📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Communications Manager
🔹 Company: ExpressVPN
🔹 Location: London, UK
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid (3 days in the office)
🔹 Category: Communications, Public Relations
🔹 Date Posted: May 9, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (London office)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and implementing external communication strategies to enhance brand value and reputation
- Building and maintaining relationships with key media contacts
- Collaborating cross-functionally with various teams to shape strategy and craft compelling messaging
- Managing agencies in key regions such as the U.S. and Europe
- Delivering a steady drumbeat of quality coverage to build ExpressVPN’s brand awareness and thought leadership
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong writing skills, and the ability to work effectively with various teams and stakeholders.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and implement external communication strategies and plans that deliver brand and business value
✅ Build and maintain strong relationships with key review contacts and be the first point of contact for incoming press enquiries
✅ Serve as a key point of contact between the engineering and communications teams, helping to craft consumer and reviewer messaging related to product updates and releases
✅ Manage agencies in key regions such as the U.S. and Europe
✅ Deliver a steady drumbeat of quality coverage, building ExpressVPN’s brand awareness and thought leadership
✅ Creatively translate ExpressVPN’s leading technology and/or product features into compelling, impactful stories for a wide range of audiences
✅ Leverage existing media relationships and cultivate new contacts within general, tech, and other media to tell our stories
✅ Creatively identify opportunities for us to inject our voice and perspective
✅ Source, analyze, and package data to fuel coverage
✅ Craft and edit press-ready copy—including press releases, executive quotes and commentary, and collateral—that lives up to our brand’s standards and values
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, relationship building, and tactical execution to achieve communication goals.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field
Experience: 5+ years of experience working in public relations and/or media relations
Required Skills:
- Exceptional English writing and editing skills
- Experience working with geographically distributed teams
- Experience in consumer tech communications
- Ability to work independently and in teams
- Self-driven with strong attention to detail with a passion for strategic communications and public relations
- Demonstrable experience proactively identifying coverage opportunities and independently delivering on them
- High EQ. Get people excited about working with you and about our company and industry
Preferred Skills:
- Demonstrable experience of working with, and communicating the nuances of, tech products
- Experience working in a highly regulated environment, or working with agency clients in highly regulated industries
- Experience with the affiliate marketing industry
- Familiarity with PR reporting tools
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in public relations, exceptional writing skills, and experience in consumer tech communications.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £50,000 - £70,000 per annum (AI-estimated, based on industry standards for a Communications Manager role in London)
Benefits:
- Rewarding work in a fun and collaborative environment
- Hybrid working with three days in the office
- Spacious open-concept and centrally located offices
- Full-time employment with flexible working hours
- Fully stocked pantry with healthy foods and fresh fruit
- Team lunches and company events every quarter
- Multicultural teams represented by 30+ nationalities
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible working hours
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a Communications Manager role in London. Actual salary may vary based on experience and performance.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: ExpressVPN operates in the competitive online privacy and security market, with a focus on consumer-facing products and services.
Company Size: ExpressVPN has 501-1,000 employees, providing a mid-sized company environment with opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Founded: 2009, with over a decade of experience in the industry and a strong reputation for innovation and customer focus.
Company Description:
- ExpressVPN is a leading provider of online privacy and security services for consumers
- Started in 2009, with millions of active paying customers and a team of over 700 people worldwide
- Recognized by hundreds of millions of people in 18 languages and more than a hundred countries
Company Specialties:
- Cybersecurity
- VPN (Virtual Private Network)
- Data privacy
- Online security
- Digital freedom
- Online privacy
- Cybersecurity research
Company Website: www.expressvpn.com
ASSUMPTION: ExpressVPN is a well-established company in the online privacy and security industry, with a strong global presence and a reputation for innovation and customer focus.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the communications department and the company as a whole.
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Director of Communications based in the UK.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with three days in the office and two days working remotely.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a senior or management role within the communications department
- Expanding responsibilities and leading projects or teams
- Cross-functional collaboration and learning opportunities within the company
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the communications department and the company as a whole.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Spacious, open-concept offices located in central London.
Office Location(s): London, UK
Geographic Context:
- London is a major global city with a vibrant tech industry and a diverse talent pool
- The office is centrally located, with easy access to public transportation and amenities
- The city offers a high quality of life, with numerous cultural, entertainment, and recreational opportunities
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible working hours and a hybrid work arrangement (3 days in the office, 2 days remote).
ASSUMPTION: The London office provides a collaborative and engaging work environment, with easy access to public transportation and numerous amenities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-depth interview with the hiring manager and/or other team members
- Final interview with the Director of Communications
- Job offer and onboarding
Key Assessment Areas:
- Writing and editing skills
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Media relations and relationship-building skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with company values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Showcase your writing and editing skills with examples of your work
- Demonstrate your understanding of the online privacy and security industry and ExpressVPN's products and services
ATS Keywords: Public Relations, Media Relations, Writing, Editing, Strategic Communications, Relationship Building, Data Analysis, Messaging, Collaboration, Consumer Tech, Attention to Detail, Proactive Coverage, High Emotional Intelligence, Agency Management, Press Enquiries, Storytelling
ASSUMPTION: The application process is designed to assess the candidate's skills, experience, and cultural fit for the role and the company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides)
- PR reporting tools (e.g., Muck Rack, Agility PR Solutions, Cision)
- Media monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., Mention, Brand24, Hootsuite)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard for the communications industry and can be learned or mastered with relative ease.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer Obsessed
- Innovative
- Trustworthy
- Collaborative
- Accountable
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and proactive
- Adaptable and open to feedback
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with ExpressVPN's company values, particularly 'Customer Obsessed' and 'Innovative'?
- How comfortable are you working in a hybrid work environment and collaborating with remote team members?
- How do your personal work style and preferences fit with ExpressVPN's collaborative and results-driven culture?
ASSUMPTION: ExpressVPN values a customer-focused, innovative, and collaborative work environment, with employees who are adaptable, results-driven, and strong communicators.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple agency relationships and ensuring consistent messaging across regions
- Balancing strategic planning with day-to-day tactical execution
- Adapting to a hybrid work environment and collaborating effectively with remote team members
- Keeping up with industry trends and competitor activities in the fast-paced online privacy and security market
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong organizational skills, effective communication, and a proactive approach to staying informed about industry trends and competitor activities.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to a Communications Specialist role, this role requires more strategic planning and leadership, as well as experience managing agencies and external stakeholders
- Compared to a Communications Director role, this role has a narrower focus on external communications and may not involve managing a team or developing overall communications strategy
- Career progression from this role could include moving into a senior or management role within the communications department or expanding into a broader communications leadership role
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of strategic planning, tactical execution, and stakeholder management, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the communications department and the company as a whole.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a media relations campaign to launch a new product or feature
- Crafting and distributing a press release announcing a strategic partnership or acquisition
- Managing an agency in a key region to ensure consistent messaging and brand representation
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and tasks associated with this role, from strategic planning and execution to day-to-day tactical management.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the communications department?
- How does this role fit into the overall communications strategy for the company, and how will my work contribute to its success?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does ExpressVPN support the professional growth and development of its employees?
- What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of working in the communications department at ExpressVPN?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to provide insight into the role, the team, and the company culture, as well as to demonstrate the candidate's interest and engagement with the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare examples of your writing and editing work to showcase your skills
- Prepare for interview questions related to your writing and editing skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
