Senior Director, Communications & Media Pivotal Ventures

Company Overview

Founded in 2015 by Melinda French Gates, Pivotal expands opportunity and equality for all people through high-impact investments, philanthropy, and advocacy. We accelerate social progress by removing barriers that hold people back. Our impatience with the status quo is fueled by an optimism that progress is always possible.

Inspired by our founder, we reach across communities and sectors to bring together changemakers who can scale up proven ideas and catalyze new ones. We learn from their experiences, amplify their resources, then step back so they can lead. We strive to be creative and innovative in our work and flexible in the approach we take to solving problems.

Role Description

The Senior Director, Communications & Media works across multiple entities within the Pivotal ecosystem and is an integral member of the Communications & Public Affairs team. This individual plays a crucial role helping to shape and implement multiple facets of the Principal’s voice, profile and communications activities. This role is responsible for select communications strategies and the reputation risk and crisis management for the Pivotal ecosystem. This role also shapes media strategies for the Principal and creates a broader media strategy on how we tell the story of Pivotal. This individual works closely and collaboratively with internal partners within the Pivotal ecosystem and a diverse range of external collaborators (partners, consultants, contractors, agencies and support organizations) to magnify the Principal’s voice and brand and to drive awareness and influence for Pivotal’s key issues. This position partners closely with the Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs to cultivate a strong, direct and trusted consultative relationship with the Principal, advising on communications, media relations, messaging and staffing for a diverse set of communications engagements.

This is a Limited-Term Employee (LTE) position and is expected to have a duration of 3 years.

Role Responsibilities

Strategic Media & Communications Leadership

• Implement the strategic direction set by the Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs to elevate the Principal’s profile, coordinating across Digital, Writing, and Creative Studio teams.
• Develop and lead comprehensive communications strategies that define the Principal’s narrative, messages, audiences, and tone.
• Design and implement a proactive media strategy for the Principal’s public presence.
• Lead media strategy for broader Pivotal storytelling, not tied to program priorities or events.
• Ensure effectiveness of tailored communications strategies, including narrative, media relations, digital channel applications, and staffing.
• Supervise the development of media strategies that amplify Pivotal’s key issue areas.
• Craft messaging for media interviews—personal, political, and organizational—and provide guidance to spokespeople.
• Partner with the writing team to shape narrative, op-eds, and speeches, and play a lead role in preparing the Principal for engagements.
• Manage risk mitigation and crisis response communications for the Principal and Pivotal’s ecosystem, while applying emerging platforms, news moments, and analytics.

Principal Media Engagement & Representation

Stakeholder & Media Relations

Team Leadership & Management

Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

To perform this role successfully, individuals must demonstrate the skills and behaviors aligned with our Pivotal Principles that define what success looks like across all roles. These competencies reflect the expectations for how we work together, lead, grow, and deliver impact for all employees regardless of function or level.

Build and Maintain Trust

Act with integrity and foster an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

Drive Impact

Deliver high-quality work that is aligned with Pivotal Strategic Initiatives.

Learn and Grow

Demonstrate a commitment to continuous individual and organizational development.

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Employment Details

This is a full-time position is based in Pivotal’s Seattle, WA or Kirkland, WA office. The Salary range for this position is $266,796 – $286,311.

This is a Limited-Term Employee (LTE) position and is expected to have a duration of 3 years. This means that, absent some change, the position will end within that timeframe as defined in the offer letter. The expected duration of the position does not alter the at-will nature of the position or work at Pivotal.

Benefits for full-time LTE employees currently include medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and long-term care insurance, fertility benefit, caregiving support, 144 hours of vacation, 96 hours of sick leave, 401k, HSA, FSA, an opportunity to earn a discretionary annual target performance bonus and more. Eligibility for and the amount of benefits provided are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, in Pivotal’s discretion, with or without notice.

Pivotal values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and all applicants seeking employment. All employment decisions at Pivotal are based on the candidate’s or employee’s capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, caste, veteran or military status, marital, parental, or familial status, disability, medical condition, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, political ideology, or any other status protected by applicable law. Pivotal complies with federal, state, and local equal opportunity and disability laws and makes reasonable accommodation consistent with those laws for applicants and employees with disabilities. Please contact for assistance and / or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process.

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