Director, Communications

Away•New York, NY

1d•$150,000 - $175,000•Onsite

About The Position

We believe travel makes us better. Launched in 2016 with one perfectly designed carry-on, we now offer a range of luggage and travel essentials for every journey. Together we create, innovate, and embark on this journey as a community of travelers, helping to make travel more seamless for everyone. Join The Crew We are hiring a Director, Communications to join our team. This role reports to the Vice President of Brand Marketing and takes Away further by leading the brand’s enterprise-wide communications strategy. Sitting at the intersection of brand storytelling, media strategy, reputation management, and employee experience, this role ensures Away speaks with one clear, compelling, and consistent voice both externally to the world and internally to our global team. In addition to the responsibilities below, this position will oversee an Associate Manager of PR, an Internal Communications Manager, and agency relationships. What you’ll do as the Director, Communications Public Relations & Communications You’ll own Away’s external communications strategy, positioning Away as a leader in travel, culture, and purpose while amplifying brand equity and awareness You’ll align the PR calendar and VIP activations with overarching business goals and cross-functional priorities You’ll manage media sentiment and industry risk across key outlets while leading the strategy for top-tier national media You’ll identify cultural moments, trends, and blank canvas opportunities to develop compelling press angles, story pipelines, and launch strategies that drive relevance and impact You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Team, shaping and directing both external thought leadership and moments of opportunity to further drive brand awareness and business growth You’ll establish and oversee the KPI framework for PR, translating media performance into actionable business insights and demonstrating the impact of earned media on brand awareness and organic growth You’ll oversee crisis management, preparing for potential crises with real-time response plans and deploying crisis communication strategies if ever required You’ll direct the strategy, planning, and execution of PR-driven events and media moments to drive earned media, social amplification, and brand equity Internal Communications & Employer Branding You’ll own Away’s internal communications strategy, ensuring employees are informed, inspired, and aligned to company priorities, values, and performance goals You’ll oversee internal communication channels (including all-hands, intranet/newsletters, leadership updates, and employee-facing messaging), ensuring clarity, cadence, and effectiveness You’ll be a trusted partner to the People Leadership team, crafting internal executive communications across company performance, transformation, change, and moments of complexity You’ll translate key messages from external platforms internally to reinforce company values and strategic priorities You’ll develop and maintain a cohesive company narrative that reinforces Away’s mission, culture, and EVP, connecting day-to-day work to long-term vision You’ll own our LinkedIn and non-traditional media strategies to expand our authority and influence, enabling employees to be thought leaders and brand advocates through guidance, resources, and content support

Requirements

You bring a minimum of 7 years of progressive communications experience, spanning PR, external communications, and internal employee communications, ideally with a mix of agency and in-house environments
You have a proven track record of managing teams and driving results in a fast-paced, global environment
You are a strategic thinker who can move seamlessly between high-level vision and tactical execution
You have strong instincts for culture, timing, and narrative
You are a self-starter who doesn't just initiate projects, but builds the frameworks and systems needed to sustain them with total autonomy
You have a deep, existing network of top-tier contacts
You have extensive experience as an on-the-record spokesperson for both print and broadcast media
You can conceptualize newsworthy moments and evergreen narratives even when the hook isn't obvious
You are a world-class writer and editor across all formats (executive scripts, crisis statements, Q&As)
You’re creative and innovative; you love to build great new things that are fresh and unique while staying on brand
You’re agile, and motivated by a fast-paced and ever changing environment
You’re passionate about transforming travel for all (but that’s a given!)

Responsibilities

Own Away’s external communications strategy, positioning Away as a leader in travel, culture, and purpose while amplifying brand equity and awareness
Align the PR calendar and VIP activations with overarching business goals and cross-functional priorities
Manage media sentiment and industry risk across key outlets while leading the strategy for top-tier national media
Identify cultural moments, trends, and blank canvas opportunities to develop compelling press angles, story pipelines, and launch strategies that drive relevance and impact
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Team, shaping and directing both external thought leadership and moments of opportunity to further drive brand awareness and business growth
Establish and oversee the KPI framework for PR, translating media performance into actionable business insights and demonstrating the impact of earned media on brand awareness and organic growth
Oversee crisis management, preparing for potential crises with real-time response plans and deploying crisis communication strategies if ever required
Direct the strategy, planning, and execution of PR-driven events and media moments to drive earned media, social amplification, and brand equity
Own Away’s internal communications strategy, ensuring employees are informed, inspired, and aligned to company priorities, values, and performance goals
Oversee internal communication channels (including all-hands, intranet/newsletters, leadership updates, and employee-facing messaging), ensuring clarity, cadence, and effectiveness
Be a trusted partner to the People Leadership team, crafting internal executive communications across company performance, transformation, change, and moments of complexity
Translate key messages from external platforms internally to reinforce company values and strategic priorities
Develop and maintain a cohesive company narrative that reinforces Away’s mission, culture, and EVP, connecting day-to-day work to long-term vision
Own our LinkedIn and non-traditional media strategies to expand our authority and influence, enabling employees to be thought leaders and brand advocates through guidance, resources, and content support

Benefits

Take care of yourself and your family through our health insurance offerings
Invest in your future by participating in our 401(k) (with a company match!)
Find balance through our many paid time off programs (vacation, wellbeing, holidays, summer Fridays, and compassion leave - just to name a few!)
Build your travel uniform through discount codes, product stipends, and giveaways
Give back through company-sponsored volunteer and charitable opportunities

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