📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Product Communications
🔹 Company: Strava
🔹 Location: San Francisco, California, United States
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid (3 days on-site per week)
🔹 Category: Communications & Public Relations
🔹 Date Posted: May 2, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading storytelling around Strava’s product roadmap and innovation
- Guiding crisis communications with strategic foresight and empathy
- Partnering cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Brand, Legal, Support, and Executive teams
- Acting as a trusted partner to company leadership
- Influencing how millions of people experience, trust, and talk about the Strava product globally
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong strategic communicator with deep understanding of tech and consumer products, and the ability to navigate high-stakes moments with confidence and care.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Own the narrative around Strava’s product innovation, helping athletes and the world understand how we’re shaping the future of movement
✅ Be the voice of clarity and calm during high-stakes moments, leading crisis communications with confidence, care, and strategic foresight
✅ Partner closely with product, brand, and executive leaders to translate technical updates into meaningful, human-centric stories
✅ Shape a growing, mission-driven brand at the intersection of tech, wellness, and community
✅ Work with a passionate, purpose-driven team that believes movement is a force for good, and that great communication can move people, too
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with a focus on clear, compelling storytelling and cross-functional collaboration.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field
Experience: 10+ years of experience in communications, with deep expertise in both product PR and crisis communications
Required Skills:
- Proven success in consumer tech, digital media, or lifestyle platforms
- Sharp writing skills with the ability to craft clear, compelling narratives
- Strong relationships with national and endemic media
- Ability to stay calm under pressure and navigate sensitive or high-profile issues
- Comfortable partnering with executive leaders and collaborating across cross-functional teams
- Familiarity with Strava, our community, or the fitness tech space
Preferred Skills:
- Multilingual fluency or international communications experience
- Passion for fitness or sport
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong track record in product PR and crisis communications, with a deep understanding of consumer tech and a global mindset.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $197,000 - $209,000 per year (base salary only, does not include equity or benefits)
Benefits:
- Comprehensive benefits package (details available upon request)
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement (3 days on-site per week)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on market data for similar roles in the San Francisco Bay Area. The benefits package is competitive and includes health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, and other perks.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Software Development, with a focus on fitness and wellness
Company Size: 201-500 employees (mid-sized company)
Founded: 2009 (16 years ago)
Company Description:
- Strava is the app for active people, with over 150 million athletes in more than 185 countries
- Our mission is to motivate people to live their best active lives by connecting them to what motivates them and helping them find their personal best
- We believe in the power of movement to connect and drive people forward
Company Specialties:
- Fitness tracking and analytics
- Social features for active people
- Community building and engagement
Company Website: https://www.strava.com
ASSUMPTION: Strava is a well-established company in the fitness tech industry, with a strong global presence and a passionate user base.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior leadership role, reporting directly to the Chief Communications Officer
Reporting Structure: This role will lead a team of communications professionals, with potential for further growth and expansion
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with around half your time on-site in the San Francisco office (roughly three days per week)
Growth Opportunities:
- Leading and mentoring a team of communications professionals
- Expanding the role and team as the company grows
- Potential for career progression within the communications function or broader organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities, both in terms of team leadership and career advancement within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space in San Francisco's Mission District
Office Location(s): 208 Utah St, San Francisco, California 94103, US
Geographic Context:
- San Francisco is a vibrant, diverse city with a strong tech industry and a rich cultural scene
- The Mission District is a lively, urban neighborhood with numerous restaurants, shops, and parks
- San Francisco offers a mix of urban and outdoor living, with easy access to hiking, biking, and other recreational activities
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement (3 days on-site per week)
ASSUMPTION: The San Francisco office provides a dynamic, collaborative work environment, with easy access to public transportation and numerous amenities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- On-site or virtual interview with the cross-functional interview panel
- Final interview with the Chief Communications Officer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic communication skills and experience
- Crisis communication skills and experience
- Cross-functional collaboration and leadership skills
- Alignment with company values and mission
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your communication skills and experience
- Research Strava's mission, values, and recent news to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its goals
ATS Keywords: Product Communications, Crisis Communications, Storytelling, Strategic Planning, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Media Relations, Consumer Tech, Digital Media, Writing, Empathy, Global Mindset, Fitness, Athlete Engagement, Technical Understanding, Relationship Building, Public Relations
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing your communication skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit with the company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Media databases (e.g., Muck Rack, Agility PR Solutions)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Communication and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
- Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used may vary depending on the team's preferences and the company's standards.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Make athletes’ lives better
- Be authentic
- Be a force for good
- Be inclusive
- Be curious
- Be accountable
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional
- Data-driven and results-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Passionate about fitness, wellness, and community
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Strava's mission to make athletes' lives better?
- How have you navigated sensitive or high-profile issues in previous roles, and what was the outcome?
- How do you stay organized and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment?
ASSUMPTION: Strava values a strong cultural fit, with a focus on authenticity, inclusivity, and a passion for fitness and wellness.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
- Balancing proactive and reactive communication strategies
- Adapting to a fast-paced, ever-evolving work environment
- Navigating sensitive or high-profile issues with care and strategic foresight
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong communication skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate complex, high-stakes situations with confidence and care.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional PR roles, this position requires a deep understanding of product roadmaps and technical updates
- Strava's global user base and mission-driven approach set it apart from other consumer tech companies
- Career progression opportunities may vary depending on the company's growth and expansion
ASSUMPTION: This role is unique in its focus on product communications and global storytelling within the fitness tech industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a communications strategy around a major product launch or update
- Crafting messaging and talking points for executive leadership during high-stakes moments or crises
- Building and maintaining relationships with national and endemic media, securing coverage and placements that drive brand awareness and engagement
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects reflect the strategic, cross-functional nature of the role and the importance of clear, compelling storytelling.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader communications strategy, and how will I collaborate with other teams to achieve our goals?
- What are the most pressing challenges facing the company, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Strava support work-life balance, and what resources are available to help employees thrive in this role?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within the communications function or broader organization?
- How does Strava measure the success of its communications efforts, and what metrics will I be responsible for tracking and reporting?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate your interest in the role, the company, and its mission, while also providing valuable insights into the work environment and growth opportunities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through Strava's careers page
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your communication skills and experience
- Research Strava's mission, values, and recent news to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its goals
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
