Head of Brand & Storytelling

Compensation

Base Salary: $200,000 – $250,000
Offers Equity

Government technology has failed the public for decades, and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services.

Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern, AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation, and now we’re building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service.

Our platform reaches 55 million Americans across 50+ agencies. Our goal is to build technology that touches the lives of 100 million residents by the end of the year.

Founded in 2022 and based in New York City, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital. We’re builders, designers, and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn’t be a luxury in government. It’s how you earn trust back.

The Role

Kaizen has built something real: 40 million residents, 50+ agencies, and 17 states. Most people have never heard of us. That changes now.

We’re at the point where our brand needs to do serious work: recruit mission-driven talent, win federal contracts, build credibility with investors, and make Kaizen a name that people in government, tech, and public life actually know.

This is not a production role—it’s a builder role for the person who figures out what Kaizen’s brand should be and then makes it happen across every channel. You’ll own editorial content, short films, the website, social presence, executive storytelling, and the long game of making this company iconic. You’ll work directly with our co-founders and have the latitude to move fast and make big calls.

Location

This is a hybrid role based out of our New York City headquarters. Candidates must reside in New York or be able to commute to New York City to work from our office at least three times a week (Tuesdays–Thursdays).

What You’ll Do

• Define and execute Kaizen’s external brand strategy: what we stand for, how we show up, and how we build recognition across government, tech, and the public.
• Own the content engine, including editorial content (LinkedIn, Substack, long-form writing), short films, YouTube, podcasts, and anything else that puts Kaizen on the map.
• Write and produce executive communications that travel, including board updates, investor narratives, op-eds, and media appearances.
• Build toward long-term brand goals and treat distribution as part of the creative work, not an afterthought.
• Partner with sales and proposal teams to create assets that win contracts, including case studies, one-pagers, and pitch materials.
• Quarterback external vendors and contractors (PR firms, video production teams, and freelancers), directing their output without becoming dependent on them.

What You’ll Bring

• 6–10 years of experience building brand and content at a company where the brand truly mattered—not just maintaining it, but building it.
• A portfolio that demonstrates range and a strong point of view, including editorial content, brand systems, video storytelling, executive communications, and evidence that your work reached audiences beyond its original channel. A portfolio link is required as part of your application.
• Strong instincts for narrative and positioning. You think about why something should exist before you make it.
• Comfort operating as a one-person function initially, with proven ability to build and scale a team of contractors and full-time employees.
• An AI-native workflow, using AI tools to scale output and stay ahead of what’s possible.
• Excellent writing skills, capable of ghostwriting for executives and producing editorial content that earns its own audience.

Strong Candidates May Also…

• Have built a brand function from scratch at an early-stage company before there was a playbook.
• Have experience in govtech, defense tech, or another industry where buyers are skeptical and the mission is serious.
• Have grown their own audience (such as a newsletter, YouTube channel, or social following) and understand distribution firsthand.

Don’t Apply If…

• Your portfolio is primarily B2C advertising campaigns, short-form social videos, or content built for large production teams.
• You require detailed creative briefs, structured processes, or a large team of full-time staff to do your best work.
• You view brand as a support function that simply executes requests from sales or product teams.
• You’re not excited by the idea of making Kaizen a recognized name in Washington, D.C., government offices, and the broader conversation about public-sector technology.

What Kaizen Offers

Health & Insurance

• 100% coverage for employees across medical (Oxford/United Gold and Platinum PPO plans), dental (Guardian PPO), and vision (Beam), with 100% dependent coverage.
• $100,000 in fully paid life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care FSA.
• One Medical membership, including same-day primary care, 24/7 virtual visits, and access to offices throughout the city.
• Fertility and family-building support through Carrot.
• 401(k) through Guideline with a 2% company match.

Family & Time Off

• 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents.
• 10 weeks of fully paid parental leave for non-birthing parents.
• Unlimited PTO with a two-week minimum—we really mean it.
• Company closed for all federal holidays.
• Company-wide winter break during the week of Christmas.
• Company offsites throughout the year.

Office & Remote Setup

• Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for New York City-based employees.
• $500 home office stipend for remote employees.
• $50 per month commuter benefit (company contribution).
• Expensed lunch while working in the office.
• Company-provided laptop of your choice.

Wellness

• Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse, located directly across from the office at 47 W 17th St. (also available in Williamsburg), valued at approximately $225 per month.
• Remote employees receive a $100 per month reimbursement for gym memberships or other physical fitness expenses.

Stipends

• $100 per month utility stipend.
• $500 per year for professional development.
• $250 per year for recreation.
• $300 per quarter pet care stipend.

Apply here