Director, Communications & Editorial Strategy

Builders Network

23h • $120,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Builders is seeking a communications leader to own its communications and editorial strategy and lead its earned media operation. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this role leads traditional communications and PR while extending across communication channels, including CRM, SMS, social, and campaign messaging. The leader will drive coverage across national and Texas outlets, independent media, creators, and emerging platforms, and help shape how Builders communicates across channels and strengthens its audience strategy.

The role calls for a plugged-in leader in news, politics, media, or lifestyle who has mastered earned media and built trusted relationships across the political media landscape. It combines communications leadership with editorial strategy, emphasizing clear, credible, cross-partisan messaging and thoughtful engagement in civic, cultural, and political conversations.

Requirements

• 7–10 years of PR or communications experience, with most of that experience in earned media, including pitching, placing, and managing press.
• At least 2 years leading strategy or managing people.
• A proven pitching track record, including placements driven in national and major regional outlets and an understanding of why those pitches succeeded.
• Established relationships with political, civic, and national news reporters, producers, bookers, and creators, with credibility across the political spectrum and deep familiarity with relevant beats, outlets, and fault lines.
• Experience advising senior leaders on communications strategy, reputation, and rapid response, including supporting executive spokespeople or public figures in media contexts.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and editorial judgment, including the ability to produce compelling pitches, press releases, op-eds, and reactive statements under deadline for politically diverse audiences.
• Experience managing team members or freelancers and building a high-performing function, with willingness to do hands-on work.
• Technology-forward mindset and fluency in the modern PR technology stack, including AI tools.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment where priorities shift.
• Genuine enthusiasm for Builders' cross-partisan mission and belief in reaching people across both sides of the aisle.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with the Texas political and media landscape, including key outlets, reporters, and civic players.
• Experience building or growing a trusted editorial voice, publication, or newsletter, including using audience analytics.
• Experience in nonprofit, advocacy, or civic sector communications.

Responsibilities

• Set and own Builders' communications strategy, aligning earned media, editorial, and organizational priorities with clear goals and measures of success.
• Determine if, when, and how Builders engages in cultural, political, and civic conversations at the national and Texas levels.
• Lead crisis and rapid-response communications, aligning messaging across channels during key news cycles.
• Develop messaging and communications frameworks for campaigns and evergreen content, ensuring consistency, clarity, and cross-partisan credibility.
• Lead and develop communications and editorial team members and freelancers, setting standards for quality, speed, and voice.
• Own the communications technology stack and champion thoughtful use of AI tools.
• Report on coverage, share of voice, and audience impact, using data to inform strategic decisions.
• Lead proactive earned media by identifying story angles, shaping pitches, and securing coverage across national outlets and key regional markets, especially Texas.
• Monitor news and culture in real time to identify reactive opportunities and respond credibly and quickly.
• Build creator relationships as an earned media channel, in partnership with the Social team.
• Build and expand trust-based relationships with journalists, producers, and editors covering politics, civic life, and solutions-oriented news.
• Define and operationalize the Builders lens: balanced, solution-oriented, values-driven commentary that protects organizational reputation and public trust.
• Distill complex policy and political issues into compelling, non-partisan content that moves audiences beyond us-versus-them thinking and surfaces common ground.
• Lead the editorial calendar for the Builders and Builders TX newsletters, blog, and SMS, and contribute to social channels, aligning earned media moments with owned content.

Benefits

• Competitive annual compensation.
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance, with company coverage options of 100%.
• 25 days of paid time off: 20 personal days and 5 sick days.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Flexible, remote-friendly work environment.
• Charitable gift matching program.
• Opportunity to make a real impact through day-to-day work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed