Principal Consultant, Strategic Communications

About ACID

ACID is a senior-only communications consultancy built to help startups and high-growth companies in emerging industries find clarity and earn trust. Through a unique partner-led model, we provide founders and leaders strategic counsel on communications, brand building, and reputation management that moves the needle on business outcomes in an increasingly challenging business landscape.

Why we're hiring

The traditional agency model was built for a different era. Misaligned incentives, toxic politics, bloated retainers, and a culture of burnout have eroded the quality of work and the trust clients place in communications. ACID exists because we believe a better model is possible, and we're building it while doing great work for brands who trust us. We're looking for senior comms professionals who share that belief and want to champion a more intentional model with us.

The role

This is a full-time, independent contractor role for a senior comms practitioner with 8-10 years of experience across both agency and startup environments. You will lead and deliver client engagements end-to-end under the ACID brand, with full accountability for the quality of work, client relationship, and business outcomes.

Day-to-day work spans the full spectrum of strategic communications: media relations and pitching, narrative and messaging development, content strategy, executive positioning and spokesperson preparation, stakeholder engagement, and crisis and issues counsel. Like everyone at ACID, you will get your hands dirty. Nothing is too junior for anyone.

You will be advising senior leaders and companies across fintech, financial services, tech and AI, venture capital, and other emerging industries in Singapore and the region.

You will also be expected to contribute commercially. That means identifying aligned business opportunities, opening doors, cultivating relationships, and helping grow ACID's client base across our markets of interest (Singapore, SEA, North America, Europe, Hong Kong, ANZ). Revenue generation efforts will be rewarded through a fair, transparent framework and form part of your performance bonus review.

This role is based in Singapore and requires physical presence. We do not sponsor work visas of any sort.

Who this is for

• You're a strategic communications practitioner with 8 to 10 years of experience and meaningful time spent in both agency environments and startup roles, with demonstrable expertise in media relations and active relationships across Singapore and ideally the region.
• You have an exceptional grasp of the technology and tools available to us today, and are already using AI and other tools to fundamentally transform how you work, serve clients, and further your craft.
• You understand how startups and high-growth companies operate, and can hold your own in a room with founders, CMOs, and senior leaders.
• You believe that we work to live, and that doing our job exceptionally well just means we get more time for everything else life has to offer.

Who this isn't for

• Anyone looking for the scaffolding of a traditional agency – layered approval processes, junior teams to delegate to, pointless busywork, and fluff masquerading as strategy.
• Anyone who treats AI as a novelty, or who hasn't meaningfully integrated modern tools into how they work.
• Anyone who thinks senior means above the work.
• Anyone who needs constant supervision, or who dislikes proactive accountability.
• Anyone who requires work visa sponsorship.

What you'll need

• Exceptional command of English (written and spoken). The ability to craft narratives, messaging frameworks, and strategic counsel that senior leaders will trust and act on.
• A track record of leading client engagements end-to-end without supervision, including narrative development, messaging, media programmes, and executive counsel.
• Sector fluency or the appetite to develop it quickly across fintech, digital assets, AI and tech, VC and finance, and other emerging industries.
• Proven ability to win, retain, and grow client relationships independently. You understand the commercial side of advisory and are comfortable building and owning a pipeline.
• The professionalism and temperament to represent ACID at the C-suite level across diverse industries and cultures.
• A thirst to constantly try new ways of doing things better, and grow the business and our offering.

What's on offer

• Competitive remuneration commensurate with experience, track record, and alignment with our model.
• Access to ACID's brand, credentials, collateral, and operational infrastructure.
• A defined progression pathway for Principal Consultants who want to grow into the partnership over time.
• The chance to be part of a consultancy actively championing a fresh model for the industry.