Director, Public Relations

About the role:

We are seeking a highly motivated Director of Public Relations to develop and execute our comprehensive PR strategy, reporting directly to the VP of Communications. You will lead efforts to enhance brand awareness, secure impactful earned media placements, and position 8am as a leader and innovator in our space. You’ll be responsible for crafting a compelling narrative, navigating complex media landscapes, and building key stakeholder relationships to amplify our message. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the B2B technology sector, ideally within an equity-backed or high-growth environment, and a demonstrated ability to create and execute impactful tier-1 PR campaigns that deliver measurable results.

About us:

At 8am, our vision is to power a world where professionals thrive. We start every day on a mission to empower professionals with the most trusted, innovative technology to deliver world-class outcomes for their clients and exceptional financial results for their business. They count on our purpose-built solutions to simplify operations, ensure compliance, and fuel profitable growth, so they can focus on their clients and do more of the work that matters.

Founded in 2005, 8am™ (formerly AffiniPay) is the professional business platform built to help legal, accounting, and other client-focused professionals run stronger, more profitable businesses. Today, more than 250,000 professionals across the U.S. trust 8am to help them work smarter, serve clients better, and unlock their full potential. We have been recognized as one of Inc 5000’s fastest growing companies in the U.S. for 13 years in a row, and as a result, our teams continue to grow as well!

What you'll do:

• Strategic leadership: Define and implement a forward-thinking PR strategy aligned with overall business objectives and designed to elevate brand awareness and establish 8am product innovation as the leader in the category.
• Media relations: Proactively cultivate and maintain relationships with top-tier technology, business, and legal industry media. Secure impactful placements and manage inbound media inquiries.
• Content and storytelling: Develop compelling content, including but not limited to press releases, media kits, fact sheets, and blogs that articulate our brand's unique value proposition and resonate with target audiences. Partner with the executive comms lead to develop presentations and talk tracks for key industry conferences.
• Crisis management: Support a help drive robust crisis communications plan, advising leadership on issue management and ensuring timely and effective communication during sensitive situations.
• Digital and social media: Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure a cohesive brand narrative across all digital platforms, leveraging social media to build community, engage with influencers, and manage online reputation.
• Agency management: Manage external PR agencies, ensuring alignment with company objectives, managing budgets effectively, and tracking performance against key metrics.
• Measurement and reporting: Establish and track key PR metrics (e.g., media mentions, website traffic, social engagement) to analyze campaign effectiveness, demonstrate ROI, and inform strategic decisions.

About you:

• 10+ years of public relations experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, preferably within an equity-backed tech company or high-growth environment. PR agency experience preferred.
• A proven track record of securing high-impact media placements and driving successful PR campaigns.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to create clear, compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
• Deep understanding of the technology landscape and the nuances of media relations in the digital age.
• Experience in crisis and issues management, with a calm and confident demeanor under pressure.
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams, while effectively managing agencies and budgets.
• Strong analytical skills, with a data-driven mindset and ability to translate metrics into actionable insights.
• Experience in B2B or legal tech preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools and technologies to improve workflows, enhance decision-making, or drive innovation.
• This position is preferably based in Austin, Texas.

Why 8am: 

At 8am, our culture is shaped by the people who bring it to life every day. Together, we build a company rooted in continuous learning, genuine community, holistic wellness, and meaningful engagement—values that empower us as individuals and unite us as a team. Our culture is grounded in our core values: Work Smart, Win Fast; Outshine Ordinary, and We Find a Way. These values drive how we serve our customers and work with each other in a collaborative, inspiring, and empowering environment, every day.

Here’s how we support our 8Team:

• Health Insurance Coverage: We offer our 8Team a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans, designed to fit your needs, including a 100% company-paid HDHP plan for employees.
• Financial perks: We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including annual bonuses, equity options and 401(k) or RRSP if in Canada, with a company match for all team members.
• Time for what matters: Flexible Time Off, paid holidays, and a parental leave program for our new parents.
• Wellness: Wellness stipends, mental health support, and one-on-one nutrition coaching.
• Learning and Development: Continuous learning through 8am.edu, leadership programs, professional development funds, and individually focused talent development.
• Giving back to the communities around us: Participate in our charitable matching gift program, paid time off for volunteer service, and company-sponsored volunteer events (both local and virtually).
• Engagement: Virtual and in-person team-building events, quarterly award recognition through our Rise & Shine Award of Excellence Program, and our peer-to-peer appreciation platform.

At 8am, we don’t just offer benefits - we create an environment where people can thrive, grow, and make a real impact every day.

Diversity, equity & inclusion at 8am:

At 8am, we recognize that innovation occurs with a strong team of people who are diverse in background, personality, talent and ideas. Experience comes in many forms and ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where we continue to learn from each other is an integral part of our culture. We are committed to creating a welcoming and transparent environment for all that embraces those differences through education, equal access to opportunities and information, inclusionary programs, and community outreach. 

Security advisory:

Our hiring teams at 8am are dedicated to recruiting top talent that share our passion for serving the professional services industry through innovative financial technology.  As such, our Talent Acquisition Team only follows legitimate hiring practices.  We will always communicate with our candidates using emails with the 8am domain and will never ask for sensitive/personal data during the application process.  All interviews take place over phone call, Zoom/Google Meet or in person.  All offers are communicated verbally by our Talent Acquisition Specialists with a written offer letter as a follow up.