Director of Public Sector Communication

The Basics:

The Director of Public Sector Communication will lead strategic communication to support Tanium's public policy, sales, marketing, legislative and regulatory priorities at the federal, state and local levels. As part of an integrated Global Corporate Communication function, this highly visible role partners closely with the Company's public sector and federal affairs teams, legal, and business unit leaders to develop compelling narratives and programs-including positioning, messaging, PR and thought leadership. The primary goal is to influence external stakeholders, and position Tanium as a trusted, strategic global asset in the public state market, delivering the most comprehensive solution for intelligently managing 34 million endpoints worldwide across industries, including 40 percent of the Fortune 100.  

The Public Sector Communication unit is focused on proactive positioning, strategic advocacy, and elevating Tanium’s policy voice through sustained, integrated campaigns to target government customers and industry influencers. 

The Director will supervise Public Sector Managers and work with external consulting partners, serving as a senior counselor to executives on public positioning related to legislation, regulation, public-sector infrastructure deployment, and national priorities. The Director of Public Sector Communication will report to the VP of Corporate Communication. 

This is a hybrid position, which will require in person attendance several days each week in one of the following locations: Addison, TX; Bellevue, WA; Durham, NC; Emeryville, CA; or Reston, VA.

What you’ll do:

• Strategic Communication Leadership
  • Develop and execute integrated public affairs communication strategies that align with Tanium’s corporate objectives, ensuring consistent messaging across all external-facing platforms and stakeholder engagements.
• Executive Counsel & Policy Alignment
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to government affairs leadership, providing strategic communication counsel on public policy, regulatory developments, and reputational risk. Translate complex policy issues into actionable communication strategies that support business goals. 
• Stakeholder & Government Relations
  • Cultivate and manage communication relationships with key stakeholders including local, state and federal media, government officials, regulatory bodies, industry associations, and community leaders. Work with internal subject matter experts to support advocacy for Tanium’s interests through proactive engagement and coalition building. 
• Media & Issues Management
  • Lead media relations efforts, including proactive story pitching, rapid response to inquiries, and crisis communication related to the public policy and regulatory environment. Monitor public sentiment and media coverage to inform decision-making and mitigate reputational risk. 
• Narrative Development & Content Strategy
  • Oversee the creation of high-impact communication materials-press releases, op-eds, speeches, Q&A briefs, and social media content-that articulate Tanium's position on key policy issues and elevate its public profile. 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Legal, Regulatory, Marketing, and HR to ensure message discipline and alignment across all channels. Facilitate internal coordination to support unified external communications. 
• Crisis Preparedness & Response
  • Lead the development and execution of crisis communication plans. Act as a spokesperson during high-stakes situations, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and alignment with legal and regulatory standards. 
• Public Opinion & Reputation Monitoring
  • Leverage media analytics and stakeholder feedback to assess the effectiveness of public affairs initiatives. Continuously refine strategies to enhance Tanium's reputation and influence. 
• Practices & Processes
  • Build best-in-class public sector communication practices and processes that will drive efficiency in how Tanium communication team operates. 
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Mentor and lead a high-performing team of public sector professionals. F