Director, Media Relations and Communications

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
2 Locations
Hybrid
193K-265K Annually
Expert/Leader
Healthtech • Other
The Role
Leads Biohub’s media relations, product launch communications, and external visibility strategy across AI, biology, science, and technology audiences. Manages a team of 3–5 communications managers, builds relationships with journalists and influential media creators, secures earned coverage, develops launch narratives, prepares executives for media engagements, serves as a spokesperson, manages reputation and crisis communications, and measures PR impact.
Summary Generated by Built In

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was founded in 2015 by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg to harness the power of technology to pursue some of society’s most ambitious goals — from curing or preventing all disease to transforming how students learn.

At CZI, you’ll join a deeply collaborative, mission-driven community where your work helps drive breakthroughs across our flagship nonprofit organizations, Biohub and Learning Commons. Whether enabling scientific breakthroughs via open science and AI-powered biology or strengthening the tools teachers and students rely on every day, your contributions help turn bold ideas into real-world impact.

Our teams operate at the intersection of innovation and scale, building the infrastructure, partnerships, and capabilities that allow scientists, educators, and innovators to tackle some of the most complex challenges of our time — and to do so with urgency, integrity, and optimism.

The Team

The Operations team is a key partner in enabling Biohub’s pioneering work to combine frontier AI with frontier biology to solve disease and Learning Commons’ mission to build AI infrastructure that aligns how students learn with the tools that shape their learning experiences.

Operations includes our Central Tech, Finance, Marketing & Communications, People, and Real Estate / Workplace / Events / Facilities / Security (REWFS) teams. Together, these teams create the systems, programs, and experiences that empower our partners and colleagues across Biohub and Learning Commons to drive impact. 

This work requires strategic and operational rigor, creativity, and deep collaboration. Whether designing world-class employee experiences, safeguarding data and infrastructure, or shaping how we communicate our impact, Operations plays a critical role in helping deliver meaningful change at scale.

The Opportunity

As Director of Media Relations and Communications, you will lead Biohub’s earned media, product launch communications, and external visibility strategy at the intersection of AI, biology, and public interest.

This is a senior, highly visible role for a communications leader who knows how influence is built today — across journalists, creators, podcasters, newsletter writers, commentators, social-first science and technology voices, and other trusted platforms. You will help bring Biohub’s work to the audiences that matter most, including AI researchers, scientists, technologists, funders, policymakers, and people interested in how AI can accelerate progress toward curing and preventing disease.

You will report to the Vice President of Biohub Communications and lead media and launch communications strategy for Biohub, overseeing a team of 3–5 communications managers. You will bring strong editorial judgment, a sharp sense of what makes a story compelling, and the ability to shape and secure coverage across both established and emerging channels — from national media and trade press to podcasts, newsletters, YouTube, LinkedIn, Substack, and other influential platforms.

What You'll Do
  • Develop and execute comprehensive earned media and influence strategies that reach Biohub’s priority audiences, including AI researchers, scientists, technologists, science and tech media, and broader audiences interested in scientific progress and health.
  • Build a clear point of view on where and how Biohub should show up across today’s media ecosystem — including traditional outlets, podcasts, newsletters, creator-led platforms, social-first media, and other influential channels.
  • Lead communications strategy and execution for Biohub product launches, including AI models, datasets, tools, platforms, and other technical or scientific products.
  • Partner with product, research, marketing, social, editorial, executive communications, and design teams to develop launch narratives, messaging, media plans, briefing strategies, and campaign materials.
  • Identify the right mix of opportunities for each story, from major announcements and product launches to executive visibility, thought leadership, evergreen storytelling, and issues management.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, and influencers across traditional and digital platforms to secure earned media. Knowledge of and experience with science media is a plus but not required. 
  • Serve as the primary media contact, handling background conversations, on-the-record interviews and managing inquiries. Serve as a spokesperson when needed.
  • Prepare senior leadership for media engagements, including providing media coaching, talking points, and briefing materials.
  • Draft, edit, and approve product launch and campaign materials, such as talking points and Q&A and other media-related materials that may be used (e.g., press releases).
  • Reputation and Crisis Management: Help manage communication during potential reputational or other high-stakes issues.
  • Drive earned media, share of voice, and narrative influence while measuring and reporting on media performance, sentiment, and PR campaign impact in partnership with Marketing and Operations.
What You'll Bring
  • 10+ years of experience in media relations, communications, public affairs, or related fields, with deep, established relationships across the modern media ecosystem, including technology, AI, science, business, and health media, as well as podcasts, newsletters, creators, commentators, and other influential platforms.
  • Proven experience leading and developing communications professionals, including managing high-performing teams and fostering a collaborative, accountable culture in complex, fast-paced environments.
  • A proven track record of securing high-impact earned coverage and shaping public narratives around complex technology, science, AI, biotech, or health topics.
  • Demonstrated in-house communications experience supporting technology, AI, scientific research, biotech, or other innovation-driven organizations.
  • Comfort with managing multiple fast-moving workstreams—from product launches to evergreen pitching.
  • Experience leading communications for product launches, ideally involving AI/ML, developer tools, research platforms, biotech, scientific software, open-source tools, datasets, models, or other technical products.
  • Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with strong instincts for what will resonate with AI and technology journalists and other audiences interested in scientific progress and health; ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling narratives while balancing accuracy, optimism, and credibility.
  • Demonstrated ability to remain steady, solutions-oriented, and effective in rapidly evolving and often ambiguous environments.
  • Experience managing PR and agency partners and working cross-functionally with product, marketing, research, and executive stakeholders.
  • Track record of effectively advising and influencing senior executives and stakeholders on media strategy.
  • Excitement and optimism for the opportunity AI presents in accelerating scientific research and discovery.
Compensation

