Director of Communications, Careers

The role

The Director of Communications, Careers will own the communications strategy for the Careers business. This role involves managing media relations, executive communications, and product launch communications.

What you will do

• Own the Careers communications strategy integrated with the company-wide comms calendar
• Run media relations for Careers
• Serve as executive communications partner to the President and COO and the Chief Education and Workforce Officer
• Turn research and data into stories with the in-house economist and research team
• Lead launch communications for Careers products and partnerships
• Own communications to and about university and employer partners
• Handle Careers inbound inquiries and issues with Legal and the CCO
• Support the Careers story in international markets

Required qualifications

• 8–12 years in communications
• Substantial media relations and executive communications experience
• Working relationships with reporters on the careers, workplace, higher-education and future-of-work beats
• Record of tier-one placements
• Exceptional writer and editor
• Comfortable with data
• Judgment under pressure
• Builds systems, not just stories
• AI-native working style

Nice to have

• Consumer, marketplace, education, workforce or HR-technology background
• Higher-education or workforce-policy background

Benefits

• Equity in a fast-growing company
• 401(k) match
• Competitive compensation
• Financial coaching
• Paid parental leave
• Fertility benefits
• Parental coaching
• Medical, dental, and vision
• Mental health support
• Wellness stipend
• Learning stipend
• Ongoing development

About the company

Handshake is the career network for the AI economy, connecting 30 million job seekers, more than a million employers and 1,600 educational institutions.