Director of Public Relations, Thumbtack
$193.8-294.8k
Salary range dependent on candidate location
Local services marketplace app
Be an early applicant
Local services marketplace app
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$193.8-294.8k
Salary range dependent on candidate location
1001+ employees
Company mission
Thumbtack's mission is to help homeowners care for their homes, all the way from minor retouching to fundamental remodelling projects.
Role
Who you are
- 10+ years of experience in public relations, communications, or earned media, with 3+ years of demonstrated people leadership
- A track record of building (not just executing) PR strategy with examples of work that challenged norms and/or created new narrative territories
- The instinct and courage to operate without a pre-existing playbook, and the discipline to build one that others can follow
- Fluency in how stories move through a modern media landscape (inclusive of how earned media interacts with algorithmic discovery, AI-generated summaries and shifting audience trust) and the judgement to navigate it with clarity and conviction
- Strong editorial judgment and the ability to identify, shape, and protect stories that are genuinely differentiated
- A leadership style that raises the ambition of the people around you, someone who changes how a company thinks, not just what it does
What the job involves
- The Brand & Communications teams are the storytelling engine for Thumbtack building belief in who we are, what we do and the impact we make
- Our team is the ‘emotional backbone’ of the company, comprised of strategists, designers, writers, producers, and both internal and external comms specialists. By combining strategic storytelling, bold creativity, and purposeful communication, we grow brand equity that strengthens demand, engagement, partnerships, and long-term trust–and we do it from the inside out
- We're looking for a Director, Public Relations who is ready to build something
- This role isn’t about inheriting a playbook but about writing one
- You’ll own Thumbtack’s earned media strategy and reputation at a moment when the narrative is being shaped in real time, the media landscape is shifting constantly, and the opportunity to say something genuinely differentiated has never been greater
- This is a role for someone who draws energy from ambiguity, challenges conventional PR thinking, and understands how AI and algorithmic discovery are reshaping the media landscape in real time
- As a senior leader accountable for how Thumbtack shows up in the world, you’ll translate bold ambition into stories that land authentically with customers, media and stakeholders and you’ll build the systems, relationships and team culture to do with consistency and courage
- Define and own a PR strategy built for a brand in motion, one that moves with the narrative, anticipates the media landscape, and isn't afraid to pioneer spaces without a roadmap
- Serve as the senior voice and strategic lead for all earned media, narrative development, and crisis management working to connect Thumbtack's why to stories that resonate across consumer, trade, and corporate channels
- Lead integrated comms campaigns end to end: from story development and spokesperson prep through pitch execution and coverage analysis
- Build, hire, and develop a high-performing team and agency ecosystem, attracting talent who shares a bias for bold, intentional storytelling
- Design and continuously improve workflows, messaging frameworks, and rapid-response systems that enable speed and creative conviction
- Operate as a strategic business partner to senior stakeholders focusing on shaping narrative proactively and building the function’s credibility as a driver of business outcomes, not as an executor of comms tasks
- Foster a culture of accountability, creative risk-taking, and resilience while role modeling Thumbtack's values and leading through change
Our take
ThumbTack is a local services marketplace app that pairs customers with skilled professionals. Instead of simply searching for a professional, users provide ThumbTack with details of the job they need completing and the professionals then pitch their services to the potential customer using credits. ThumbTack makes its money by charging the professional for these credits.
It positions itself as something a little different in a saturated local services space that is dominated by companies like Angie’s List, TaskRabbit, Yelp, eBay, and Amazon. It also focuses on a broad range of professionals, from traditional home services like electricians and painters to photographers, personal trainers, and birthday party magicians.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a boost in business for ThumbTack as more people stayed at home and made changes to their properties, increasing the demand for home professionals. In fact, after 2019, the company doubled in value to $3.2 billion with its 2021 raise. Since its 2024 funding round, its updated app has 30 new features, and the company is partnering with the likes of trade-powering platform and Unicorn ServiceTitan, indicating Thumbtack's sustained sway in the market.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
-5% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 9 rounds)
Jun 2021
$275m
LATE VC
Jul 2019
$150m
SERIES F
Total funding: $699.4m
Company benefits
- Parental leave
- Health insurance
- Community matters | Sure, our ways of connecting have changed. But we haven’t missed a beat, from virtual concerts to “TTversary” celebrations to weekly catch-ups
- Always be improving | We bring out the best in our colleagues — and our product — by pushing each beyond what we believe we’re capable of. We give honest feedback, even when it’s hard
- Wellness is a way of life | We promote balance with generous PTO and company-wide holidays — and find our centers every Wellness Wednesday with yoga featuring a Thumbtack pro
- A worthy mission | In a world where tech is often seen as eroding good jobs, we’re helping small business owners thrive. Our product makes entrepreneurship accessible to everyone
- Driven by our values | Our values are the compass by which we make all our decisions. Each one matters: Lead with why, Make it count, Own it, Choose teamwork, and Say what you mean
- Plus, amazing benefits | All the benefits you’d expect, plus a few more: generous parental and fertility benefits, $1800 for Thumbtack services per year and a $1200 remote work stipend
- Virtual-first working model coupled with quarterly in-person events and Camp Thumbtack
- 20+ company-wide holidays including two week-long shutdowns
- Libraries (collaborative workspaces) in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Toronto, and Manila
- Cell phone and WiFi reimbursements
- Subscriptions and Employee Assistance Program for mental health and well-being
Company HQ
SoMa, San Francisco, CA
Leadership
Marco Zappacosta
(Co-Founder & CEO)Having studied at Columbia University, Marco co-founded Thumbtack in August 2008. He has served as CEO since January 2009.
Jonathan Swanson
(Co-Founder & Chairman)Jonathan started his career creating financial market reports for the White House before co-founding Thumbtack in 2008. Currently Founder at Powerset and Athena.
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