Director of External Communications

Director of External Communications LocationLondonEmployment TypeFull timeLocation TypeHybridDepartmentBrandWe power people’s progress.At Preply, we’re all about creating life-changing learning experiences. We help people discover the magic of the perfect tutor, craft a personalised learning journey, and stay motivated to keep growing. Our approach is human-led, tech-enabled - and it’s creating real impact.We’ve just reached unicorn status with a $150M Series D, accelerating our vision to transform education through human-led, AI-enhanced learning. Today, 100,000+ tutors teach 90+ languages to learners in 180 countries - and we’re only getting started. As a category-defining company, we’re shaping what the future of learning looks like at global scale.Every Preply lesson sparks change, fuels ambition, and drives progress that matters. Joining Preply means helping define the future of education at global scale, and building something that truly matters for millions of people, every day.Meet the team!We are hiring a Director of External Communications to operate as an extension of the Chief Brand Officer, owning and scaling Preply’s external narrative at company level.Today, much of our narrative lives centrally. Your mission is to decentralize, systematize, and scale it into a high-impact narrative engine that shapes global perception and drives business outcomes.This is not a traditional PR role.Your mission is to build and own a scalable narrative system that:Shapes how Preply is perceived globallyPositions Preply as a leader in AI-driven learningDrives measurable impact on growth, hiring, and brand authorityEliminates dependency on any single individual for storytellingYou will operate at the intersection of Brand, Product, Talent, and Leadership, influencing without authority and driving execution across the company.What you will own:Company Narrative & Market PositionDefine and evolve Preply’s global narrative, including:AI & product positioningMarketplace dynamics (tutors & learners)Social impact and missionOwn how Preply shows up across all external touchpointsEstablish Preply as a category-defining voice in AI-powered learningNarrative Engine & Content SystemBuild a scalable storytelling system connecting:Inputs: product, research, data, insightsOutputs: PR, SEO, content, executive communicationsEnsure consistency across all formats:Media, reports, op-eds, events, owned contentMove from campaigns → repeatable narrative infrastructureEmployer Brand & Talent NarrativeDefine and scale a global employer narrativeBuild targeted storytelling for key audiences:AI, Engineering, Design, TutorsPartner with Talent to directly impact hiring outcomesExecutive Positioning & Thought LeadershipShape leadership voice and positioning in the marketDevelop strong POVs on:AI in educationMarketplace dynamicsFuture of learningDrive visibility across:Tier 1 mediaConferencesLong-form contentCross-Functional Narrative OrchestrationAlign senior stakeholders across Brand, Product, Talent, and MarketingCreate frameworks enabling teams to contribute to a unified narrativeDrive execution without direct authorityStrategy -> Execution (Critical)Own both direction and deliveryPersonally contribute to:Writing and storytellingKey launches and initiativesHigh-impact narrative momentsThis is a hands-on leadership role. We are looking for builders, not coordinators.Reputation & Crisis LeadershipDefine communication strategies for high-stakes situationsPrepare leadership for complex media environmentsAnticipate and manage reputational risksThis role is notA traditional PR leadership roleA coordination layer between teamsA purely strategic or purely managerial positionWhat we are looking for12+ years in communications, content, or narrative strategy in high-growth tech environmentsProven experience owning company-level narrative or market positioningStrong track record connecting storytelling → business impactExperience working closely with senior...