Director, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs

Invariant LLC•Washington, DC

1d•$175,000 - $200,000

About The Position

Do you have a passion for building brands, positioning executives, and managing issues? More importantly, do you want to operate with Chief Communications Officer-level authority for multiple high-growth startups simultaneously? Invariant seeks a Director/Senior Director to serve as fractional Chief Communications Officer for multiple Series A-C technology startups at a time. In this role, you'll be the senior-most communications executive for venture-backed companies building their first communications functions. While your title is Senior Director at Invariant, you'll operate with CCO-level responsibility and strategic authority for your client portfolio. Our clients range from well-known Fortune 500 companies to the most disruptive start-ups in the country, but in this role, you'll focus on venture-backed technology companies at critical growth inflection points. You'll help founders and C-suite executives solve complex challenges, create opportunities for growth, and break through busy news cycles, long social media feeds, and hectic calendars to influence the audiences that matter most to their businesses. Invariant is a different kind of firm. We look at communications, public affairs, government relations, and business strategy holistically. You will do challenging, impactful work here. If that sounds interesting to you, come join us. You'll operate with strategic authority, advising at the highest levels while building your career within Invariant's growing platform. This model offers the best of both worlds—deep client impact and equity-building work without the operational burden of being a full-time startup executive. You should be energized by serving as the senior communications leader for multiple companies, translating between founder vision and audience reality, and building communications functions that outlast your engagement. This role requires comfort with autonomy and ambiguity. You'll often be the most senior communications voice in the room, which means building strategies from scratch, educating leadership on communications best practices, and making judgment calls independently.

Requirements

8-10+ years of strategic communications experience with demonstrated success operating at a senior level in technology, venture-backed, or high-growth environments. Agency experience with embedded client models strongly preferred.
Proven ability to operate with CCO-level strategic authority, whether as an in-house communications leader, fractional executive, or senior agency advisor to C-suite clients
Deep expertise in at least one core discipline: content marketing & B2B media relations, talent brand & digital strategy, or fundraising communications & tech media—with ability to orchestrate integrated strategies across all three
Startup fluency: you understand the resource constraints, rapid pivots, and pace of Series A-C companies, and know how to deliver outsized impact with limited budgets and small teams
Context-switching excellence: comfortable managing multiple client relationships simultaneously, each with different industries, growth stages, founder personalities, and stakeholder priorities
Relationship capital across the startup ecosystem: existing networks with tech media (TechCrunch, The Information, Protocol), press contacts, B2B/enterprise tech journalists, and startup-focused podcasters/newsletter writers
Deeply curious about technology and business strategy, with the ability to quickly master complex technical concepts and translate them into compelling narratives for investors, customers, and talent
A strategic thinker and creative problem-solver who sees around corners, anticipates client needs, and brings innovative approaches to traditional challenges
Digitally native and platform-savvy, with proven success developing integrated strategies that leverage new media, social platforms, and emerging channels to reach and influence target audiences
AI-proficient and forward-thinking about how emerging tools can enhance research, analysis, content creation, and client service delivery
An exceptional writer and editor who can move seamlessly between executive memos, media pitches, thought leadership content, social media, and investor communications
Comfortable in complexity, thriving in fast-paced, high-pressure environments where you're managing multiple clients, tight deadlines, and evolving priorities
A natural leader who can manage both up and down, providing clear direction to junior staff while earning trust with senior clients and firm leadership
Entrepreneurial and growth-minded, eager to contribute to business development, shape the firm's offerings, and help us continue our trajectory from startup to industry leader
Proficient in use of digital software and technology, including media databases such as Cision and Meltwater, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Responsibilities

Serve as the embedded communications leader for multiple Series A-C technology companies, acting as their fractional CCO and senior-most communications strategist
Drive revenue growth through content marketing strategies, cultivation of B2B/enterprise tech media relationships, and strategic positioning in business and trade publications that reach enterprise buyers and decision-makers
Fuel talent acquisition by building employer brand via social/digital channels, pitching tech culture newsletters and podcasts, and crafting narratives that attract top engineering and product talent in competitive markets
Support fundraising success through media relations, executive communications for funding announcements, and tech media relationships that maximize raise visibility and investor confidence
Build communications infrastructure from the ground up, establishing processes, messaging frameworks, measurement systems, and best practices for companies with nascent or non-existent communications functions
Provide strategic counsel directly to founders and C-suite executives, serving as their trusted advisor on reputation management, market positioning, crisis preparedness, and stakeholder engagement
Develop integrated campaigns that orchestrate across all three business objectives—revenue, talent, fundraising—ensuring communications investments deliver measurable business outcomes
Mentor junior Invariant team members who support your client accounts while managing your own deliverables and client relationships
Collaborate with Invariant colleagues to create pitch decks, presentation materials, executive briefings, and strategic planning documents that demonstrate communications ROI