Director of External Communications

Job description

WE 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 globally - Positions Preply as a leader in AI-driven learning - Drives measurable impact on growth, hiring, and brand authority - Eliminates dependency on any single individual for storytelling You 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 Position - Define and evolve Preply’s global narrative, including: - AI & product positioning - Marketplace dynamics (tutors & learners) - Social impact and mission - Own how Preply shows up across all external touchpoints - Establish Preply as a category-defining voice in AI-powered learning Narrative Engine & Content System - Build a scalable storytelling system connecting: - Inputs: product, research, data, insights - Outputs: PR, SEO, content, executive communications - Ensure consistency across all formats: - Media, reports, op-eds, events, owned content - Move from campaigns → repeatable narrative infrastructure Employer Brand & Talent Narrative - Define and scale a global employer narrative - Build targeted storytelling for key audiences: - AI, Engineering, Design, Tutors - Partner with Talent to directly impact hiring outcomes Executive Positioning & Thought Leadership - Shape leadership voice and positioning in the market - Develop strong POVs on: - AI in education - Marketplace dynamics - Future of learning - Drive visibility across: - Tier 1 media - Conferences - Long-form content Cross-Functional Narrative Orchestration - Align senior stakeholders across Brand, Product, Talent, and Marketing - Create frameworks enabling teams to contribute to a unified narrative - Drive execution without direct authority Strategy -> Execution (Critical) - Own both direction and delivery - Personally contribute to: - Writing and storytelling - Key launches and initiatives - High-impact narrative moments This is a hands-on leadership role. We are looking for builders, not coordinators. Reputation & Crisis Leadership - Define communication strategies for high-stakes situations - Prepare leadership for complex media environments - Anticipate and manage reputational risks This role is not - A traditional PR leadership role - A coordination layer between teams - A purely strategic or purely managerial position WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR - 12+ years in communications, content, or narrative strategy in high-growth tech environments - Proven experience owning company-level narrative or market positioning - Strong track record connecting storytelling → business impact - Experience working closely with senior stakeholders and executives - Ability to operate as both: - Strategic leader - Hands-on executor - Native fluency in English required (Spanish is a strong plus) CRITICAL DIFFERENTIATORS - Deep understanding of AI / LLM landscape and its narrative implications - Ability to shape market perception, not just run campaigns - Experience building scalable systems, not one-off initiatives - Strong editorial instinct combined with data-driven thinking - High ownership mindset — comfortable operating in ambiguity WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT AT PREPLY - An open, collaborative, dynamic and diverse culture; - A generous monthly allowance for lessons on http://preply.com/Preply.com http://Preply.com, Learning & Development budget and time off for your self-development; - A competitive financial package with equity, leave allowance and health insurance; - Access to free mental health support platforms; - The opportunity to shape the lives of learners and tutors through language learning and teaching in 175 countries (and counting!). OUR PRINCIPLES - Care to change the world - We are passionate about our work and care deeply about its impact to be life changing. - We do it for learners - For both Preply and tutors, learners are why we do what we do. Every day we focus on empowering tutors to deliver an exceptional learning experience. - Keep perfecting - To create an outstanding customer experience, we focus on simplicity, smoothness, and enjoyment, continually perfecting it as every detail matters. - Now is the time - In a fast-paced world, it matters how quickly we act. Now is the time to make great things happen. - Disciplined execution - What makes us disciplined is the excellence in our execution. We set clear goals, focus on what matters, and utilize our resources efficiently. - Dive deep - We leverage business acumen and curiosity to investigate disparities between numbers and stories, unlocking meaningful insights to guide our decisions. - Growth mindset - We proactively seek growth opportunities and believe today's best performance becomes tomorrow's starting point. We humbly embrace feedback and learn from setbacks. - Raise the bar - We raise our performance standards continuously, alongside each new hire and promotion. We build diverse and high-performing teams that can make a real difference. - Challenge, disagree and commit - We value open and candid communication, even when we don’t fully agree. We speak our minds, challenge when necessary, and fully commit to decisions once made. - One Preply - We prioritize collaboration, inclusion, and the success of our team over personal ambitions. Together, we support and celebrate each other's progress. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Preply.com http://Preply.com is committed to creating an inclusive environment where people of diverse backgrounds can thrive. We believe that the presence of different opinions and viewpoints is a key ingredient for our success as a multicultural Ed-Tech company. That means that Preply will consider all applications for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or veteran status.