Associate, Strategic Communications, Tusk Ventures

The Role

Tusk Ventures is seeking a sharp, high-agency Associate to join our Communications team. This is a dynamic, fast-paced role for someone who thrives on context-switching across industries, understands the modern media landscape, and wants to work directly with venture-backed founders, national reporters, and policy leaders.

You will support multiple portfolio companies across sectors including AI, healthcare, fintech, gaming, energy, and more - while contributing to firm-level thought leadership and high-profile events.

We are looking for someone who can think critically, move quickly, and engage confidently with founders and reporters. This role reports directly to the Head of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs and will work closely with firm leadership and portfolio company CEOs.

Why This Role is Different

This is not a traditional PR role. You will:

• Work directly with venture-backed CEOs
• Engage with national reporters covering some of the most consequential debates in tech
• Support policy-facing narratives that influence regulatory outcomes
• Gain rare exposure to high-level convenings of founders, investors, and policymakers
• This role will play a direct part in expanding the firm’s communications footprint.

Key Responsibilities:

Client & Portfolio Support

• Support day-to-day media strategy and execution across multiple portfolio companies
• Draft press releases, media briefs, talking points, reactive statements, and op-eds
• Proactively pitching podcasts
• Monitor media coverage and regulatory developments across client verticals
• Help manage inbound reporter inquiries with speed and professionalism
• Support coordination with external PR agencies to ensure alignment and accountability

Firm-Level Communications

• Assist in coordinating high-profile events with founders, VCs, policymakers, and media
• Develop event materials including run-of-show documents, speaker briefs, guest outreach, and post-event amplification
• Help grow Tusk’s owned channels, including LinkedIn strategy and firm newsletter

Events & Thought Leadership

• Support execution of high-level events, including VC roundtables, founder briefings, and policy convenings
• Assist with run-of-show documents, speaker prep, guest outreach, post-event amplification, and logistics
• Contribute to positioning firm leadership and portfolio CEOs as thought leaders

Media & Landscape Fluency

• Stay current on the evolving media landscape - including traditional outlets, tech reporters, newsletters, podcasts, social platforms , and Substack creators
• Track narrative trends shaping tech and regulatory debates
• Build and maintain relationships with reporters across major tech hubs in Tusk’s network and beyond
• Help identify moments where Tusk and its portfolio companies can shape emerging debates

Qualifications

Required:

• 2-4 years of experience in communications, media relations, venture capital, startup marketing, or agency work
• Demonstrated success pitching reporters, securing coverage, and managing media relationships
• Strong writing skills across formats (press materials, talking points, briefs, social content)
• Familiarity with the current tech media landscape
• Ability to juggle multiple clients and deadlines simultaneously
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Comfortable working across multiple industries and context-switching
• Comfort operating in high-stakes, fast-moving environments
• Confident engaging with founders, investors, reporters, and policymakers

Strongly Preferred:

• Venture capital or startup experience
• Agency experience supporting multiple clients across sectors
• Exposure to regulated industries (healthcare, fintech, gaming, AI policy, etc.)
• Experience supporting executive thought leadership
• Reporter relationships (strong plus)

Who You Are:

• Intellectually curious 
• Energized by emerging tech and regulatory strategy
• Calm under pressure when dealing with reporters or sensitive issues
• Comfortable engaging with founders, investors, and policy stakeholders
• Proactive, accountable, and solutions-oriented
• Able to toggle between strategic thinking and tactical execution

What You'll Gain

• Exposure to cutting-edge companies shaping the future
• Firsthand experience at the intersection of venture capital and regulatory strategy
• Mentorship from senior communications leadership
• A front-row seat to high-profile media campaigns and policy conversations

Benefits include:

• 401(k) with employer contribution of 3% of compensation starting after the first year of employment.
• 100% covered employee premiums for medical, dental, vision (dependents and spouses 80% covered).
• Generous vacation policy.
• Fully paid four months of parental leave.
• Covered cell phone service.
• Hybrid work environment.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between $90,000 and $110,000/year. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, market factors, and network.

If you require reasonable accommodation to participate in this hiring process, please direct your inquiries to Evanie Peters, HR Generalist at evanie@tuskholdings.com. Please include the job title you are applying to in the subject line. Only requests related to accommodations will be responded to. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.