Senior Consultant: AI and Frontier Technology - San Francisco - Milltown Partners

Description

Milltown Partners advises the most influential technology companies on their communications and public policy challenges, including some of the world's leading AI firms. We're looking for a communications adviser with a specialism in telling complex AI stories. This role is designed for people who can bring 4-7 years relevant experience, are restless for their next opportunity and want to drive brilliant work on the frontiers of AI.

About the Senior Communications Consultant role

A successful candidate will have at least 4-7 years relevant communications experience, demonstrable understanding of the AI industry and technical audiences, an ability to lead and deliver brilliant advice to clients and be a hands‑on coach to their teams.

A successful candidate will have a proven track record of delivering strategic and creative communications strategies on the frontiers of AI, whether in in‑house or agency roles supporting AI‑native companies or functions. The ideal candidate has particular expertise working on technical AI communications, whether communicating frontier AI research, AI products for technical audiences, or AI hardware or infrastructure.

Responsibilities of the Senior Communications Consultant role

Leadership: defining direction and inspiring others to meet a common goal

• Advise and support category‑defining clients in AI on the complex communications challenges that define their reputations, whether AI clients work in industry, investing, policymaking, third‑sector organizations, or academia
• Act as an AI subject matter expert for the wider business, helping improve our U.S. team's strategic understanding of the opportunities and challenges organizations working in AI currently face, and helping teams and clients working on AI think creatively about audiences and channels that are driving or responding to the AI zeitgeist
• Collaborate with senior management to set clear goals and priorities for your teams and hold everyone, including yourself, accountable for meeting them
• Build trust with your clients to give the most impactful advice and support
• Take responsibility for the strategic direction and tactical choices for clients
• Share your insights and experience in a way that allows the rest of the team to replicate your success
• Draw on the full expertise and resources of the firm to develop and deliver advice that helps our clients build and protect their reputations
• Coach individuals to identify opportunities to meet their goals

Innovation: pushing the boundaries of the work we do as a firm

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and influencers in the AI ecosystem that will enable us to deliver impactful results for our clients and network, including media, subject matter experts, and/or policymakers
• Be a role model and lead by example in both managing and delivering exceptional work
• Ensure research, data and insight underpins all work that we deliver
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and growth for the business beyond your own client teams

Growth: Contributing to the future of the business beyond the boundaries of client work

• Identify and lead on converting new opportunities into work and extending our work with existing clients
• Grow Milltown's existing network of prospective clients working within and around the frontiers of AI
• Develop and build your external network to attract new clients in AI and reach potential referrers to such clients
• Show entrepreneurial thinking internally by identifying opportunities for collaboration, skills building and knowledge sharing

Contributing to a collaborative and inclusive work environment

• Give and receive regular feedback to people at all levels in the firm
• Actively seek input or assistance from others and reflect their contributions in the work
• Demonstrate allyship to all colleagues
• Support the wellbeing of everyone on the team

Must-have skills and experience

• At least 4‑7 years of communications experience – either consultancy or in‑house roles – including time in the technology and/or investor space with a proven track record in AI
• Demonstrable ability to take a strategic approach to reputation, rooted in research, data and insight
• Experience engaging with different audiences and channels across the communications and policy landscape in frontier technology and AI, with demonstrated experience building impactful communications plans about AI that reach a range of audiences, including technical audiences
• Experience building advisory relationships with senior stakeholders to deliver strategic counsel and insight, often on a short timeframe
• Experience developing storytelling strategies across a range of channels to communicate AI subject matter (e.g. paid campaigns, event appearances, digital communications and traditional media)
• Experience managing complex and high‑performing teams with diverse experiences
• Commitment to learning and developing new skills and subject matter expertise, including seeking out feedback from colleagues
• Ability to play a hands‑on role within client teams and across the firm
• Commitment to contributing to a supportive and inclusive culture
• Excellent command of written and verbal English language

Desirable skills and experience

• Exposure to relevant fields including research, policy, media, and campaigns
• Experience leading new business conversations, including RFP processes

What we offer in return

• Competitive and fair base salary determined through annual industry benchmarking. Salary bands are transparent internally and backed by a robust compensation philosophy.
• Discretionary twice‑yearly bonuses. We want everyone at Milltown to share in our collective success and feel ownership of our growth.
• Professional development opportunities. You will partner with your Development Coach and have access to our programme of internal training, alongside external events and subscriptions to a broad range of content and media.
• 26 days of annual Paid Time Off (PTO), plus Public Holidays and Christmas closure, which is in addition to your personal allowance.
• 4% match to 401(k) contribution.
• Enhanced paid time off for new parents (for all parents and all routes to welcoming a child).
• Generous medical, dental and vision insurance options, including support for dependents.
• $100 monthly commuter benefits.
• Variety of team events, such as socials, external guest speakers and annual firm celebrations.
• Generous selection of breakfast foods, snacks and drinks in the office, plus a weekly team lunch.
• 3‑day a week in the office policy (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays)

About us

Milltown Partners is a transatlantic advisory firm working with influential companies, organizations and individuals on their reputation‑defining communications and policy challenges. We work with established and emerging technology companies, global investors, iconic brands, renowned sports franchises and influential individuals. We collaborate across locations and disciplines to combine our judgement, deep subject‑matter expertise and innovative use of technology to deliver impact for our clients. We root our strategies in data insights and research on the audiences that matter, messages that work, and communications channels that deliver. We are an independent, employee‑owned company, which means we have the freedom to invest in our people and our culture, and everyone shares in our success.

Location

For this role, Milltown Partners is currently only considering candidates who are authorized to work in the US without visa sponsorship.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is core to our values, culture and success as an employee owned business. We want to empower everyone in the team to share their best thinking and ideas, feel valued and know they are having an impact and belong in the business, regardless of their background, age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability. We have an ambitious DEI programme managed by a global leadership team of volunteers with three global company commitments to: improve representation of minority groups, enhance everyone's sense of inclusion and support underrepresented communities through pro bono work. Underpinning these commitments is a focus on what it means to have a DEI culture and how to measure that in our approach to growth, attracting talent and the impact of our work for clients.