Communications Specialist - AI & Frontier Tech

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

• Genuine, demonstrable proximity to frontier AI. This is not general interest, but active engagement with the communities, debates, and builders that are shaping it

• The intellectual range to think about reputation, narrative, and strategic positioning to help technical clients achieve their reputational goals and tell stories about complex  subject matter that resonate with technical and non-technical audiences

• Knowledge of the communities and channels that matter in frontier tech: where developers and researchers spend time, who the influential voices are, what credibility looks like in technical talent and research communities.

• Experience advising technical clients or senior technical stakeholders, earning their trust directly.

• Curiosity that goes beyond your own area. You do not need to be an expert in every aspect of AI or frontier technologies, but you need to find the breadth interesting and demonstrate an ability to learn quickly. 

• Collaborative instincts. This role requires bringing a team with you, sharing what you know, and building capability across the firm. Individual contribution alone is not sufficient. 

• Experience using AI tools (e.g. Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) effectively and critically in a professional setting.

Someone who wants to stay purely in the technical world and is not genuinely interested in the communications and advisory side. A generalist advisor who lacks depth with technical communities. Someone who cannot work collaboratively or share knowledge. Someone whose frontier AI knowledge is real but narrow – deep in safety, say, but with no interest in the developer tools, infrastructure, or research communications challenges the broader client base presents.

We're an independent, employee-owned firm, which means the people who work here share in our collective success. We operate across London, Brussels, San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C., advising technology companies, global investors, iconic brands and influential individuals on the communications and policy challenges that define their reputations.

Our culture is built on five values: brilliance, restlessness, comradeship, inclusivity and integrity. We expect a lot from each other, but we also invest in each other—through honest feedback, shared learning and genuine care that goes beyond the work itself.

We're also serious about building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. We have measurable commitments around representation, inclusion, and supporting underrepresented communities through pro bono work. Creating an environment where everyone can thrive is central to how we operate.

By joining us, you’ll have access to:

• Competitive, transparent pay with open salary bands, plus twice-yearly bonuses

• 401(k) with company match, eligible from day one

• Robust healthcare options, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus dedicated mental health support

• 26 days PTO, 10 sick days, and 10 public holidays

• Two-week company-wide winter break

• Paid parental leave

• Sabbatical leave

• $100/month commuter benefit

• Hybrid working model with three days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

• Structured career development with clear progression pathways and a defined career framework

If this sounds like the right place to progress your career, we'd love to hear from you. If your salary or role title expectations aren’t quite aligned but you believe you are keen to apply, please don’t hesitate and we can have a conversation.