Director, Media Relations and Communications

Director, Media Relations and Communications

Location:  REMOTE  US-based

We are seeking a highly motivated Director of Media Relations and Communications to build and lead a proactive, high-impact media program that elevates our visibility across national, local, and trade media. This role is focused on execution, which includes developing compelling stories, driving consistent coverage, and strengthening relationships with key reporters and external partners. The individual in this role will join the communications team, reporting into the vice president of corporate communications, while working closely with key stakeholders across the company.

The ideal candidate is a strong operator and storyteller who thrives in a fast-paced environment, knows how to turn complex topics into clear narratives, and can independently drive media outcomes. This role will also be exposed to all areas of external communications.

Key activities will include the following:

Build and execute a proactive media strategy

• Develop and implement a consistent, forward-looking media plan aligned to company priorities, with a strong emphasis on oncology

• Identify news moments, trends, and story angles that position the company as a leader in its space

• Drive a steady cadence of high-quality media coverage across national, local, and trade outlets

Develop and manage media relationships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key reporters, editors, and producers

• Proactively pitch stories, coordinate briefings, and manage ongoing media engagement

• Serve as a contact for inbound media inquiries

Manage external PR agency

• Oversee external PR firm to ensure alignment with strategy, messaging, and priorities

• Set clear goals, manage deliverables, and hold agency accountable for performance

• Optimize agency support to extend team capacity and impact

Drive story development and content creation

• Partner cross-functionally to identify compelling stories, including clinical data, innovation, patient impact, and company milestones

• Draft and edit media pitches, statements, briefing materials, and press releases when needed

• Ensure all external communications are clear, accurate, and aligned with company messaging

Coordinate third-party engagement

• Identify and manage relationships with external stakeholders (e.g., clinicians, partners, advocates) who can support media stories

• Facilitate participation in interviews, quotes, and broader storytelling opportunities

• Travel likely required, particularly given heavy emphasis on coordination of local activities for specific stories

Manage media assets and readiness

• Develop and maintain a library of media-ready assets (fact sheets, backgrounders, FAQs, visuals, spokespeople materials)

• Ensure the company is prepared to respond quickly and effectively to media opportunities and inquiries

Support executive visibility

• Partner with senior leadership to prepare for media engagements, including briefings, messaging, and interview prep

• Help identify opportunities to elevate executive voices in key outlets

Ideal candidates will possess the following skills:

• Experience in healthcare, biotech, or life sciences strongly preferred, including the ability to communicate complex scientific data 

• Demonstrated success securing media coverage across national, local, and trade outlets, including experience driving drive broad consumer/patient awareness 

• Strong writing and storytelling skills, with significant experience drafting press materials and media pitches

• Experience managing external PR agencies and driving results through partners

• Proven ability to build relationships with reporters and navigate complex, technical subject matter

• Highly organized, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously

• Ability to operate independently and execute with minimal oversight

• Executive presence and an entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to identify areas of opportunity and fill gaps

• The ability to produce high-quality content under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment 

Additional qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree, with 8-10 years of experience in communications and media relations

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with strong skills in PowerPoint/Google Slides, and familiarity with digital communication tools and platforms.

The pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.Remote USA$165,600—$207,000 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

WHAT WE OFFER

Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

For more information, visit www.natera.com.

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents. 

Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

For more information:
- BBB announcement on job scams 
- FBI Cyber Crime resource page