PR Lead

About the role

The PR Lead owns the external communications function, shaping the global narrative, managing earned media, and positioning founders and executives. You will work alongside an existing agency retainer, directing agencies, and taking direct ownership of crisis communications and executive messaging.

Key responsibilities

• Define and own the global PR narrative, including priority markets, media outlets, narrative pillars, and a 6‑month coverage plan.
• Manage the agency portfolio: set briefs, KPIs, conduct monthly reviews, consolidate scopes, and decide on renewals or exits.
• Build the news pipeline from product launches, milestones, data, partnerships and category commentary, ensuring agencies receive ready‑to‑publish stories.
• Directly handle founder and executive positioning across speaking platforms, keynotes, podcasts, op‑eds, LinkedIn, awards and rankings.
• Lead reputation and crisis communications: risk mapping, holding statements, escalation protocols and spokesperson training in coordination with Legal, Compliance and SERM/ORM.
• Develop senior media relationships in priority outlets independent of agency access.
• Co‑manage the events and side‑events programme with the Event Manager, selecting conferences and measuring outcomes.
• Align all external messages with the brand platform and act as the final gatekeeper for outgoing communications.

Required profile

• 6+ years of PR or communications experience, including direct management of external agencies.
• Proven tier‑1 coverage in business, financial, fintech or crypto sectors that you personally secured.
• Real crisis‑communication experience in a regulated or highly scrutinised category.
• Track record of building founder or executive public profiles from a low base.
• Excellent news judgement and a very high standard of written English.
• Experience with major event and conference programmes, sponsorship and partnership communications.
• Comfortable collaborating with Legal and Compliance on sensitive communications.
• Commercial literacy around agency spend and ability to evaluate retainer performance.

Required skills