Director, Media & Relations

Director, Media & Relations

San Francisco, United States
Become a digital, global citizen and enable the new generation of digital entrepreneurs around the world. AppDirect offers a subscription commerce platform to sell any product, through any channel, on any device - as a service. We power millions of subscriptions worldwide for organizations. We do this by our values-driven culture - one that enables you to Be Seen, Be Yourself, and Do Your Best Work.
About the Role

This is a high-impact, high-visibility role for a senior PR professional who wants to own the media narrative for a growing company. As Media Relations Director, you'll shape and execute our earned media strategy, working directly with executives to land stories in top-tier business and technology outlets. We're looking for someone with deep journalist relationships, sharp instincts, and the ability to turn company moments into compelling coverage. If you want a seat at the table—not a seat at an agency—this is it.
What You'll Do

Media Relations Strategy & Execution
Own the full media relations function end-to-end—strategy through execution
Develop and drive a proactive, calendar-driven PR program aligned with product launches, company milestones, and brand priorities
Identify and pursue compelling story angles that resonate with journalists and align with business goals
Pitch relentlessly—leverage your relationships to secure placements in tier-1 outlets (WSJ, Forbes, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, NYT, Fast Company, etc.) and top industry trades
Manage inbound media inquiries with speed and sound judgment
Write and produce all media materials: press releases, pitches, media alerts, bylines, op-eds, briefing docs, talking points, and Q&As
Brief and prep executives for interviews; provide real-time support during media engagements
Monitor news cycles and identify rapid-response opportunities to insert our POV into relevant conversations
Media Relations
Maintain and grow a robust network of journalist relationships across business, tech, and trade media
Be the kind of PR pro who can pick up the phone and get a reporter's attention—not just send cold emails
Track journalist beats, interests, and coverage patterns to personalize outreach and increase hit rates
Build trust with reporters through transparency, reliability, and delivering quality stories
Analyst Relations Support
Partner with our analyst relations contractor to coordinate messaging and briefings with firms like Gartner, Forrester, and IDC
Align media narratives with analyst positioning and ensure consistency across external audiences
Support analyst report cycles and inquiries as needed
Thought Leadership & Executive Visibility
Develop and pitch thought leadership content (bylines, op-eds, podcast appearances, speaking opps) to elevate executive profiles
Position our leaders as credible voices on industry trends, innovation, and company mission
Ghostwrite or heavily support executive content for external publication
Measurement & Reporting
Track and report on media coverage quality, volume, sentiment, and share of voice vs. competitors
Provide regular updates to leadership on PR program performance and media landscape insights
Use media monitoring tools to stay ahead of relevant news and competitive activity
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with Product Marketing, Content, Demand Gen, and Executive Comms to align messaging
Work with Legal and HR on sensitive communications when needed
Collaborate with events and campaigns teams to maximize PR around key moments
AI Integration & Media Evolution
Leverage AI tools and platforms to augment daily workflows, media research, content creation, and real-time monitoring, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
Proactively analyze the evolving media landscape through the ever evolving AI lens, understanding its impact on reporting, discovery, and audience engagement.
Develop and implement forward-thinking PR strategies that capitalize on AI-driven changes, ensuring our media relations efforts remain innovative and effective in achieving organizational goals.
What We're Looking For

10+ years in PR/media relations, ideally a mix of agency and in-house experience
You have real, working relationships with reporters at major business and tech outlets (e.g., TechCrunch, WSJ, Forbes, relevant industry trades). You don't just pitch—you get replies.
You can do it all: write tight copy, craft compelling pitches, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results
Background in B2B tech, SaaS, or enterprise software strongly preferred
Native news instincts. You know what makes a story, how to frame it, and when to strike
Comfortable working directly with C-suite; able to prep, coach, and support execs in media moments
Self starter: You thrive with autonomy and high accountability
Strong project management and organizational skills
Exceptional writing and editing abilities—press releases, pitches, bylines, talking points
Experience with analyst relations a plus, but not required—you'll learn our program
Proficiency with media databases (Cision, Muck Rack, etc.), monitoring tools, and Google Workspace
At AppDirect, we believe that innovation thrives in an environment that houses diversity of excellence, experience and thought. We respect each AppDirector as their own fingerprint; unique with no one alike. We foster an environment of inclusion without regard to race, religion, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity enabling AppDirectors to embrace their uniqueness to do their best work. As such, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities.
At AppDirect we take privacy very seriously. For more information about our use and handling of personal data from job applicants, please read our Candidate Privacy Policy. For more information of our general privacy practices, please see AppDirect Privacy Notice:
https://www.appdirect.com/about/privacy-notice
The salary band listed above reflects the expected annual base salary or OTE (on-target earnings) for this role at AppDirect and may be subject to change. Base salary or OTE is just one component of AppDirect's total compensation package. In addition to base pay, regular employees may be eligible for performance-based bonuses and a full range of benefits.
California Pay Transparency
$199,206 - $246,078 USD