Director of Communications, Away
$150-175k
Luggage for the modern traveller
Be an early applicant
Luggage for the modern traveller
501-1000 employees
Be an early applicant
$150-175k
501-1000 employees
Company mission
To transform travel through products and stories that inspire people to get away more.
Role
Who you are
- You bring a minimum of 7 years of progressive communications experience, spanning PR, external communications, and internal employee communications, ideally with a mix of agency and in-house environments
- You have a proven track record of managing teams and driving results in a fast-paced, global environment
- You are a strategic thinker who can move seamlessly between high-level vision and tactical execution
- You have strong instincts for culture, timing, and narrative
- You are a self-starter who doesn't just initiate projects, but builds the frameworks and systems needed to sustain them with total autonomy
- You have a deep, existing network of top-tier contacts
- You have extensive experience as an on-the-record spokesperson for both print and broadcast media
- You can conceptualize newsworthy moments and evergreen narratives even when the hook isn't obvious
- You are a world-class writer and editor across all formats (executive scripts, crisis statements, Q&As)
- You’re creative and innovative; you love to build great new things that are fresh and unique while staying on brand
- You’re agile, and motivated by a fast-paced and ever changing environment
- You’re passionate about transforming travel for all (but that’s a given!)
- Excited to join the team, but not sure you meet all of the qualifications? Please apply, we’d still love to hear from you
What the job involves
- We are hiring a Director, Communications to join our team
- This role reports to the Vice President of Brand Marketing and takes Away further by leading the brand’s enterprise-wide communications strategy
- Sitting at the intersection of brand storytelling, media strategy, reputation management, and employee experience, this role ensures Away speaks with one clear, compelling, and consistent voice both externally to the world and internally to our global team
- In addition to the responsibilities below, this position will oversee an Associate Manager of PR, an Internal Communications Manager, and agency relationships
- Public Relations & Communications
- You’ll own Away’s external communications strategy, positioning Away as a leader in travel, culture, and purpose while amplifying brand equity and awareness
- You’ll align the PR calendar and VIP activations with overarching business goals and cross-functional priorities
- You’ll manage media sentiment and industry risk across key outlets while leading the strategy for top-tier national media
- You’ll identify cultural moments, trends, and blank canvas opportunities to develop compelling press angles, story pipelines, and launch strategies that drive relevance and impact
- You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Team, shaping and directing both external thought leadership and moments of opportunity to further drive brand awareness and business growth
- You’ll establish and oversee the KPI framework for PR, translating media performance into actionable business insights and demonstrating the impact of earned media on brand awareness and organic growth
- You’ll oversee crisis management, preparing for potential crises with real-time response plans and deploying crisis communication strategies if ever required
- You’ll direct the strategy, planning, and execution of PR-driven events and media moments to drive earned media, social amplification, and brand equity
- Internal Communications & Employer Branding
- You’ll own Away’s internal communications strategy, ensuring employees are informed, inspired, and aligned to company priorities, values, and performance goals
- You’ll oversee internal communication channels (including all-hands, intranet/newsletters, leadership updates, and employee-facing messaging), ensuring clarity, cadence, and effectiveness
- You’ll be a trusted partner to the People Leadership team, crafting internal executive communications across company performance, transformation, change, and moments of complexity
- You’ll translate key messages from external platforms internally to reinforce company values and strategic priorities
- You’ll develop and maintain a cohesive company narrative that reinforces Away’s mission, culture, and EVP, connecting day-to-day work to long-term vision
- You’ll own our LinkedIn and non-traditional media strategies to expand our authority and influence, enabling employees to be thought leaders and brand advocates through guidance, resources, and content support
Our take
Away took on a market that was being ignored by everyone else - luggage - and it's had great success bringing innovation to a product that has been unchanged for decades. With simple touches like adding a mobile charging pack inside the suitcase, it has given luggage a huge overhaul. Over the years, Away has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, navigating industry challenges while continuing to evolve it product offering and customer experience.
With this in mind, the company has focused on strengthening its foundations, from refining its core collection to investing in team culture and expanding its retail footprint. Strategic partnerships with leading travel brands, including United Airlines, have further reinforced its relevance in the travel space, positioning Away as a design-led company continuing to grow alongside today's travellers.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)
Jun 2020
$35m
LATE VC
May 2019
$100m
SERIES D
Total funding: $216m
Company benefits
- Equity & ownership: Be a part of our future through equity options, sharing in the upside of our business
- Paid time off: Find balance through our paid time off programs, including vacation and wellness time
- Health insurance: Take care of yourself and your family through our health insurance offerings
- Get Away in style: Build your travel uniform through discount codes, product stipends, and giveaways
Company HQ
SoHo, New York, NY
Leadership
Jessica Schinazi
(CEO)Jessica joined Away in 2024 as a President, moving into the role of CEO and Board Member in 2025. Prior to this, she spent 3 years at Dyson as an SVP of Business Development and Transformation (Americas) and as a President (Americas).
Salary benchmarks
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