About Handshake

Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today we power 25 million job seekers 1 million employers and 1600 educational institutions.

In 2025 we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations publish benchmarks and push the boundary of data. Weve grown from $0 to $1B run rate and pay $60M to over 30K individuals every month.

Why join Handshake now:

• Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy at global scale with impact your friends family and peers can see and feel

• Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs Fortune 500 partners and the worlds top educational institutions

• Work together with engineers scientists operators and more from Palantir Meta Scale AI and former YC founders

• Build a massive fast-growing business with billions in revenue

About the Role

Handshake is looking for a senior communications leader to own and evolve our corporate communications strategy.

This is not a typical comms role. Handshake operates a complex three-sided marketplace connecting students employers and universities and sits at the center of two of the most consequential conversations in technology today: the future of work and the future of AI. Were looking for someone who can help shape those narratives elevate Handshakes voice in the market and build trusted relationships with the media executives and cross-functional leaders across the company.

In this role youll own corporate positioning press strategy inbound media inquiries and executive visibility. Youll work closely with our CEO leadership team marketing product policy legal and people teams to tell Handshakes story with clarity credibility and ambition.

The ideal candidate is a strategic storyteller and experienced operator: someone who can craft nuanced narratives manage high-stakes moments build strong press relationships and execute with speed and judgment in a fast-moving environment.

• Own Handshakes corporate communications strategy and help sharpen our external narrative across company Careers EDU AI and future-of-work themes.

• Build and manage press relationships within the workforce and AI Industries.

• Proactively pitch stories announcements data insights and thought leadership that build Handshakes brand and support business priorities.

• Partner closely with the CEO/co-founder and leadership team to develop executive narratives media opportunities speeches op-eds and talking points.

• Partner with the social team on Handshakes corporate LinkedIn presence providing strategic guidance content review approvals and counsel on voice tone messaging and brand alignment.

• Prepare executives for high-visibility speaking engagements media interviews panels podcasts and industry events including narrative development talking points briefing materials Q&A prep and message coaching.

• Lead reactive and issues communications partnering with legal policy people product and leadership teams on sensitive or high-stakes moments.

• Build scalable communications processes for press intake approvals messaging executive prep launches and reporting.

• Oversee external communications agency partners and ensure their work is focused high-quality and aligned with company priorities.

Desired Capabilities

• 7 years corporate communications public relations executive communications or media relations ideally in high-growth tech or a top communications agency.

• Strong executive communications experience including partnering with founders CEOs or senior leaders on external narrative media strategy and thought leadership.

• Proven ability to build press relationships and secure meaningful earned media coverage across business technology workplace education or AI press.

• Excellent writing and messaging skills with the ability to translate complex topics into clear compelling narratives.

• Strong judgment under pressure especially in reactive sensitive or ambiguous communications moments.

• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on from setting the communications strategy to drafting statements pitches briefs and social content.

• Experience managing external communications agencies or consultants.

• Comfort working cross-functionally with leadership marketing product legal policy people and sales teams.

• Bonus: experience with AI future of work labor markets education marketplaces HR tech or enterprise technology.

Perks

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supportedand thrive at work and in life.

The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company

Financial Wellness: 401(k) match competitive compensation financial coaching

Family Support: Paid parental leave fertility benefits parental coaching

Wellbeing: Medical dental and vision mental health support wellness stipend

Growth: Learning stipend ongoing development

Remote & Office: Internet commuting and free lunch/gym in our SF office

Time Off: Flexible PTO 15 holidays 2 flex days

Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission values and comprehensive US benefits at Experience:

Manager