, including presentations, reports, infographics, and fact sheets
• Inform communication and advocacy strategies with policy expertise
• Perform statistical and economic analyses
• Provide feedback to managerial insight/analysis
• Write both short- and large-scale reports, white papers, and blog posts, among other products

Rotational Opportunities: 

• Policy brand research
• Custom polling research
• Momentum analytics
• Brand strategy
• Media monitoring

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in economics, public policy, political science/government, business, finance, journalism, or related field
• Experience with drafting communications products for a variety of audiences at a communications agency, publicly traded company, media outlet, a federal agency, or on the Hill
• Expertise and interest in a specific policy field, broader business and economics trends, politics, and the legislative process
• Willingness to learn new skills and participate in new projects
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple, competing assignments
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong data management and analytical skills
• Ability to take initiative; motivated and self-starting
• Solid presentation skills and strong attention to detail
• Proficiency–-and ability to grow skills–-in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining Excel models that combine multiple data sources is a plus
• Experience creating graphics and data visualizations is a plus, as is an openness to learn basic graphic design skills

Associate Program Compensation and Benefits: Associates at Penta participate in a structured four-year leadership program focused on training and learning. The program combines formal training sessions for soft and hard skills with on-the-job learning through work on client teams and non-client related research projects. Associates in the rotational program will spend the start of their time at Penta learning the basics of an associate role. As one masters the basic components of the associate role, there will be additional opportunities to work on Intelligence products. In addition to the rotational program, associates enjoy the following benefits:

• Competitive compensation structure, with an entry-level salary of $57,000 in Washington, DC and eligibility for salary increases typically ranging from 10-15% each year in the associate program
• Excellent health care benefits, with the majority of individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent health premiums covered by Penta
• Flexible paid time off and generous holiday schedule
• Competitive retirement benefits with a 401(k) match of 100% up to 3% of an employee’s contributions and 50% up to 5% of an employee’s contributions (and no waiting period, immediately vested)
• Employer paid short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance, with the option to buy additional coverage
• Twelve weeks paid parental leave
• Formalized mentorship program for first six months of tenure
• Frequent firm-wide social events, networking activities, and educational opportunities
• Excellent environment for learning and growth
• Monthly stipend for cell phone

Start Dates, Locations, and Virtual Information Session: For this position, we are looking for candidates who will be graduating in December 2024 or Spring 2025 and can start with the team in the summer or fall of 2025. We are primarily considering applicants to join our team in our Washington, D.C. office. The role is in person Monday through Thursday and associates have the option to work remotely on Fridays. Select slots may also be available in our NYC and SF offices.

We are holding a virtual information session on Wednesday, September 11 from 5:00-6:00pm ET. If you'd like to receive more information and an invitation to the information session, please fill out this form here.