In a move that creates yet another lucrative opening on K Street, Robert Sachs plans to step down as head of the nation’s main cable-television association at the end of the year.

Sachs, a lawyer who once worked for then-Sen. Tim Wirth (D-Colo.), is in his fifth year as president and chief executive officer of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association.

The association announced Monday that Sachs had reached his decision in part to “avoid having speculation about his plans create any distraction from NCTA’s legislative and regulatory activities.”

Sachs also wanted to end his weekly commute to Washington from his home in Boston.

The job opening is sure to become one of the most competitive in Washington: NCTA paid its chief lobbyist $1.26 million in 2002, the ninth-largest salary among Washington trade association heads, according to an annual survey by National Journal.

Republicans would like a GOP lobbyist to get the job. Some are already touting former Pentagon spokeswoman Torie Clarke for the position.

Clarke, who worked for NCTA before joining the Bush administration, is also a finalist to replace Jack Valenti as president of the Motion Picture Association of America.

Glenn Britt, the chairman of the trade association’s board of directors, said that a special panel of the board will meet this summer to decide about hiring an executive-search firm.

However, a full-scale a search for a successor likely will not get under way until the fall, Britt added.

— Brody Mullins