About the RoleThis 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 DoMedia 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
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
