Director of Communications

Join Handshake, a leading platform connecting students, employers, and universities. As the Director of Communications, you will shape our corporate communications strategy, elevate our voice in the market, and build trusted relationships with the media and executives. This is a senior individual contributor role that requires strategic storytelling, strong press relationships, and the ability to execute in a fast-moving environment.

• Own and evolve Handshake's corporate communications strategy, focusing on external narrative across various themes.
• Build and manage press relationships within the workforce and AI industries, proactively pitching stories and thought leadership.
• Partner closely with the CEO and leadership team to develop executive narratives, media opportunities, and talking points.
• Comfort working cross-functionally with leadership, marketing, product, legal, policy, people, and sales teams
• Experience managing external communications agencies or consultants
• 7+ years corporate communications, public relations, executive communications, or media relations, ideally in high-growth tech or a top communications agency
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on, from setting the communications strategy to drafting statements, pitches, briefs, and social content
• Strong judgment under pressure, especially in reactive, sensitive, or ambiguous communications moments
• Bonus: experience with AI, future of work, labor markets, education, marketplaces, HR tech, or enterprise technology
• Proven ability to build press relationships and secure meaningful earned media coverage across business, technology, workplace, education, or AI press
• Excellent writing and messaging skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling narratives
• Strong executive communications experience, including partnering with founders, CEOs, or senior leaders on external narrative, media strategy, and thought leadership