Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
External communications is a core function for SaaS companies operating under sustained public scrutiny, where product decisions, policy considerations, and platform impact can quickly become external narratives. This Director role sits at that intersection, coordinating media and owned-channel messaging while partnering closely with Legal, Policy, Product, and executive stakeholders. The hybrid, multi-city setup also signals a communications remit that needs proximity to leadership and key media markets.
For a SaaS career, this is a seat that builds durable leverage across the business. Work that spans statements, messaging frameworks, and executive communications develops the ability to translate complex technical or organizational topics into clear, consistent language. It also sharpens judgment around when to engage, how to frame uncertainty, and how to maintain coherence across channels, capabilities that transfer across high-visibility SaaS categories.
The role fits a senior, hands-on communications leader who prefers operating as both strategist and operator, moving from narrative development to execution without excessive layering. It will suit someone comfortable collaborating across functions, working with incomplete information, and making time-sensitive decisions while maintaining a consistent editorial standard.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
About the Team
The External Communications team supports OpenAI’s mission by helping the organization communicate clearly, responsibly, and effectively with external audiences. The team works closely with partners across the company to navigate complex topics, manage evolving narratives, and ensure OpenAI’s communications reflect its values and long-term goals.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Director of External Communications to play a senior, hands-on role supporting OpenAI’s external communications efforts. This role is designed for an experienced communications leader who brings strong judgment, excellent writing skills, and comfort operating in a fast-moving environment.
You will be responsible for developing and executing external communications across media and owned channels, advising internal partners, and supporting executive communications. At times, the role will require ownership of fast-moving or evolving stories, including responding on tight timelines as information develops.
This role is based in San Francisco, New York, or Washington, DC. We use a hybrid work model of three days per week in the office and offer relocation assistance where applicable.
You’ll be responsible for:
Drafting and refining statements, messaging, and communications materials for external audiences.
Supporting media engagement and working with reporters as appropriate.
Executing approved communications across press, social, and owned channels.
Partnering with internal teams including Legal, Policy, Product, and Leadership on communications strategy and execution.
Supporting executive communications, including message development and preparation.
Contributing to messaging frameworks, guidance, and other communications resources.
You might thrive in this role if you:
Have significant experience in external, corporate, or issues communications.
Are a strong writer who can operate confidently under time pressure.
Bring sound judgment about tone, framing, and when to engage.
Are comfortable navigating ambiguity and evolving information.
Enjoy fast-paced environments where priorities can shift quickly.
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
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We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
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At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.
