Strategic Communications Director

Shift delivers AI agents that transform insurers' most critical work. By combining deep industry expertise and unmatched data resources, Shift provides proven results that have earned the trust of hundreds of the world's leading insurers. Our insurance-grade AI is accurate, explainable, and secure—empowering human experts to move with unmatched speed, total confidence, and a renewed focus on the people they serve. Our culture is built on innovation, trust, and a drive to transform the insurance industry through our SaaS platform. We come from more than 50 different countries and cultures and together we are creating the future of insurance. Learn more at The Opportunity Shift has earned its place as an industry innovator. Now it's time for the world to know it. We are looking for a high-impact Strategic Communications Director to dramatically elevate Shift's profile across tier-1 business and technology media, position our CEO as a preeminent voice in AI and insurtech, and ensure Shift punches well above its weight in market awareness. This is not a traditional PR role. We want a strategist, storyteller, and execution oriented leader who knows how to move markets—someone who has the media relationships, executive presence, and creative instincts to break through the noise and put Shift on the map alongside the most recognized names in AI and enterprise technology. We believe Shift’s story is a powerful one worth telling, and we’re looking for someone who can make it happen. What You'll Do Drive Tier-1 Media Coverage Build and maintain deep relationships with senior journalists, editors, and producers at leading business and technology outlets—including print, digital, and broadcast—across the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, Fortune, CNBC, and sector-specific technology and insurtech media. Pitch and land feature articles, executive interviews, bylines, and well-placed quotes that position Shift as an essential voice in the AI and insurance transformation narrative. Develop compelling, news-driven story angles that resonate beyond the insurance vertical and into mainstream business and technology conversations. Manage all aspects of media relations, including rapid-response to breaking news, proactive pitching, and crisis communications preparedness. Elevate CEO Visibility & Thought Leadership Own the CEO's communications platform end-to-end: develop speeches, keynote presentations, talking points, op-eds, and LinkedIn content that establish a distinct, compelling executive voice. Secure high-profile speaking opportunities at premier AI, insurtech, and investor conferences—including Davos-tier business forums, major technology summits, and industry flagship events. Prepare the CEO for media appearances, panel discussions, podcast interviews, and analyst briefings, ensuring every interaction reinforces Shift's strategic narrative. Build and manage relationships with event organizers, conference program committees, and industry organizations to ensure Shift's leadership is consistently represented on the most prestigious stages. Shape Shift's Strategic Narrative Develop and continuously refine Shift's corporate communications strategy, messaging architecture, and brand narrative in close partnership with the CMO and CEO. Translate complex AI and insurance technology concepts into accessible, persuasive stories for diverse audiences—including business press, investors, partners, and customers. Collaborate across marketing, product, sales, and leadership to ensure a consistent, differentiated voice across all external channels. Monitor the competitive communications landscape and identify opportunities to seize narrative ground and inject Shift into key industry conversations. Operate at the Executive Level Engage comfortably and credibly with Shift's Board of Directors, C-suite, strategic customers, and investor community—advising on communications strategy and representing the company externally when appropriate. Partner directly with the CMO on enterprise-wide communications priorities, budget, agency relationships, and team development. Serve as a trusted advisor and communications counselor to senior leadership on high-stakes announcements, market positioning, and reputational matters. What We're Looking For Required Qualifications 12+ years of progressive communications experience, with meaningful time in senior roles at a high-growth technology company, global PR agency serving tech clients, or both. A verifiable track record of securing feature coverage and prominent placement in tier-1 business and technology media—not just industry trade press. Proven ability to develop CEOs and senior executives as media figures and thought leaders, including speech and presentation development, media training, and conference positioning. A robust, active network of journalist, editor, and producer relationships at top-tier media outlets. Demonstrated success securing executive speaking slots at leading, high-profile industry conferences in AI, enterprise technology, financial services, or insurance. Exceptional writing skills—the ability to craft compelling narratives, speeches, op-eds, briefing documents, and messaging frameworks with minimal direction. Experience operating at the executive level, including advising C-suite and Board stakeholders and managing sensitive communications with discretion. Strongly Preferred Background in or deep familiarity with AI, machine learning, insurtech, or enterprise SaaS—enough to credibly represent Shift's technology and market position. Experience navigating international or multi-market communications, given Shift's global footprint. Track record working with companies at scale-up or growth stage—motivated, entrepreneurial, resourceful, and adept at driving outsized impact with focused resources. Existing relationships with organizers of marquee AI and insurtech conferences (e.g., Money20/20, InsureTech Connect, AI Summit, Davos forums). What It Takes to Succeed You are a hands-on communications leader who knows how to make things happen. You combine strategic vision with a willingness to jump in —developing narratives, driving media outreach, preparing executives, and managing high-priority opportunities from start to finish with a urgency and sound judgement. You are proactive, adaptable, and execution-focused, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced global environment where priorities evolve quickly. You bring creativity, persistence, and strong judgment to every interaction and are motivated by elevating meaningful stories and delivering tangible results. Benefits To support our permanent, full time employees at every stage of their careers and lives, we provide a competitive total rewards and benefits package. Here are the global benefits we’d like to highlight: Flexible remote and hybrid working options Competitive Salary and a variable component tied to personal and company performance Multiple Learning and Development opportunities, including Focus Fridays, a half-day each month to focus on learning and personal growth Generous PTO and paid holidays Mental health benefits 2 MAD Days per year (Make A Difference Days for paid volunteering) Additional benefits may be offered by country, based on your eligibility - ask your recruiter for more information. Intern and Apprentice positions may receive some of these benefits - ask your recruiter for more details. At Shift we strive to be a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from and hire people who will contribute to the diversity of our company, without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other non-merit criteria. Shift Technology is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our application and employment process. Should you require accommodation, please email View email address on click.appcast.io and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs. Please be aware of scammers and only trust correspondence that comes from emails ending in "shift-technology.com". We will never do initial outreach to you via Whatsapp/Text/SMS, never ask for banking information or personal identification numbers (ex. Social Security Number) as part of our recruitment process. Shift Technology does not accept unsolicited CVs from recruiters or employment agencies in response to the Shift Technology Careers page or a Shift Technology social media post. Any unsolicited CVs, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Shift Technology. #J-18808-Ljbffr