Director, Media & Relations

About App Direct

Become a digital, global citizen and enable the new generation of digital entrepreneurs around the world. App Direct offers a subscription commerce platform to sell any product, through any channel, on any device - as a service. We power millions of subscriptions worldwide for organizations. We do this by our values-driven culture - one that enables you to Be Seen, Be Yourself, and Do Your Best Work.

This is a high-impact, high-visibility role for a senior PR professional who wants to own the media narrative for a growing company. As Media Relations Director, you'll shape and execute our earned media strategy, working directly with executives to land stories in top-tier business and technology outlets. We're looking for someone with deep journalist relationships, sharp instincts, and the ability to turn company moments into compelling coverage.

If you want a seat at the table—not a seat at an agency—this is it.

• Own the full media relations function end-to-end—strategy through execution
• Develop and drive a proactive, calendar-driven PR program aligned with product launches, company milestones, and brand priorities
• Identify and pursue compelling story angles that resonate with journalists and align with business goals
• Pitch relentlessly—leverage your relationships to secure placements in tier-1 outlets (WSJ, Forbes, Tech Crunch, Bloomberg, NYT, Fast Company, etc.) and top industry trades
• Manage inbound media inquiries with speed and sound judgment
• Write and produce all media materials: press releases, pitches, media alerts, bylines, op-eds, briefing docs, talking points, and Q&A
• Brief and prep executives for interviews; provide real-time support during media engagements
• Monitor news cycles and identify rapid-response opportunities to insert our POV into relevant conversations

• Maintain and grow a robust network of journalist relationships across business, tech, and trade media
• Be the kind of PR pro who can pick up the phone and get a reporter's attention—not just send cold emails
• Track journalist beats, interests, and coverage patterns to personalize outreach and increase hit rates
• Build trust with reporters through transparency, reliability, and delivering quality stories

• Partner with our analyst relations contractor to coordinate messaging and briefings with firms like Gartner, Forrester, and IDC
• Align media narratives with analyst positioning and ensure consistency across external audiences
• Support analyst report cycles and inquiries as needed

• Develop and pitch thought leadership content (bylines, op-eds, podcast appearances, speaking opps) to elevate executive profiles
• Position our leaders as credible voices on industry trends, innovation, and company mission
• Ghostwrite or heavily support executive content for external publication

• Track and report on media coverage quality, volume, sentiment, and share of voice vs. competitors
• Provide regular updates to leadership on PR program performance and media landscape insights
• Use media monitoring tools to stay ahead of relevant news and competitive activity

• Partner closely with Product Marketing, Content, Demand Gen, and Executive Comms to align messaging
• Work with Legal and HR on sensitive communications when needed
• Collaborate with events and campaigns teams to maximize PR around key moments

• Leverage AI tools and platforms to augment daily workflows, media research, content creation, and real-time monitoring, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
• Proactively analyze the evolving media landscape through the ever evolving AI lens, understanding its impact on reporting, discovery, and audience engagement.
• Develop and implement forward-thinking PR strategies that capitalize on AI-driven changes, ensuring our media relations efforts remain innovative and effective in achieving organizational goals.

• 10+ years in PR/media relations, ideally a mix of agency and in-house experience
• You have real, working…