How to hire an assistant director, communications

How to hire an assistant director, communications, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant director, communications hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant director, communications job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant director, communications
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assistant director, communications do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The assistant director, communications hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect assistant director, communications also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents assistant director, communications salaries for various positions.

   Type of Assistant Director, Communications	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Director, Communications	Property, real estate, and community association managers take care of the many aspects of residential, commercial, or industrial properties. They make sure the property is well maintained, has a nice appearance, and preserves its resale or leasing value.	$14-48
   Public Relations Manager	A public relations manager is responsible for monitoring the public relations department to boost its brand image and attract potential clients through press releases and media coverage. They work closely with the marketing team, developing marketing campaigns and promotional strategies for creating brand awareness... Show more	$30-61
   Community Relations Director	A community relations director is a professional who is responsible for managing positive relationships with community members, nonprofit organizations, and fellow employees surrounding an organization. Community relations directors must plan, organize, and manage activities to help the organization achieve its public relations goal... Show more	$29-73

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Property Management
   • Professional Development
   • Alumni
   • Photoshop
   • Graphic Design
   • English Language
   • Affordable Housing
   • Press Releases
   • LIHTC
   • NCAA
   • Instagram
   • PowerPoint
   • Facebook

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and develop marketing, communication, and implementation process improvements for training curricula and the department's intranet website.
   • Increase Facebook followers from 100,000 to 300,000 by identifying and engaging supporters.
   • Engineer a statewide network of local Facebook groups that enable the campaign to easily communicate with supporters across the state.
   • Create and update an eye-catching, interactive Instagram account in order to keepall families aware of all camp activities and events.
   • Serve as representative to senior management team during community events and company spokesperson for division, including to nonprofit sector clients.
   • Develop best-in-class trade show presence that always generate positive ROI, in addition.

   More assistant director, communications duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant director, communications job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An assistant director, communications salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an assistant director, communications in Nebraska may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level assistant director, communications usually earns less than a senior-level assistant director, communications. Additionally, an assistant director, communications with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average assistant director, communications salary

   $54,965yearly

   $26.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant director, communications salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average assistant director, communications salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$85,401	$41
   2	District of Columbia	$77,670	$37
   3	New York	$73,298	$35
   4	Maryland	$71,931	$35
   5	California	$69,909	$34
   6	Virginia	$69,636	$33
   7	Minnesota	$64,952	$31
   8	Pennsylvania	$63,542	$31
   9	North Carolina	$59,150	$28
   10	Nevada	$58,133	$28
   11	Texas	$57,257	$28
   12	Georgia	$56,208	$27
   13	Oregon	$54,192	$26
   14	Kentucky	$53,861	$26
   15	Ohio	$53,043	$26
   16	Wisconsin	$52,837	$25
   17	Missouri	$50,025	$24
   18	Florida	$49,875	$24
   19	South Carolina	$48,783	$23
   20	Utah	$48,662	$23

   Average assistant director, communications salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pace University	$103,105	$49.57	2
   2	Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	$77,805	$37.41	1
   3	San Francisco University High School	$75,900	$36.49	2
   4	Saint Mary's College	$75,169	$36.14	2
   5	Loyola University Maryland	$72,014	$34.62	7
   6	Bemidji State University	$71,495	$34.37
   7	University of Baltimore	$71,441	$34.35
   8	Northwestern Mutual	$70,917	$34.09	8
   9	University of Massachusetts Boston	$70,531	$33.91	1
   10	State University of New York College at Cortland	$67,654	$32.53	1
   11	New York University	$67,520	$32.46	6
   12	UMiami Health System	$67,379	$32.39
   13	Middlesex Community College	$67,054	$32.24	3
   14	Princeton University	$65,607	$31.54	3
   15	UMass Lowell	$65,582	$31.53	1
   16	UC Merced	$64,855	$31.18
   17	Emory Healthcare	$63,300	$30.43	10
   18	Duke University Health System	$62,734	$30.16	5
   19	Harvard University	$62,502	$30.05
   20	Stanford University	$61,933	$29.78	15

4. Writing an assistant director, communications job description

   An assistant director, communications job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an assistant director, communications job description:

   Assistant director, communications job description example

   This position is considered remote, up to 1 day in the office at 10 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA each week. DFCI guidelines state that employees must reside in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island.
   
   The Assistant Director, Speechwriting and Executive Communications is responsible for articulating the vision of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's President & CEO and Senior Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer, as well as the priorities of the comprehensive campaign for internal and external philanthropy-related audiences.
   
   Reporting to the Director of Stewardship in Donor Relations, the Assistant Director, Speechwriting and Executive Communications will work closely with teams across the Division of Philanthropy, Department of Communications, Office of the President, Office of the SVP/Chief Philanthropy Officer, and other collaborators. The Assistant Director, Speechwriting and Executive Communications will be responsible for conceptualizing and writing speeches, talking points, updates, letters, email communication, donor proposals and solicitations, acknowledgements, recognition pieces, campaign-related content, vision statements, quotes, social media posts, citations, slide decks, briefings, and a wide variety of other executive communications tailored to inspire philanthropic support for the Institute's mission. The Assistant Director, Speechwriting and Executive Communications will be responsible for consistent messaging.
   
