What Does a Director of Communications Do?
Directors of Communications work in a leadership role on the communications side of the company, which typically consist of the marketing, sales and public relations departments. They work to ensure the organization maintains a positive image by overseeing and approving any company information or announcements before they’re released to the public. Communications Directors view any promotional or marketing materials to ensure they represent a positive company image before being published.
Director of Communications Skills and Qualifications
A successful Director of Communications will have a strong set of written and verbal skills as well as problem-solving capabilities. These professionals should be comfortable working on and delivering messages through a variety of platforms. They should also have the confidence and managerial skills to guide a team of communications staff. Other important skills include:
- Teamwork and the ability to lead and motivate their staff to produce high-level, brand-driven content
- Written, verbal and digital communication skills
- Analytical skills to solve problems and find the best way to convey a message
- The creativity to produce exciting and interesting content
- Organizational skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize projects while working on a deadline or in a fast-paced environment
- The technological ability to work on a variety of digital platforms and also create web and mobile content
Director of Communications Salary Expectations
A director of communications’ average salary is $71,761 per year, but may range depending on experience, location and the type of company. The part-time Director of Communications for a small nonprofit, for instance, will be on the lower end of this range, while that of a large global organization will be on the high end.
Director of Communications Education and Training Requirements
A Director of Communications should have at least a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, English or a related field. Some will have a master’s degree in communications programs; these individuals will be more highly qualified for the job and might have more extensive leadership and business skills.
A successful Director of Communications might take professional development courses and seminars to learn current industry trends and new technologies. They might also be certified or trained on information exchange programs or creative and publishing software.
Director of Communications Experience Requirements
A Director of Communications should have at least five, and probably close to 10, years of professional experience in a communications, public relations or marketing role. Ideally, this person will also have several years of managerial or leadership experience. They should be able to demonstrate their ability to lead a team effectively and show examples of high-level written work.
Job Description Samples for Similar Positions
If a director of communications isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, you can find job description samples for similar jobs, such as: