Director of Public Relations - Defense

Role & Responsibilities

Serve as the senior-most PR lead on defense and dual-use client accounts, providing strategic counsel to C-suite executives and founding teams of frontier defense and national security technology companies (with occasional work across our broader deep tech client base).

Develop overarching PR strategies that align with business objectives, funding milestones, contract awards and program wins, product launches, and long-term brand positioning goals.

Lead high-stakes communications initiatives including funding announcements, major contract and Department of War (DoW) program awards, M&A activity, crisis management, and major product launches, often within sensitive, security-conscious, or classified operating environments.

Build and maintain relationships with top-tier media, including editors and senior reporters at leading defense, national security, technology, business, and policy publications.

Oversee account teams of varying sizes (Account Supervisors, Account Managers, Senior Account Executives) ensuring quality delivery and professional development.

Craft and refine complex messaging and positioning for highly technical, often dual-use products and innovations, making them accessible to diverse audiences including DoW and government customers, prime contractors, policymakers and congressional staff, investors, engineering and operator talent, and commercial buyers.

Identify and secure speaking opportunities, award submissions, and thought leadership platforms for client executives across defense conferences, think tanks, and industry forums.

Mentor and develop PR talent across the agency, setting standards for excellence and fostering a culture of strategic thinking.

Monitor the defense tech landscape, geopolitical and policy developments, procurement trends, the competitive field, and the media environment to proactively advise clients on opportunities and risks.

Manage client relationships at the executive level, serving as a trusted advisor and escalation point.

Contribute to agency growth through thought leadership, industry participation, and representing HAUS in the market.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of public relations experience with at least 3-5 years in a director or senior leadership role at a PR agency.
• Extensive experience developing and executing PR strategies for defense, dual-use, and/or national security technology companies, with strong familiarity across the broader frontier tech landscape (AI, autonomy, space and aerospace, robotics, advanced manufacturing, quantum, etc.).
• Prominent track record managing complex, high-stakes communications including funding announcements, contract and program award announcements, crisis situations, and strategic pivots.
• Established network of senior-level media relationships across defense, national security, technology, business, and vertical trade publications.
• Working understanding of the defense ecosystem such as DoW acquisition and procurement, primes and non-traditional vendors, contracting vehicles (e.g., SBIR/STTR, OTAs), and the policy and congressional landscape.
• Familiarity with the sensitivities of communicating in defense contexts, including OPSEC, ITAR/export controls, and classified or controlled information.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing PR teams, with strong mentorship and people management skills.
• Exceptional strategic thinking abilities with experience translating business goals into communications strategies.
• Outstanding writing and communication skills across all formats and audiences.
• Experience advising C-level executives and boards on communications strategy.
• Strong understanding of the startup ecosystem, funding landscape, and venture capital dynamics.
• Proven ability to manage multiple accounts and stakeholders while maintaining strategic oversight.
• Track record contributing to new business development and agency growth.
• Preferences: Experience working with companies through multiple funding stages, contract awards, acquisitions, or IPOs; Relationships with defense-focused venture firms and the broader national security / "American Dynamism" ecosystem; Background in defense, national security, or technology journalism/communications, or technical/military subject matter expertise; Experience managing crisis communications and sensitive corporate or national-security-adjacent situations; Track record of building executive profiles and securing high-impact thought leadership placements; Understanding of emerging defense and dual-use technology trends and ability to identify market opportunities; Previous experience with an in-house marketing and communications role at a prime, neo-prime, or defense startup; Speaking experience or published thought leadership in PR or technology sectors.

Pay

$145,000 - 165,000

Schedule

This is a remote role.

Benefits

• Health, vision, and dental insurance premiums 100% covered by HAUS for employee and family plans.
• Paid parental leave.
• 401k.
• Gym membership reimbursement.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Eligible for profit sharing after 1 year of employment.
• Significant opportunities for rapid career advancement.
• Opportunity to work with startups building the coolest tech you've ever seen.

About HAUS

HAUS is the world’s first integrated public relations and creative services agency purpose built for deep tech startups and scaleups. In January 2022, we set out on a mission to accelerate the adoption of technologies that maximize freedom, material abundance, and human flourishing. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to support more than 100 startups, scaleups, venture firms, research labs, and other organizations in industries including artificial intelligence, aerospace, biotechnology, climate, defense, energy, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, semiconductors, robotics, and more. As a member of the HAUS team, you'll have a front row seat for the future and work directly with founders building transformative technologies to help tell their story. And because HAUS is a startup too, you'll have the opportunity to shape how we operate and grow. We move fast and we’re looking for builders who are deeply curious about the world, love technology, and are optimistic about the future.