Director of Communications, Ava Labs

Looking to join a world-class blockchain development team? Ava Labs makes it simple to deploy high-performance solutions for Web3, led by innovations on Avalanche. The company was founded by Cornell computer scientists, who partnered with Wall Street veterans and early Web3 leaders to execute a promising vision for redefining the way people build permissionless networks. Ava Labs is redefining the way people create value with Web3. Join us as we empower people to easily and freely digitize all the world’s assets on one open, programmable blockchain platform. Looking to join a world-class blockchain development team? Ava Labs makes it simple to deploy high-performance solutions for Web3, led by innovations on Avalanche. The company was founded by Cornell computer scientists, who partnered with Wall Street veterans and early Web3 leaders to execute a promising vision for redefining the way people build permissionless networks. Ava Labs is redefining the way people create value with Web3. Join us as we empower people to easily and freely digitize all the world's assets on one open, programmable blockchain platform. We are looking for an exceptional Director of Communications to own and drive the communications function at Ava Labs, shaping how the world understands and talks about Avalanche. This is a senior individual contributor and people management role sitting within the marketing organization, reporting to the SVP of Growth. The ideal candidate brings something rare: the ability to operate credibly across both crypto-native media and tier 1 business and financial press, while building and protecting the narrative of one of the most important infrastructure platforms in blockchain. You understand the difference between a headline and a story, between a spokesperson and a voice, and between activity and impact. This role requires someone who can work closely with executive leadership, build institutional-quality communications programs, and execute with the speed and decisiveness that a high-growth company demands. You write well, think strategically, and know how to make complex ideas land with force and clarity. WHAT YOU WILL DO Executive Communications Develop and execute proactive media and positioning strategies for Ava Labs' key executives, including the CEO, President, and other senior leaders Build and maintain spokesperson messaging, briefing materials, talking points, and media prep Ensure leadership shows up with consistency, conviction, and credibility across media, panels, and public platforms Identify and shape executive thought leadership opportunities across earned media and speaking Media Relations Own the relationships with journalists and editors across tier 1 business press (Bloomberg, WSJ, FT, Fortune, Forbes), financial media, and crypto-native publications Drive proactive story development — not just reactive pitching Manage embargoes, exclusives, and launch communications with precision Build and maintain a forward-looking media calendar tied to company priorities Brand & Narrative Serve as the communications owner of Avalanche's core narrative: "Technology Built for Business" Develop and maintain messaging frameworks, press materials, FAQs, and positioning documents Ensure narrative consistency across all earned media touchpoints Partner closely with marketing and growth on brand launches, campaigns, and major announcements Speaking & Conference Strategy Own the global speaking pipeline from sourcing to execution Evaluate and prioritize conference opportunities based on audience quality, narrative fit, and strategic value Ensure all confirmed speakers are properly prepared with current messaging and context Agency & Team Management Manage the external PR agency relationship, setting strategy and holding the agency accountable to outcomes — not activity Build and develop a lean internal communications team over time Rapid Response & Issues Management Serve as the communications lead on breaking news, industry developments, and reputational moments Proactively identify risks and opportunities in the media and narrative landscape Develop and maintain rapid response protocols Avalanche Summit & Events Build and own the media strategy for Avalanche Summit NYC and other major ecosystem moments Manage press outreach, credentialing, briefing coordination, and post-event narrative amplification WHAT YOU WILL BRING 8-10 years of communications experience, with meaningful time spent in crypto, Web3, fintech, and institutional finance Demonstrable experience working closely with C-suite executives on communications strategy and media positioning Established relationships with journalists and editors at tier 1 business, financial, and crypto-native publications Deep fluency in the crypto and blockchain landscape — you understand the technology, the culture, and the institutional dynamics simultaneously Exceptional writer across all formats: media pitches, press releases, talking points, op-eds, briefing documents, and long-form narrative Proven track record of securing meaningful, proactive media coverage — not just press release distribution Experience managing external agencies and holding them accountable to real outcomes Based on the East Coast; NYC preferred for in-person collaboration YOUR AWESOME IFS Prior experience at a Layer 1 or Layer 2 blockchain protocol, major crypto exchange, or institutional platform Existing relationships within the crypto media ecosystem and with relevant financial press Experience building or rebuilding a communications function inside a fast-moving company Familiarity with Avalanche's ecosystem, architecture, positioning, and community Background spanning both consumer/retail crypto audiences and institutional finance communications Ava Labs is committed to diversity in the workplace and we're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not hire on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. WHY AVA LABS? If you've ever thought about joining an early stage Web3 company - this is it! We're a global, world-class team of experts in computer science, economics, finance, marketing, and law with offices in New York City and Miami. We're highly passionate about Web3 and redefining the way people build and use finance and decentralized applications of all kinds. The company received early-stage funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Initialized Capital, and Polychain Capital, with angel investments from Balaji Srinivasan and Naval Ravikant. Join us and be a pioneer in a new technology that will have implications across a range of verticals such as finance, gaming, investing, collectibles, among many others. Ava Labs is committed to diversity in the workplace and we’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not hire on basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.