Description We are seeking an exceptional and experienced Director, Thought Leadership & Messaging to join our Product Marketing team. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in shaping Slack's narrative, driving our strategic messaging, and establishing Slack as the definitive leader in the future of work. You will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive thought leadership strategy that elevates our brand, articulates our unique value proposition, and fundamentally influences market perception, particularly around category creation and definition.This role requires a unique blend of sophisticated product marketing acumen, compelling content strategy expertise, and a proven ability to work closely with industry analysts to drive market understanding and adoption of new paradigms. You will be a strategic thinker, a masterful storyteller, and a collaborative leader passionate about the impact Slack has on businesses worldwide.Responsibilities:Develop and Lead Thought Leadership Strategy:Define, develop, and execute Slack's overarching thought leadership strategy, aligning with product roadmap, business objectives, and market trends.Identify key industry trends, customer pain points, and competitive dynamics to inform and shape our thought leadership agenda.Create Slack’s POV and position Slack as a visionary leader in the future of work, enterprise collaboration, and the application of AI in the workplace.Partner closely with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and amplification of key messages.​Craft Compelling Messaging and Narrative:Translate Slack capabilities and strategic initiatives into clear, concise, and compelling narratives for various audiences (customers, analysts, media, internal stakeholders).Develop core messaging frameworks, value propositions, and proof points that differentiate Slack.Ensure consistent and impactful messaging across all external and internal communications channels.​Drive Content Strategy & Development:Oversee the creation of high-impact thought leadership content, including whitepapers, research reports, executive presentations, blog posts, articles, webinars, and more.Lead the Slack digital content efforts for slack.com, resource library, and blog site working closely with PMM subject matter experts on product details. Collaborate with internal subject matter experts, PMM teams, sales, and external agencies to produce content that educates, inspires, and persuades.Measure the effectiveness of content and optimize strategy based on performance data and market feedback.​Strategic Analyst Relations & Category Creation:Work hand-in-hand with our Analyst Relations team to build strong relationships with key industry analysts (e.g., Gartner, Forrester, IDC).Lead the development of analyst-facing narratives, briefings, and presentations that articulate Slack's vision for the future of enterprise communication and collaboration.Actively drive category creation and definition efforts with analysts, positioning Slack as the essential platform for the modern enterprise, influencing their research and market guidance.Leverage analyst insights to refine messaging and identify new thought leadership opportunities.Work across Salesforce to leverage analyst relations in cross-cloud efforts, identifying areas for Slack messaging. ​What you'll bring:8+ years of experience in product marketing, content strategy, or a related field within a B2B SaaS environment, with experience in a senior management or lead role focused on thought leadership.Proven track record of success in category creation/definition or significantly influencing market perception through strategic messaging and analyst engagement.Exceptional product marketing skills: Ability to deeply understand complex technical products and translate them into compelling, business-oriented value propositions.Mastery of content strategy and development: Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and measure the impact of high-quality thought leadership content across various formats.Strong experience working with industry analysts: Proven ability to build relationships, conduct effective briefings, and influence analyst research and reports.Outstanding written and verbal communication skills: A natural storyteller with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.Strategic thinking and analytical capabilities: Ability to synthesize market data, competitive intelligence, and customer insights into actionable strategies.Executive presence and presentation skills: Comfortable and confident engaging with senior leaders internally and externally.Self-starter with a proactive and collaborative work style: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field; MBA preferred.