VP of PR/External Communications Lead

VP of PR/External Communications Lead Overview

JetBrains is seeking a highly experienced Vice President of Public Relations and External Communications to lead the company’s global external messaging efforts. This senior role involves managing and executing strategies to protect and enhance the company’s reputation, develop a compelling strategic narrative, and establish thought leadership across markets. The successful candidate will be responsible for building a robust PR operating model, including creating playbooks, message frameworks, editorial calendars, and conducting perception studies. They will oversee the delivery of the company’s narrative worldwide, ensuring consistency and impact across regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and direct the company’s external communication initiatives at a corporate level, safeguarding and growing the company’s public image.
• Design and implement a strategic narrative to improve market positioning, especially targeting the US visibility gap.
• Develop thought leadership programs and cultivate a team of spokespersons to represent the company publicly.
• Establish and maintain the PR operational framework, including playbooks, messaging, and perception analysis.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external agencies to execute PR strategies effectively and manage large-scale budgets.
• Build and sustain relationships with top-tier US technology media outlets to increase media coverage and influence.
• Lead crisis communication efforts to handle reputational risks proactively.
• Lead a distributed PR team across different regions, ensuring alignment with global objectives and regional nuances.

Required Skills and Experience

• Over 10 years of experience in technology public relations, with senior leadership roles, ideally in B2B, developer, enterprise, or infrastructure sectors.
• Proven success in building and leading distributed PR teams across multiple regions, with a focus on US market results.
• Expertise in narrative-led PR, translating strategic stories into market presence rather than just issuing press releases.
• Experience in developing thought leadership initiatives and preparing spokespersons for public engagement.
• Strong crisis communication skills and experience managing sensitive issues.
• Ability to manage agency relationships and large PR budgets effectively.
• Comfort working with technical audiences, especially developers, and understanding complex topics like AI transitions.
• Preferred: Experience working within an AI or developer tools company during a strategic positioning shift.
• Preferred: Existing relationships with top-tier US technology media outlets.
• Ability to operate comfortably across US and European time zones to coordinate global PR efforts.

Benefits

• Lead the external communications for a globally recognized technology company.
• Work in an innovative environment focused on developing powerful developer tools.
• Join a diverse and inclusive workplace that values ideas from all backgrounds.
• Opportunities for career advancement within a leading tech organization.
• Engage with cutting-edge topics such as AI and developer tools.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

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