Editorial Director, Global Communications

Preference for candidates based in or near: San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, New York City, Washington, DC, Toronto, or London.

Travel: Frequent international travel required for conferences, convenings, standards meetings, and stakeholder engagement

ROLE SUMMARY

Partnership on AI (PAI) is seeking an Editorial Director, Global Communications to lead the organization's global communications function and maximize the reach, influence, and adoption of PAI's research, frameworks, recommendations, guidance, and tools.

The Editorial Director will develop and execute an integrated editorial, communications, audience engagement, and thought leadership strategy that amplifies the impact of PAI's work globally. Serving as PAI's chief editorial strategist, this role will establish editorial standards, narrative frameworks, and audience-centered communications approaches that strengthen the accessibility, relevance, and practical application of the organization's research, recommendations, frameworks, guidance, and tools. Working closely with Executive Leadership teams, Programs & Research, and Policy, the Editorial Director will oversee the full lifecycle of communications strategy from editorial planning and content development through audience segmentation, dissemination, earned media, and stakeholder engagement to ensure that PAI's insights and recommendations reach and resonate with the audiences most critical to driving awareness, influence, implementation, and adoption across international governance, standards, policy, and industry communities.

The role will serve as PAI's lead strategist, establishing editorial standards, narrative frameworks, and audience-centered communications approaches that strengthen the accessibility, relevance, and practical application of the organization's work across international governance, standards, policy, and industry communities.

This position will also lead PAI's communications team, including direct management of the Head of Digital Communications & Marketing and the Communications Lead, ensuring alignment between editorial strategy, digital engagement, audience growth, brand communications, and organizational priorities. The PAI communications team is housed within PAI’s Partnership Development department.

The ideal candidate brings exceptional editorial judgment, strategic communications expertise, audience development experience, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical, research, and policy topics into high-impact communications that drive engagement and action. They will be equally comfortable shaping international media relations, uplifting executive visibility, and external narrative development, driving earned media opportunities and representing PAI at international conferences and convenings.

Based in Brussels or London, the Editorial Director will serve as a key ambassador for PAI, helping expand the organization's visibility, credibility, influence, and real-world impact across the global responsible AI ecosystem.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Technical & Editorial Communications

Provide editorial oversight and strategic communications guidance for PAI frameworks, recommendations, guidance documents, reports, and technical outputs.

Ensure PAI publications are accessible, audience-centered, and positioned for practical adoption by standards organizations, auditors, policymakers, and implementation stakeholders.

Collaborate cross-functionally with Programs & Research, Policy, and Partnership teams to develop dissemination and engagement strategies for major outputs.

Develop executive briefs, speeches, keynote materials, talking points, strategic messaging documents, press materials, and external communications assets.

Support storytelling approaches that connect PAI’s technical work to broader societal, governance, and implementation challenges.

Global Communications Strategy

Lead development and execution of PAI’s international communications strategy to strengthen global visibility, influence, and adoption of PAI outputs, with a focus on building PAI’s media and communications presence outside of North America, including the EU and UK as key markets and future markets (including Asia Pacific and Africa)

Develop messaging frameworks and strategic narratives that position PAI as a leading international voice on responsible AI governance, implementation, and best practices.

Translate technical, policy, and research outputs into compelling communications tailored for policymakers, regulators, standards organizations, auditors, industry leaders, and global stakeholders.

Partner with executive leadership to shape organizational positioning, executive communications, and thought leadership strategies.

Identify emerging global policy, regulatory, and governance conversations where PAI can contribute expertise and leadership.

Provide strategic oversight of a coordinated editorial and communications calendar aligned to key global policy moments, standards initiatives, conferences, and publication launches.

Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, conference organizers, policy influencers, and international media outlets covering AI, technology policy, governance, and emerging technologies.

Drive earned media opportunities including interviews, op-eds, feature stories, speaking opportunities, podcast participation, and executive thought leadership placements.

Support executive visibility strategies for PAI leadership at major international conferences, summits, and global convenings.

Manage external PR agencies and communications partners where appropriate, including strategic planning, media coordination, and campaign execution.

Develop rapid-response communications strategies tied to emerging AI policy developments, governance debates, and major global AI announcements.

