Director of Communications

As stewards of the Polkadot ecosystem, Parity is laying the foundation for a better web which respects the freedom and data of individuals and empowers developers to create better services through decentralized technology. The internet is too important to billions of people for it to be at the mercy of a few powerful companies.

Like Polkadot, Parity was built on a foundation of being decentralized and open, which trickles down to how we work. We’re a distributed organization and have been from the beginning. Being distributed isn’t just a way of doing business—it’s a mentality that is at the core of our culture. We have a flat structure that pushes power to the edges and empowers our people to take ownership of their role, authority coupled with responsibilities.

About the position:

This is a greenfield opportunity for an experienced communications leader to have a critical impact on the growth of a rapidly scaling ecosystem and evolution of Polkadot.

As Director of Communications, you will develop ambitious plans and strategies that place Polkadot at the center of the media conversation about building a better web across North and South America. Your assignment is to evolve the Polkadot narrative by illustrating the Web3 vision, becoming a magnetic force and fueling a movement for change, and attracting people both from in and outside the blockchain world. This requires engaging and inspiring a wide range of audiences including consumers, enterprise/business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and developers. Polkadot is built for unbounded innovation, and as such, this is an opportunity to break the mold and be creative in your approach.

You will have a proven track record in building holistic public relations strategies and highly impactful tactical execution. An established network across key media outlets and tech/crypto journalists – particularly the U.S. – will also be key.

Reporting to the VP of Communications, this entrepreneurial role is core to the foundation of the growing Communications team and our mission to cultivate the Web3 community, communicate our purpose, and elevate our brand.

Responsibilities:

• Plan, develop, and direct public relations and communication strategies to position and promote Polkadot throughout the Americas; focusing on steady placement of news stories across blockchain, crypto, tech, and business media.
• Partner with Parity executives and Polkadot ecosystem stakeholders to build their profiles, develop key messages, and identify top opportunities for engagement with media and at industry events.
• Oversee external public relations agencies ensuring consistent results, reporting, and accountability.
• Monitor public narrative and sentiment around Polkadot, Kusama, the Web3 Foundation and other key brands; proposing strategy adjustments and initiatives where relevant, and continually recalibrating and enhancing both strategy and tactics.

• Serve as a source of knowledge and direction on the industry relationships, trends, and conditions that could impact our communication efforts.
• Collaborate with on-chain governance-related initiatives, providing assistance and guidance where needed.

About you:

• 10+ years’ experience in public relations and/or communications roles, ideally in software and technology spaces. Web3/crypto experience a bonus.

• Existing relationships with members of the media who cover our industry in the US, and excellent skills in building relationships with new external stakeholders.
• Proven impact in enabling a tech innovator to punch above its weight in terms of media coverage and speaking opportunities, and successfully establishing an organization as a ‘go to’ expert visionary in emerging tech.

• A self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced, evolving, sometimes ambiguous, and always open environment.

• An ability to project manage and lead cross-functional partners including social media, design, marketing, business development, and finance.
• Excellent verbal and written language skills; fluency in English; proven experience as a senior spokesperson.
• Either direct crypto experience and/or genuine passion and enthusiasm for Web3 and blockchain technology.
• A mindset that lends to taking risks, finding the edge, and questioning the status quo
• A belief that work can and should be fun