Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Director, Media Relations and Communications

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative$193K — $265K *
Media
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in media relations, communications, or public affairs.
  • Established relationships across modern media ecosystems including tech, AI, and science.
  • Proven leadership in managing and developing communications teams.
  • Track record of securing high-impact media coverage for complex topics like AI and biotech.
  • Experience leading communications for product launches, ideally in tech or scientific fields.
  • Excellent storytelling skills, able to translate complex concepts into engaging narratives.
  • Experience advising senior executives on media strategy.

Responsibilities

  • Develop comprehensive media and influence strategies targeting key audiences.
  • Identify optimal media channels for engagement, including podcasts and social media.
  • Lead communications for product launches and ensure coherent messaging.
  • Collaborate with various teams to craft narratives and media plans for launches.
  • Maintain strong relationships with media professionals across different platforms.
  • Act as primary media contact, managing inquiries and conducting interviews.
  • Prepare leadership for media engagements with effective coaching and materials.

Benefits

  • Generous employer match on 401(k) contributions.
  • Paid time off for employee volunteer activities.
  • Funding for family-forming benefits.
  • Relocation assistance for employees.
Full Job Description
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

About Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is a philanthropic organization that was founded in 2015 by Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, and his wife Priscilla Chan. The organizationâ??s mission is to â??build a more inclusive, just, and healthy future for everyone.â?? CZI focuses on a range of areas, including education, science, and justice and opportunity. The organization has made a number of high-profile donations and investments, including a $3 billion commitment to medical research and a $250 million investment in a fund that supports affordable housing. CZI is also involved in a number of initiatives aimed at improving education, including a program that provides funding to schools to help them implement personalized learning programs.
Learn more about Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
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200 employees
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