Monitor media trends and identify opportunities for PAI to contribute expert commentary and thought leadership to public discourse.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of experience in editorial leadership, strategic communications, journalism, public affairs, or policy communications, including 5+ years leading teams.
• Exceptional editorial judgment with experience translating complex research, governance, or technical topics into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Proven success developing communications and dissemination strategies that increase the visibility, influence, and adoption of research, frameworks, recommendations, and thought leadership.
• Experience engaging global stakeholder audiences, including policymakers, regulators, standards organizations, industry leaders, researchers, civil society organizations, and media.
• Strong background in earned media, executive communications, thought leadership, and relationship-building with journalists, editors, conference organizers, and other influencers.
• Familiarity with international policy, governance, standards development, or regulatory environments; experience in AI, technology policy, digital governance, or emerging technologies preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, manage competing priorities, and use audience insights and performance metrics to strengthen communications impact.

WHO YOU ARE

• Strategic, globally minded communicator with strong editorial instincts
• Skilled at building relationships with international media and policy stakeholders
• Confident representing organizations in high-profile external settings
• Able to translate complex ideas into accessible, persuasive narratives
• Collaborative and highly adaptable across technical and policy environments
• Passionate about responsible AI and international governance challenges
• Excited by international travel, convenings, and multistakeholder engagement

QUALITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US

• Justice: Notices and addresses inequities, includes diverse perspectives, and acts fairly in decisions and collaboration.
• Trust: Communicates openly, follows through on commitments, and demonstrates reliability and integrity.
• Respect: Listens fully, values others' time and contributions, and collaborates thoughtfully.
• Compassion: Shows empathy, patience, and care, especially when supporting colleagues or navigating challenges.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, even if you don't meet every qualification listed. What matters most is your commitment to PAI's mission and the potential you bring. We are actively interested in building a diverse pool of candidates and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Compensation

PAI's compensation philosophy reflects our commitment to fairness and equity across our distributed team. Compensation is based on role level, experience, skills, geographic location, and internal equity considerations.

Benefits

PAI offers a generous paid leave and benefits package. For US-based employees, this currently includes:

• Twenty vacation days, three personal reflection days, and sick and family leave above industry standards
• High-quality PPO and HMO health insurance plans, many 100% covered by PAI
• Dental and vision insurance, 100% covered by PAI
• Up to a 7% 401(k) match, vested immediately
• Automatic cell phone reimbursement ($75/month)
• Up to $1,000 annually in professional development funds
• $150 per month for co-working space access
• Regular team lunches and focused work days
• Opportunities to attend AI-related conferences and to collaborate with our partners across industry, academia, and civil society

Benefits for candidates based outside the US vary by country. Please refer to our careers page for an updated list of benefits.

Location and Work Authorization

• PAI is a remote-first organization with a global membership base and scope. This role is eligible for remote work in Brussels (Belgium), London (UK), Canada, or the United States.
• While this role is remote, many of our colleagues, partners, and events are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, New York City, Washington, DC, Toronto, and London. Candidates based in or near one of these cities are preferred.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the country where they will be based. We are unable to sponsor visas at this time.

PAI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment in all aspects of employment, including recruiting, hiring, promoting, training, professional development, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, and all privileges and conditions of employment. Employment decisions at PAI are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.

PAI will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local fair chance hiring laws.

The Partnership on AI may become subject to certain governmental record keeping and reporting requirements for the administration of civil rights laws and regulations. We also track diversity in our workforce for the purpose of improving over time. In order to comply with these goals, the Partnership on AI invites employees to voluntarily self-identify their gender and race/ethnicity. Submission of this information is voluntary and refusal to provide it will not jeopardize or adversely affect employment or any consideration you may receive for employment or advancement. The information obtained will be kept confidential.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume through our application portal. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Our hiring process typically includes an initial HR screen, one or more interviews with the hiring team, and a final conversation with senior leadership. We aim to keep candidates informed at each stage and will communicate expected timelines at the outset.

The compensation range for this role depends on where you are based:

United States: $120,000 – $165,000 USD

Canada: C165,000–C190,000 CAD

London, UK: £105,000 – £125,000 GBP

Brussels, Belgium: €120,000 – €145,000 EUR

US pay is based on three geographic zones, and the range above covers all three. Where an offer falls within the range will depend primarily on where you live, along with your experience, skills, and internal equity.