Head of Communications

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic, creative, and highly experienced Head of Communications to lead and scale Tailscale's global communications function. This leader will shape how Tailscale is understood by the market, elevate our visibility in the media, and build the communications engine needed to support our next phase of growth.

Tailscale is a multi-product secure connectivity platform spanning networking, privileged access, workload connectivity, and AI infrastructure. We have an opportunity to help define the future of secure connectivity, establishing Tailscale as the obvious and best networking choice for AI and agentic infrastructure. We're looking for someone who can turn our technical innovation, customer impact, and vision into compelling stories that earn attention and establish Tailscale as a category leader.

Reporting to the SVP of Marketing, you will own product and corporate communications, public relations, media strategy, internal communications, crisis communications, award applications, international comms and media relations, new media engagement, and executive communications across the leadership team outside the CEO. You'll also partner closely with a separate dedicated CEO and policy communications leader to ensure our stories are coordinated and consistent.

This is a builder role for someone who combines strong strategic judgment with exceptional execution. You will initially be hands-on while hiring and developing a small, high-performing team. You will work directly with leaders across Product, Engineering, Marketing, People, Legal, and the executive team to build a communications function that can scale with Tailscale's ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Tailscale's global communications strategy, strengthening brand awareness, reputation, and market leadership.
• Lead product and technology communications, translating complex innovations, product launches, and customer stories into compelling narratives that earn meaningful media coverage. This should include sustained product storytelling between launches, including through independent reviews, technical publications, comparisons, creators, and third party validation. It could also include research-led PR. 
• Build strong relationships with top-tier business, technology, cybersecurity, and AI journalists, driving proactive media opportunities and increasing Tailscale's share of voice.
• Expand Tailscale's presence across emerging media channels, including influential podcasts, newsletters, creators, and technical communities.
• Own corporate communications for major company milestones, strategic partnerships, funding announcements, and other business developments.
• Build and scale international communications programs, including regional media relations and agency partnerships.
• Develop executive communications and thought leadership programs for the leadership team outside the CEO, including speaking opportunities, media engagements, and executive social presence. Partner closely with the dedicated CEO and policy communications lead to coordinate company narratives, major announcements, and executive engagement, building comms campaigns for executives that align with the overall company narrative.
• Oversee internal communications, partnering with People and executive leadership on company-wide messaging, all-hands, organizational changes, and employee engagement communications.
• Lead crisis communications, establishing response plans and partnering with Legal, Security, Engineering, and leadership to protect customer trust and company reputation. You should be able to improve processes over time as we scale. 
• Own Tailscale's awards and recognition strategy, identifying and securing high-value industry and company accolades.
• Hire, manage, and develop a high-performing communications team while overseeing external agencies, communications processes, and performance measurement. This team will start small (likely 2 heads), but has the potential to grow in the future as we scale. 
• Partner closely with the dedicated CEO and policy communications individual contributor to maintain consistent narratives and support broader policy communications initiatives.

What We Are Looking For

• 10+ years of experience in public relations, product communications, or corporate communications, ideally within high-growth B2B technology companies.
• Proven track record of securing meaningful earned media coverage and building strong relationships with influential journalists.
• Deep product communications expertise, with the ability to translate complex technical products into clear, compelling stories.
• Experience hiring, managing, and developing communications professionals and overseeing agency partners.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, and editorial judgment across external, executive, and internal communications.
• Experience advising senior executives and navigating high-stakes or sensitive communications situations.
• Strong strategic judgment and operational discipline, with the ability to prioritize, build scalable processes, and measure impact. Curiosity around and openness to leveraging AI to support operations and execution but not replace human taste and judgement. 
• A hands-on, creative, and highly accountable leader who thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly, and is comfortable building from the ground up.

Nice to Have

• Experience in networking, cybersecurity, infrastructure, developer tools, or AI.
• Experience scaling communications at a high-growth, global technology company.
• Experience supporting fundraising, acquisitions, or pre-IPO communications as well as experience supporting a company through an IPO.

• Experience collaborating with teams who support analyst relations, public policy, or major industry research initiatives.

As a company, we strive to maintain fair and equitable compensation practices within our team across all roles and all levels. Tailscale's compensation package includes base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The salary range displayed on each job posting represents the target range for a new hire's base salary. Individual offers may vary based on experience and skill set.