Our clients operate at the frontiers of innovation - we advise technology companies driving change, global investors funding the future, the giants of sport and entertainment, and influential individuals on the communications and policy challenges that define their reputations. Our work spans corporate and financial communications, policy and public affairs to engage regulators and policymakers, policy communications and leadership communications. We underpin the full breadth of our capabilities with research-driven insights and campaigns. We're also pioneering AI-enhanced advisory work for both our clients and internal innovation, using technology to unlock insights from data at unprecedented scale and speed.
There is a growing gap in communications at technology’s frontier.
The organizations building the most consequential technologies of our time – AI labs, quantum computing companies, synthetic biology startups – are underserved by an industry that still thinks in press releases, tier-one media lists, and quarterly coverage reports. The communities that actually shape technical credibility, talent decisions, and research reputation are not being activated by traditional PR.
Milltown Partners is building that capability. We work with clients at the intersection of technical depth and strategic communications. And as the scope and impact of technology grows, deep communications expertise at technology’s frontiers — those who understand its communities and its builders, its codes and its dynamics, and can build playbooks to reach them — becomes more important. That is the role.
We're looking for someone to come in as Associate Director which means leading teams, taking ownership of client relationships and being ready to develop others.
Your X algorithm surfaces AI model launches, Dwarkesh clips, and Karpathy tweets. You follow specific AI researchers, not just the companies. You know what is being debated in AI safety circles right now and you have a view on it. You read the papers behind the headlines. You know which podcasts the people who matter actually listen to, which newsletters they actually read, and which community spaces are genuine versus performative.
You may not have a traditional communications background. That is fine. What you need is proximity to the frontier, the intellectual range to think strategically about reputation and narrative, the instincts for smart and creative storytelling, and the collaborative instinct to bring a team with you.
Advise clients on the communications challenges specific to AI and frontier tech
You will build trusted advisory relationships with technical clients – AI labs, deep tech startups, research-led organizations – often working directly with founders and scientists. You will develop and deliver communications strategies rooted in a genuine understanding of the technical subject matter, the communities that matter to these clients, and the reputational dynamics of the AI landscape.
Build and execute strategies that reach the right audiences
You will develop storytelling strategies across a range of channels – technical community forums, insider podcasts, developer-facing content, research communications, influencers, traditional media, and events – with a clear understanding of where developers, researchers, and technical talent actually spend their time. The communications playbook for frontier AI does not rely on traditional press pitching. You know the difference between TechCrunch and the communities that actually shape technical credibility, and you will use that knowledge to build plans that land.
Strengthen the firm’s expertise and capabilities in AI and frontier tech
You will act as a subject matter resource for the wider US team, helping colleagues develop their strategic understanding of the opportunities and challenges that organizations working at the frontiers of technology currently face. You will build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the AI ecosystem – researchers, technical community voices, policymakers, and the media who actually cover the frontier – that deliver value for clients and strengthen the firm’s position. As we rapidly grow our roster of clients working at technology’s frontiers, you will help us build a practice in frontier technology. You’ll grow our US business’s capacity to meet their needs, helping grow our collective understanding of insider technical communities, identifying the influencers and voices that matter, understanding the channels and formats that earn credibility.
Develop junior colleagues and contribute to a collaborative culture
You will work in a team-oriented environment where sharing knowledge and developing others is part of the job, not an afterthought. Part of this role is explicitly about teaching – sharing what you know about how technical communities work, what they find credible, and what turns them off. You will give and receive regular feedback, support junior colleagues to build their skills, and contribute actively to an inclusive working environment.
