Strategic Communications Director

The Independents

Strategic Communications Director shaping brand narratives for a global public relations agency. Collaborating on communications strategy across luxury and lifestyle sectors from the New York office.

Posted 4/20/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $110,000 - $120,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop communications architecture for clients — brand narratives, messaging hierarchies, positioning platforms, and creative communications frameworks
Build strategic communications playbooks and long-form planning documents that set the direction for how clients speak across all channels
Lead executive and founder voice development, including op-eds, Q&As, content, speeches, and media briefing narratives
Cross-team collaboration with our fashion, beauty, lifestyle and design departments to shape messaging and storytelling for key client projects
Participate in client meetings and calls, acting as a senior strategic counsel
Go beyond traditional media relations to identify where culture is moving and how to engage in ways that are unexpected, relevant, and effective
Stay ahead of shifts in media consumption, platform evolution, and audience behaviour in the luxury and fashion space
Recommend and develop strategies across new and emerging formats, including creator partnerships, editorial newsletters, podcasts, video-first platforms, and beyond
Bring unexpected angles and reference points that elevate client work above category norms
Ground all strategic recommendations in research and a deep knowledge of the cultural conversation
Be a central voice in how the agency structures its thinking for credentials, pitches, and strategic proposals
Own the quality of the agency’s written strategic output and ensure our point of view comes through with clarity and conviction

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years in communications, PR, brand strategy, or editorial — with a clear emphasis on strategic and written output
Demonstrable experience developing brand narratives, positioning documents, and messaging frameworks
Experience working with senior executives or public-facing leaders
Deep knowledge of the luxury and/or fashion media landscape
Strong new business instincts - comfortable leading or significantly contributing to pitches and strategic proposals
A genuine point of view on where media is heading and the ability to articulate it clearly
Intellectually curious, widely read, and able to bring cultural reference and research into client work
Restless with convention and excited by formats, platforms, and collaborators that sit outside the traditional PR model
Exceptional written communication skills - precise, considered, and adapted to audience
Creative and strategic thinker with strong presentation skills
Proven experience in a fast-paced environment with excellent prioritisation and time management

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
401K Employer Match program
Commuter Benefits
Paid Time Off including Vacation Days, Personal Days, Sick Days, and additional Comp Days
Company-wide closure last week of the year
10 Federal Holidays Observed

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

communications architecturebrand narrativesmessaging frameworksstrategic communications playbooksexecutive voice developmentcontent creationmedia briefing narrativesstrategic proposalsresearchcultural conversation

Soft Skills

cross-team collaborationstrategic counselnew business instinctsintellectual curiositywritten communicationcreative thinkingstrategic thinkingpresentation skillsprioritisationtime management