   Embody Dana-Farber's Core Values: Impact; Excellence; Compassion & Respect; and Discovery every day. Add value to the Dana-Farber community by seeking opportunities to collaborate across the Institute. Foster an ethical, positive, results-oriented culture founded on open communication.
   
   Dana-Farber is pursuing an ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort to change the future of cancer research and care: The Dana-Farber Campaign. This $2 billion campaign is the largest in the Institute's history and one of the largest ever in the U.S. focused solely on cancer. Philanthropy raised through The Dana-Farber Campaign will accelerate the Institute's strategic priorities by supporting revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities-helping us prevent, treat, and Defy Cancer.
   PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Message architecture and strategy: Develop inspiring, compelling, thought-provoking, persuasive materials aligned with Dana-Farber's strategic priorities to engage philanthropists in the comprehensive campaign. Curate and authentically infuse inspiring stories about patients, research, and care in speeches and other assigned projects for internal and external audiences. Communicate complex scientific topics in cancer research in a clear and compelling manner. Collaborate with the Executive Communications Specialist in Dana-Farber's Department of Communications to reiterate key themes and coordinate on messaging and consistency of voice. Keep abreast of current developments in cancer care, innovation, and healthcare trends and convey Dana-Farber's leadership within this context. Proactively review the calendar of the President & CEO and Senior Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer, as well as planned gift solicitation lists, to ensure timely delivery of assignments. Speechwriting: Serve as the President & CEO's primary speechwriter for philanthropy events. Write inspiring and compelling speeches for a variety of audiences. Understand and convey the President & CEO's personal style, tone, cadence, and word choices so that speeches are authentic. Work closely with philanthropy staff to understand the goals and audiences for each event. Contribute to the development of succinct, effective briefing documents for the President & CEO and top-tier executives. Create slide decks for speeches to elevate messaging and captivate audiences. Proposal writing: Draft proposals to solicit transformative gifts, shaping and synthesizing information to reflect a cohesive message and desired outcome, in collaboration with the Senior Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer, Vice President of Transformational Gifts and Strategic Initiatives, senior management, and prospect managers, among others. Correspondence: Draft inspiring and compelling personalized acknowledgement letter templates, executive email messages, citations, and special occasion notes for major donors, prospective donors, Dana-Farber Trustees, and key constituents. Communications: Draft inspiring and compelling presidential letters, vision statements, and quotes for event program books, publications, state-of-the-Institute and other presidential or philanthropy updates, recognition pieces, comprehensive campaign materials, social media posts, and more. Resource for the President & CEO's voice and vision: Provide input and guidance to colleagues across the Division and cross-departmentally for all donor-related activities that include the President & CEO's voice and priorities. Collaboration and project management: Work with colleagues across the Division and cross-departmentally to keep projects on schedule, including planning, coordinating all phases with key project managers, and following through to meet deadlines and provide high-quality deliverables. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Reports to the Director of Stewardship in Donor Relations within the Division of Philanthropy. Collaborates with the President & CEO, Dana-Farber's executive leadership, senior management within the Division of Philanthropy, and the Assistant Vice President of Donor Relations. The position has a considerable amount of autonomy in decision-making and in completing work-related tasks. MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree and at least 5-7 years of experience in a speechwriting, writing, editing, capacity within philanthropy, healthcare, biotech, higher education, or relevant fields. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: Excellent writing skills: ability to create inspiring and compelling speeches, proposals, and written communication (portfolio required) Proven track record writing donor-focused executive correspondence, proposals, and marketing content Direct experience working with senior-level executives A history of managing time-sensitive internal and external communications Ability to balance multiple projects, including urgent and unplanned requests Expertise in PowerPoint Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, SharePoint experience preferred Exposure to domestic and international healthcare trends Utmost discretion and diplomacy in interacting with executives and maintaining confidentiality PATIENT CONTACT: No. WORKING CONDITIONS: Up to 1 day in the office at 10 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA each week. Some early-morning, evening, and weekend work required. DIVISION OF PHILANTHROPY INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, & EQUITY COMMITMENT STATEMENT: We're stronger together. In the Division of Philanthropy, we believe in the power of different voices. We encourage authenticity and diversity of every individual within our community. Our collective voices - donors, volunteers, staff, and patients alike - allow us to work together towards a world without cancer. Committed to being a place of inclusivity, belonging, and change, these are our core values. DFCI DISCLAIMER:
   The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship. External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis. DFCI offers a competitive benefits package including generous healthcare and retirement plans, at minimum 3-weeks' vacation time in addition to 10 paid holidays, a flexible work environment, and work/life balance. We also provide an array of professional development opportunities.* *All benefits subject to Institute changes We're hiring! Learn more about working in the Division of Philanthropy and view all open positions.
   Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other groups as protected by law.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right assistant director, communications for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant director, communications job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant director, communications candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit assistant directors, communications, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant director, communications

   Once you've found the assistant director, communications candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new assistant director, communications. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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