ava-labs - Director of Communications, Ava Labs

• EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS • Develop and execute proactive media and positioning strategies for Ava Labs' key executives, including the CEO, President, and other senior leaders • Build and maintain spokesperson messaging, briefing materials, talking points, and media prep • Ensure leadership shows up with consistency, conviction, and credibility across media, panels, and public platforms • Identify and shape executive thought leadership opportunities across earned media and speaking • MEDIA RELATIONS • Own the relationships with journalists and editors across tier 1 business press (Bloomberg, WSJ, FT, Fortune, Forbes), financial media, and crypto-native publications • Drive proactive story development — not just reactive pitching • Manage embargoes, exclusives, and launch communications with precision • Build and maintain a forward-looking media calendar tied to company priorities • BRAND & NARRATIVE • Serve as the communications owner of Avalanche's core narrative: "Technology Built for Business" • Develop and maintain messaging frameworks, press materials, FAQs, and positioning documents • Ensure narrative consistency across all earned media touchpoints • Partner closely with marketing and growth on brand launches, campaigns, and major announcements • SPEAKING & CONFERENCE STRATEGY • Own the global speaking pipeline from sourcing to execution • Evaluate and prioritize conference opportunities based on audience quality, narrative fit, and strategic value • Ensure all confirmed speakers are properly prepared with current messaging and context • AGENCY & TEAM MANAGEMENT • Manage the external PR agency relationship, setting strategy and holding the agency accountable to outcomes — not activity • Build and develop a lean internal communications team over time • RAPID RESPONSE & ISSUES MANAGEMENT • Serve as the communications lead on breaking news, industry developments, and reputational moments • Proactively identify risks and opportunities in the media and narrative landscape • Develop and maintain rapid response protocols • AVALANCHE SUMMIT & EVENTS • Build and own the media strategy for Avalanche Summit NYC and other major ecosystem moments • Manage press outreach, credentialing, briefing coordination, and post-event narrative amplification • 8-10 years of communications experience, with meaningful time spent in crypto, Web3, fintech, and institutional finance • Demonstrable experience working closely with C-suite executives on communications strategy and media positioning • Established relationships with journalists and editors at tier 1 business, financial, and crypto-native publications • Deep fluency in the crypto and blockchain landscape — you understand the technology, the culture, and the institutional dynamics simultaneously • Exceptional writer across all formats: media pitches, press releases, talking points, op-eds, briefing documents, and long-form narrative • Proven track record of securing meaningful, proactive media coverage — not just press release distribution • Experience managing external agencies and holding them accountable to real outcomes • Based on the East Coast; NYC preferred for in-person collaboration • YOUR AWESOME IFS • Prior experience at a Layer 1 or Layer 2 blockchain protocol, major crypto exchange, or institutional platform • Existing relationships within the crypto media ecosystem and with relevant financial press • Experience building or rebuilding a communications function inside a fast-moving company • Familiarity with Avalanche's ecosystem, architecture, positioning, and community • Background spanning both consumer/retail crypto audiences and institutional finance communications