Brand & Storytelling Lead

Kaizen Labs•New York, NY

9d•$150,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Government technology has failed the public for decades, and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services. Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern, AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation, and now we're building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service. Our platform already reaches 40 million residents across 50+ agencies in 17 states. Founded in 2022 and based in New York City, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital. We're builders, designers, and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn’t be a luxury in government. It’s how you earn trust back. Kaizen has built something real — 40M residents, 50+ agencies, 17 states — and most people have never heard of us. That changes now - we're at the point where our brand needs to do serious work: recruit mission-driven talent, win federal contracts, build credibility with investors, and make Kaizen a name that people in government, tech, and public life actually know. This is not a production role, it's a builder role — the person who figures out what Kaizen's brand should be and then makes it happen across every channel. You'll own editorial content, short films, the website, social presence, executive storytelling, and the long game of making this company iconic. You'll work directly with our co-founders, and you'll have the latitude to move fast and make big calls.

Requirements

6–10 years building brand and content at a company where the brand actually mattered — not maintaining it, building it
A portfolio that shows range and point of view: editorial content, brand systems, video storytelling, executive comms — and evidence that your work traveled beyond its original channel (a portfolio link is required as part of your application)
Sharp instincts for narrative and positioning — you think about why something should exist before you make it
Comfort operating as a one-person function with contractors underneath you, not a peer team around you
AI-native workflow: you use tools to scale your output and stay ahead of what's possible
Strong writing skills — good enough to ghost-write for executives and produce editorial content that earns an audience on its own

Nice To Haves

Have built a brand function from scratch at an early-stage company — before there was a playbook
Have experience in govtech, defense tech, or any sector where the buyer is skeptical and the mission is serious
Have grown an audience on their own — a newsletter, a channel, a following — and understand distribution from the inside

Responsibilities

Define and execute Kaizen's external brand strategy — what we stand for, how we show up, and how we build recognition across government, tech, and the public
Own the content engine: editorial (LinkedIn, Substack, written longform), short films, YouTube, podcasts, and anything else that puts Kaizen on the map
Write and produce executive communications that travel — board updates, investor narratives, op-eds, media appearances
Build toward long-term brand goals and treat distribution as part of the creative work, not an afterthought
Partner with sales and proposals on assets that win contracts: case studies, one-pagers, pitch materials
Quarterback external vendors and contractors — PR firms, video production, freelancers — and direct their output without being dependent on them

Benefits

Comprehensive medical through Oxford/United — Gold and Platinum PPO plans, with 85% of premiums covered on the Platinum plan and a $0 employee premium option.
Dental through Guardian PPO and vision through Beam, with 99% of employee premiums covered and 50% for dependents.
$100,000 in fully paid life insurance.
FSA and Dependent Care FSA.
401(k) access through Guideline.
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents.
10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.
Unlimited PTO, closed for all federal holidays, and company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.
Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees.
$500 for remote employees.
$50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).
Expensed lunch 3x a week while in the office.
Company-provided laptop.
Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value, on us.
For remote employees, $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement.
$300/quarter pet care stipend.
$100/month utility stipend.
$500/year professional development.
$250/year recreation.