Director of Internal Communications
About the role
Handshake is looking for a builder to own and run our internal communications function. This is not a typical comms role. Handshake has grown from one business into two — Careers, and Handshake AI, which spans human data, Labs, and Enterprise AI — in under two years, tripling headcount, opening offices in New York and India, and acquiring companies along the way. That growth creates a real opportunity to build a clear, consistent internal story from the ground up, in close partnership with our leadership team. You'll report to our Chief Communications Officer and work daily with Careers and Handshake AI business unit leadership, and our People team. Your job is to make sure every employee — in San Francisco, New York, Bangalore, or remote — hears one Handshake story, on a rhythm they can predict, in a voice that still sounds like us. There is no existing playbook, team, or tooling for this function today. You'll design the systems, select the tools, and earn a seat at the leadership table as an embedded partner rather than a service desk. You'll be measured first on whether leadership communication is clearer, more consistent, and more trusted because you exist, and second on whether the company stays one company as it scales.
Responsibilities
- Own the internal communications strategy, calendar, and operating rhythm across Careers and Handshake AI
- Serve as the C-suite internal communications partner
- Run All Hands on one standard across the company and extend it to the departmental tier
- Partner with the People team on people communications and key lifecycle moments
- Design and run recognition and culture programs with the People team
- Build and edit the company's core internal channels and select the tools to run them
- Translate technical work into clear, plain-language stories every employee can follow
- Connect the internal and external narrative so employees hear Handshake's news first
- Measure understanding, not just reach, and report the results back to leadership
- Note: This is