Job Description

Talent & Community Partner

Big Fish is a boutique recruiting firm focused on the talent that drives policy change. We partner with leading organizations across public policy, advocacy, media, and government affairs to build high-impact teams.

But recruiting is only part of what we do.

Our model is network-driven — built on long-term relationships, community, and trust. We don’t start with job descriptions. We start with people.

We’re hiring a Talent & Community Partner to help grow and activate that network.

THE ROLE

This is not a traditional recruiting job.

You’ll spend your time building relationships, mapping talent, making connections, and engaging deeply in the public policy ecosystem — often before there’s a role to fill.

If you’re looking to just fill jobs, this isn’t it. If you want to become a connector, talent strategist, and trusted voice in the market — keep reading.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Build & Engage the Network

• Develop relationships with professionals across policy, communications, development, and government affairs
• Actively participate in and grow the Big Fish community
• Conduct consistent outreach to both active and passive talent
• Build trust over time — not just when there’s an opportunity

  Map Talent Markets

• Identify rising talent across sectors and geographies
• Track career movement, transitions, and emerging leaders
• Build and maintain curated pipelines aligned to client needs

  Connect People

• Make thoughtful, high-value introductions
• Advise candidates on career decisions
• Act as a trusted sounding board to professionals at all levels

  Support Searches

• Contribute to and occasionally lead searches
• Source, screen, and evaluate candidates
• Provide insight on candidate positioning and market fit

  Drive Business Development

• Identify organizations building teams in policy and government affairs
• Turn relationships into client conversations — naturally, not transactionally
• Represent Big Fish at events, conferences, and within the ecosystem
• Surface and help develop new business opportunities

  Contribute to Content & Brand

• Share insights from the market
• Contribute to LinkedIn and community conversations
• Help position Big Fish as a trusted voice in talent and careers

  WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• A growing, high-quality network across policy and government affairs
• Strong inbound candidate engagement
• Clear visibility into talent markets and emerging leaders
• Meaningful, high-impact connections made across the ecosystem
• Contribution to placements through relationship-driven sourcing
• New client opportunities generated through trusted engagement

  WHO YOU ARE

• Naturally curious about people, careers, and the policy landscape
• Energized by meeting and connecting with others
• Strong communicator, especially in 1:1 settings
• Able to spot opportunity without leading with a pitch
• Organized and able to manage many relationships over time
• High EQ with strong judgment
• Self-directed and comfortable without a rigid playbook

  WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• 2–6 years of experience in recruiting, policy, government affairs, communications, or a related field
• Familiarity with the public policy, government affairs, or trade association ecosystem
• Strong relationship-building instincts
• Long-term thinker — not purely transactional

  WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT

  Most recruiting roles start with a job and go find candidates.

  This role starts with people — and builds everything else from there.

You’ll help build a network of networks