Director, Communications

What You Will Do

Build and Maintain Press Relationships

• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and outlets covering fintech, payments, and consumer brands Cardless partners with.
• Understand each outlet's beat and angle to pitch relevant stories.
• Track trade and business press landscape for coverage of card programs, co-brand partnerships, and embedded finance.
• Represent Cardless credibly in conversations with press on background, on the record, and in between.

Drive Executive Visibility

• Identify and pursue interviews, bylines, panels, and speaking opportunities for Cardless leadership.
• Prepare executives for press interactions with talking points and likely questions.
• Build a cadence of thought leadership that reinforces Cardless's positioning.
• Work with Product Marketing to ensure public statements align with company messaging.

Land Partner and Launch Announcements

• Plan and execute PR for new brand partnerships, including joint announcements with partner comms teams.
• Navigate partner comms approval processes for timely, accurate announcements.
• Turn partner launches into press moments that reinforce Cardless's market narrative.
• Coordinate timing across press, product, and partnerships teams.

Own PR Operations and Reporting

• Draft and manage press releases, media kits, and briefing documents.
• Track coverage quality and report on performance.
• Maintain media lists and outreach systems.
• Flag reputational risks or negative coverage early and coordinate responses.

What We Are Looking For

• Media Relationships: Established relationships with reporters and editors covering fintech, payments, or consumer brands.
• News Judgment: Ability to identify stories and shape company updates for reporters.
• Executive Prep: Skill in preparing executives for interviews to enhance confidence and clarity.
• Writing: Clean, fast, accurate writing of press materials without multiple revisions.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Ability to manage joint announcements with partners and internal teams.
• Composure Under Pressure: Level-headed response to unexpected story developments.

This is a hands-on individual contributor role focused on pitching, writing, and relationship-building. It is not a fit if you prefer directing agencies, view PR as post-news activity, prefer only scripted moments, want independent PR and product marketing, or are uncomfortable holding the line on launch timing.

Compensation

Annual starting salary range of $175,000–$220,000 + equity + benefits. Actual compensation influenced by skills, experience, and work location.

Benefits

• Meaningful start-up equity
• 100% health, vision & dental primary coverage; 75% for dependents
• Catered lunches
• $250/month commuter benefit
• Parental leave
• Team building events & happy hours
• Flexible PTO with minimum 15 days off per year
• Apple equipment
• 401k plan