Director of Communications, Det UK

Duolingo Duolingo · Consumer · London, United Kingdom · Marketing and Communications

Director of Communications for the Duolingo English Test (DET) in the UK, responsible for owning the narrative, positioning, and integrated communications. This role involves localizing global strategies, translating product and policy updates into stories for various stakeholders, and building programs to drive awareness, trust, and adoption. The position requires strong collaboration with business, product, policy/legal, marketing, and data teams to ensure consistent messaging and advance UK-specific goals. The role also involves preparing spokespeople, measuring comms effectiveness, and managing potential issues in sensitive or regulated contexts.

What you'd actually do

  1. Define and own the UK market communications strategy and annual priorities for DET across audiences (admissions decision‑makers, employers, regulators, educators, and learners), aligning with DET business goals and regional needs.
  2. Build an always‑on UK story pipeline that translates product improvements, efficacy data, access/affordability proof points, and policy updates into credible narratives and media moments that reinforce trust and category leadership.
  3. Lead integrated announcement planning for UK‑relevant DET updates (product, research, partnerships, policy), including message architecture, FAQs, spokesperson prep, and toolkits for local adaptation and amplification.
  4. Establish standards, templates, and operating rhythms with cross‑functional partners (Product, Policy/Legal, Marketing, Data, regional PR) so DET communications are timely, accurate, and consistent across UK channels.
  5. Prepare executives and DET spokespeople for high‑visibility UK opportunities with talking points, data‑backed proof, and clear briefings; coach for clarity and credibility.

Skills

Required

  • 10+ years in communications with significant experience in product, corporate, or policy communications for a tech or education company; UK or multi‑market responsibility preferred.
  • A track record building or transforming communications systems and standards at scale, with clear measurement of impact on trust, consideration, or adoption.
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills
  • Experience planning and executing integrated announcement moments with cross‑functional partners (Product, Legal/Policy, Marketing, Data), including executive/spokesperson preparation.
  • High judgment and issue management skills in sensitive or regulated contexts; comfortable coordinating rapid, accurate updates across stakeholders.
  • Operational excellence: adept at standing up workflows, calendars, templates, and feedback loops that increase clarity and speed across teams.
  • Ability to work from or relocate to London, UK.

Nice to have

  • Demonstrated success shaping category understanding and trust through evidence‑based storytelling (e.g., efficacy, access, affordability) in education or assessment.
  • Experience partnering with policy, legal, and research teams to communicate changes to standards, security, or compliance with clarity and credibility.
  • Background preparing founders or senior executives for high‑visibility moments tied to product or policy narratives.
  • Experience building comms metrics frameworks tied to trust and consideration signals across priority audiences and markets.
  • Familiarity working with regional PR models, enabling locally resonant storytelling while maintaining global message consistency.

What the JD emphasized

  • translate product and policy updates into clear, credible stories
  • partners closely with the DET business, Product, Policy/Legal, Marketing, Data
  • clear, concise messages and toolkits for multiple audiences and channels
  • planning and executing integrated announcement moments with cross‑functional partners (Product, Legal/Policy, Marketing, Data)
  • issue management skills in sensitive or regulated contexts
  • evidence-based storytelling