Head of Public Affairs

BUILD A SAFER WORLD. TRM Labs provides AI-powered intelligence solutions that help public and private sector agencies investigate and disrupt crime. TRM's platforms enable investigators to trace illicit activity, build cases, and construct operating pictures of threat networks. Leading agencies and businesses worldwide rely on TRM to make the world safer and more secure. TRM Labs is hiring a Head of Public Affairs to lead external communications and public affairs for our government programs. You'll own publicity, announcements, and message coordination with federal and executive-branch communications stakeholders — translating complex, sensitive program work into accurate, approved public narratives. THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE: - Lead public affairs for TRM's government programs — own the external narrative and drive publicity that creates clarity, credibility and engagement around the missions we are supporting, - Own government and agency media relations — build relationships, navigate review and approval cycles, and maintain message discipline across stakeholders. - Position TRM and program leaders as credible voices in public moments where appropriate, with sound judgment about what is said, when, and by whom. - Lead rapid response during reputational, regulatory, or program-related events — drafting statements and coordinating with agency comms leads and TRM Policy/Legal before anything goes public. - Operate with discretion inside approval-gated, confidentiality-heavy environments. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR: - 8–12+ years in strategic communications / public affairs, with meaningful experience in or alongside government (federal agency, Capitol Hill, or a public-affairs firm serving government clients). - Proven ownership of high-stakes external communications and senior/principal-level positioning — not just supporting a senior leader. - Comfort inside government review, message-clearance, and approval cycles, with strict confidentiality on sensitive work. - Exceptional writing and message framing, and sound judgment in fast-moving, high-sensitivity public moments. - AI-fluent in how modern communications work gets done, with a proactive experimentation mindset. - Based in (or able to be highly present in) Washington, DC. About the Team: - Our core mission is to drive revenue growth by shaping market perception and activating demand through strategic storytelling across and visibility across earned and owned channels. - You will partner closely with Insights, Brand & Content, Demand Generation, Product Marketing, Regional Marketing, and the Executive Team. - Core collaboration overlap with ET; flexible hours with expectation of responsiveness to media inquiries THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS THE EXPECTED RANGE OF COMPENSATION FOR THIS ROLE: - Individual pay is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. The compensation details listed in this posting reflect the US base salary only. - The estimated base salary range for this role is $150,000 - $210,000. - Additionally, this role may be eligible to participate in TRM’s equity plan. - Please note – we factor in the different costs for geographies outside the United States. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS If you’re interested in joining TRM, we encourage you to apply directly. Every application is reviewed by our Talent team. Before applying, review the job description carefully and highlight the experience and impact that best demonstrate the required qualifications. Please also provide thoughtful and accurate answers to the application questions, as these will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the role. If you send your resume directly to someone at TRM, we can’t guarantee it will reach the appropriate hiring team. Applying directly is the best way to ensure you’re considered. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS Our process is designed to understand how you think, solve problems, and deliver impact, while giving you the opportunity to evaluate TRM. Most interview processes include a case study, AI skills assessment, and Leadership Principles interview. - Recruiter Intro: Explore your experience, motivations, and alignment with the role. - Hiring Manager: Dive deeper into your relevant experience, skills, and impact. - First Round: Typically 1–2 interviews focused on the skills most critical to the role. - Final Round: Typically 3–5 interviews to go deeper on your craft, problem-solving, and alignment with TRM. - References: We’ll speak with former colleagues who can provide perspective on your work and impact. - Offer: If it’s a mutual fit, your recruiter will walk you through your offer and answer your questions. - Welcome to TRM: Once you sign, we’ll get you ready for your first day and onboarding. Your recruiter will share your specific interview plan and preparation guidance along the way. Learn more about interviewing at TRM https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/interviewing-at-trm-how-we-hire-and-what-success-looks-like LIFE AT TRM We are building a safer world. That promise shows up in how we work every day. TRM moves quickly. We are a high velocity, high ownership team that expects clarity, follow-through, and impact. People who thrive here are energized by hard problems, experimentation, and continuous feedback. If something takes months elsewhere, it will ship here in days. Our work sits at the intersection of AI, national security, and fighting crime. The problems are complex, the stakes are real, and the environment evolves quickly. The pace and intensity of the work reflect the importance of the mission. As a result, the way we operate requires a high level of ownership, adaptability, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. At TRM, you should expect: - Priorities and targets to change quickly as we experiment and iterate - Work that often requires operating with a high degree of ambiguity - A high level of personal ownership and accountability - C