The Redwood City, CA, and New York City, NY base pay range for a new hire in this role is $193,000- $265,100. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. 

This position may be eligible to participate in our discretionary annual performance bonus program. Bonus eligibility and targets are determined in accordance with our total rewards philosophy and may vary by role.

Better Together

As we grow, we’re excited to strengthen in-person connections and cultivate a collaborative, team-oriented environment. This role is a hybrid position requiring you to be onsite for at least 60% of the working month, approximately 3 days a week, with specific in-office days determined by the team’s manager. The exact schedule will be at the hiring manager's discretion and communicated during the interview process.

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

  • Provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
  • Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
  • Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
  • Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

#LI-Hybrid 

      

Skills Required

  • 10+ years of experience in media relations, communications, public affairs, or related fields
  • Established relationships across technology, AI, science, business, health media, podcasts, newsletters, creators, commentators, and influential platforms
  • Experience leading and developing communications professionals and managing high-performing teams
  • Track record of securing high-impact earned coverage and shaping narratives around technology, science, AI, biotech, or health topics
  • In-house communications experience supporting technology, AI, scientific research, biotech, or innovation-driven organizations
  • Experience managing multiple fast-moving workstreams, including product launches and evergreen pitching
  • Experience leading communications for technical product launches
  • Exceptional communication, storytelling, editing, and technical concept translation skills
  • Ability to work effectively in rapidly evolving and ambiguous environments
  • Experience managing PR and agency partners and collaborating cross-functionally
  • Experience advising and influencing senior executives and stakeholders on media strategy
  • Science media experience
  • Technical product launch experience involving AI/ML, developer tools, research platforms, biotech, scientific software, open-source tools, datasets, or models

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and has not been reviewed or approved by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

  • Healthcare Strength Employer-paid health, dental, and vision for employees with substantial dependent support, plus mental wellness, disability, and life insurance, indicate comprehensive medical coverage. Feedback suggests this materially lowers out-of-pocket burden and supports sustained wellbeing.
  • Parental & Family Support Paid parental leave with a phased ‘ease back’ option, backup child/adult/elder care, and family-forming benefits (infertility, surrogacy, adoption) show robust caregiver support. Feedback suggests these policies ease major life transitions and reduce caregiver strain.
  • Flexible Benefits A flexible annual stipend usable for housing, student loans, childcare, or commuting, alongside commuter subsidies and on-site conveniences, points to adaptable benefits aligned to individual needs. Feedback suggests this flexibility enhances perceived value beyond base pay.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Insights

Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: San Francisco, CA
Year Founded: 2015

Similar Jobs

ZS Logo ZS

Consultant

Artificial Intelligence • Healthtech • Professional Services • Analytics • Consulting
Hybrid
5 Locations
15000 Employees
160K-177K Annually

Upside Logo Upside

Human Resources Business Partner

Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Machine Learning • Mobile • Payments • Retail • Software
Hybrid
2 Locations
275 Employees
127K-160K Annually

monday.com Logo monday.com

Customer Success Manager

Artificial Intelligence • Productivity • Sales • Software
Hybrid
New York, NY, USA
3155 Employees
102K-129K Annually

ServiceNow Logo ServiceNow

Enterprise Account Exec (Armis/Veza)

Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • HR Tech • Information Technology • Productivity • Software • Automation
Remote or Hybrid
New York, NY, USA
29000 Employees
114K-165K Annually

Similar Companies Hiring

OneImaging Thumbnail
Healthtech
Miami, FL
62 Employees
Rosendin Thumbnail
Other • Manufacturing
San Jose, CA
6219 Employees
OmniCable Thumbnail
Other
Houston, Texas
815 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account