Communications Lead, US Expansion

JOB DESCRIPTION

What You'll Do  

• Build and execute strategic communications plans and campaigns to build and defend our reputation in new markets and local communities, and generate awareness and advocacy for Zipline’s work and operations. We want to educate the community, build awareness and trust of drone delivery, and love for Zipline service. 
• Create and deploy strategic communications plans and initiatives to ensure successful approvals to operate, and support ramp up, launch and early operations in new markets. 
• Build relationships with traditional media, new media, local media, creators, influencers and YouTubers to pitch stories, manage stories, and correct inaccuracies.
• Lead external strategic storytelling, including story mining, arranging and staffing interviews, drafting messaging and media materials, writing FAQs and prepping spokespeople.
• Work with key stakeholders, customers and third parties to ensure support for Zipline and drone delivery in local markets, and amplify that support.
• Manage and support external events from end-to-end with a PR lens.
• Lead the development of media-facing materials including messaging, blog posts, press releases, talking points, bylines, reactive statements, speeches, videos, and briefing materials.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the company, staff media tours, interviews and host launch events.
• Provide sharp, strategic PR counsel to our business teams as needed, including our P2 Business Operations team.
• Work cross-functionally with the following teams: P2 Business Operations, New Deployments, Community, Government Relations, Customer Success, Flight Operations, P2 Maintenance Operations, Marketing and Design.
• Manage and triage issues, should they arise. 

What You'll Bring 

• 7+ years strategic communications experience in a fast-paced environment; agency, politics or in-house tech experience is preferred. 
• Proven experience working directly with the media, cultivating relationships with reporters, and building and executing strategic communications plans. Past work experience with creators, influencers and new media is a plus. 
• Excellent attention to detail, project management and writing skills, paired with exceptional judgment and a strong understanding of the U.S. media landscape.
• Curiosity, creativity, and a passion for storytelling along with the ability to sniff out potential newshooks and stories.
• Prior success collaborating cross-functionally with diverse, globally distributed teams.
• Ability to travel for work (approximately 30%)