Strategic Communications Director

Hadrian Automation•Torrance, CA

2d•$210,000 - $250,000

About The Position

Hadrian is hiring a Head of Strategic Communications to lead the company’s earned-media and executive-communications work, including press relationships, announcement strategy, message discipline, and the public voice of the CEO and other leaders. The role reports to the SVP, Public Policy, who sets the direction for external affairs and manages the company’s public communications calendar. The position owns the craft and team of Strategic Communications and partners closely with Brand & Marketing, Government Relations, Policy, and HR. The role oversees media relations and public relations; day-to-day copy and voice across earned and executive channels; executive speeches, talking points, prepared remarks, and Q&A preparation; and communications messages that help align employees across Hadrian’s factory network. It also includes building and managing a team and selecting, managing, budgeting for, and holding external agencies and consultants accountable. The position requires regular travel, often on short notice, to Hadrian sites for factory visits, executive appearances, and press events. The target salary range is $210,000–$250,000, with actual compensation varying based on experience and other factors. Full-time employee benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 401(k), possible relocation support in certain situations, a flexible vacation policy, and equity. Applicants must meet applicable U.S. export-control requirements, including ITAR eligibility.

Requirements

15+ years of communications experience in technology, defense, aerospace, or a related field, with fluency in how these sectors communicate with the press, government, and internal audiences.
Demonstrated experience managing a team, including hiring and developing direct reports and managing external consultants, agencies, and freelance relationships with clear briefs, budgets, and accountability for results.
Strong commitment to the mission of U.S. reindustrialization and ability to translate that conviction into stories that resonate with reporters, policymakers, and the public.
Executive presence and judgment, including the ability to advise a CEO in high-stakes situations and assess what is genuinely sensitive.
Strong writing and editing instincts and the ability to maintain a consistent company voice across multiple communications.
Proactive, collaborative approach, including contributing to external affairs and internal communications calendars and building partnerships with peers.
Willingness to travel regularly and often on short notice.
Must meet applicable U.S. Government export-control requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Ability to obtain a U.S. national security clearance is preferred.
A sense of levity: taking the mission seriously while not taking oneself too seriously and maintaining high standards.

Responsibilities

Own reporter relationships, inbound press handling, briefings, and embargo management.
Develop and execute announcement strategies for major company moments; handle reactive and issues response; and steward Hadrian’s standing narrative in the press.
Own day-to-day copy and voice in earned and executive channels, working within frameworks set at the SVP level.
Prepare executive speeches, talking points, prepared remarks, and Q&A; serve as primary communications support for the CEO and other executives in public settings.
Partner with HR by supplying internal communications messages and voice that align employees across Hadrian’s factory network with company direction and momentum.
Build and manage a Strategic Communications team capable of delivering the function’s workload without requiring the director’s direct involvement in every piece of work.
Select, manage, and hold agencies, PR firms, speechwriters, and other outside consultants accountable; set briefs, own budgets and performance, and ensure external work meets in-house standards.
Work collaboratively with Brand & Marketing, Government Relations, Policy, HR, and other external affairs partners.
Travel regularly, often on short notice, for factory visits, executive appearances, and press moments across Hadrian sites.