Director of Communications

About the role

Handshake is seeking an experienced communications leader to guide and develop its corporate communications approach. This role involves shaping public perception for a three-sided marketplace connecting students, employers, and universities. The position focuses on the future of work and AI, requiring a strategic storyteller to build media relationships and elevate Handshake's presence.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define Handshake's corporate communications strategy and refine external messaging across various company themes.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with journalists in the workforce and AI sectors.
• Proactively propose stories, announcements, data insights, and thought leadership to enhance Handshake's brand.
• Collaborate with the CEO and leadership to create executive narratives, media opportunities, and talking points.
• Advise the social media team on Handshake's corporate LinkedIn presence, including content review and brand alignment.
• Prepare executives for public speaking engagements, interviews, and industry events with comprehensive briefing materials.
• Manage reactive communications and high-stakes situations in partnership with various internal teams.
• Establish scalable processes for press inquiries, approvals, messaging, and reporting.
• Oversee external communications agencies to ensure alignment with company goals.

Requirements

• 7+ years in corporate communications, public relations, executive communications, or media relations, preferably in high-growth tech or a leading agency.
• Strong background in executive communications, including collaboration with founders or senior leaders on external narratives.
• Demonstrated success in building press relationships and securing media coverage in relevant sectors.
• Exceptional writing and messaging abilities to convey complex subjects clearly.
• Sound judgment in high-pressure, sensitive, or ambiguous communication scenarios.
• Capacity to operate both strategically and hands-on, from planning to drafting content.
• Experience managing external communications agencies or consultants.
• Comfort working across departments with leadership, marketing, product, legal, policy, people, and sales teams.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI, the future of work, labor markets, education, marketplaces, HR tech, or enterprise technology.

Skills & tools

• Corporate communications
• Public relations
• Executive communications
• Media relations
• Narrative development
• Press relationship management
• Crisis communications
• Agency management

Practical notes

This is a Senior Individual Contributor role and does not involve team management. Benefits for full-time US employees include equity, 401(k) match, parental leave, health coverage, learning stipends, flexible PTO, and office perks like free lunch in SF.