How to hire a campaign director

How to hire a campaign director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step campaign director hiring guide:

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

What does a campaign director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a campaign director, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a campaign director to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a campaign director that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of campaign directors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Campaign Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Campaign Director	Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.	$29-71
   Manager Of Corporate Communications	A manager of corporate communications is primarily responsible for overseeing the external and internal communications in a company, ensuring everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for managing marketing communications and public relations, and even developing various marketing content... Show more	$27-58
   Communications Lead	The global senior program manager acts as a coordinator for the organization's projects and performs various tasks including supervision, account management, daily staff assignments, budget planning, cost control, and tracking program expenses by collaborating with various global departments to enhance all global programs. He/she should have excellent analytical, decision-making, leadership, and organization skills and knowledge about project management to be able to oversee and organize activities to ensure its compliance with the organization's goals.	$32-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Digital Marketing
   • Strategic Plan
   • Event Planning
   • Flyers
   • Volunteer Recruitment
   • Project Management
   • Public Awareness
   • Integrated Marketing
   • Capital Campaign
   • Marketing Campaigns
   • Fundraising Campaigns
   • Campaign Materials
   • CRM
   • Donor Database

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Promote and manage the scholarship program for psychology department students.
   • Maintain website and Facebook page.
   • Resolve financial issues relate to charitable contributions, provide program budgets, process payroll, and oversight management of operating accounts.
   • Develop messaging for local and statewide campaigns including direct mail, websites, and Facebook pages.
   • Monitor and measure success and effectiveness of training and development initiatives via eLearning platform.

   More campaign director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your campaign director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A campaign director salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, campaign directors' average salary in hawaii is 37% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level campaign directors earn 58% less than senior-level campaign directors.
   • Certifications. A campaign director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a campaign director's salary.

   Average campaign director salary

   $96,589yearly

   $46.44 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level campaign director salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average campaign director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$118,642	$57
   2	California	$118,034	$57
   3	New York	$107,651	$52
   4	Massachusetts	$107,448	$52
   5	Illinois	$107,027	$51
   6	Georgia	$103,051	$50
   7	Arizona	$100,413	$48
   8	Virginia	$99,606	$48
   9	Washington	$97,379	$47
   10	North Carolina	$96,849	$47
   11	District of Columbia	$94,713	$46
   12	Indiana	$93,574	$45
   13	Michigan	$92,427	$44
   14	Maryland	$90,561	$44
   15	Utah	$90,042	$43
   16	Oregon	$88,532	$43
   17	Colorado	$87,830	$42
   18	Louisiana	$87,341	$42
   19	New Hampshire	$86,641	$42
   20	Oklahoma	$83,794	$40

   Average campaign director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dermalogica	$154,161	$74.12
   2	Cloudflare	$148,311	$71.30	2
   3	Palo Alto Networks	$144,514	$69.48	1
   4	ViacomCBS	$135,029	$64.92
   5	AMC Networks	$133,615	$64.24
   6	Pace University	$131,077	$63.02
   7	ServiceNow	$130,783	$62.88	10
   8	Change.org	$122,543	$58.91
   9	Walgreens	$122,540	$58.91
   10	Salesforce	$117,955	$56.71	9
   11	Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza	$116,011	$55.77	1
   12	NRDC	$115,755	$55.65
   13	Udemy	$115,506	$55.53
   14	Take-Two Interactive Software	$112,044	$53.87
   15	USAA	$109,413	$52.60	1
   16	MomsRising	$95,257	$45.80
   17	YMCA	$93,531	$44.97	2
   18	Carnival Cruise Line	$90,577	$43.55	3
   19	UnitedHealth Group	$90,388	$43.46	1
   20	Unilever	$88,133	$42.37	1

4. Writing a campaign director job description

   A campaign director 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a campaign director job description:

   Campaign director job description example

   Comprehensive Campaign Director
   Company Name: St. Stephen's Episcopal School
   Sector: Other
   Job Type: Full-Time
   Job Duration: Indefinite
   Min Education: BA/BS/Undergraduate
   Required Travel: 10-25%
   
   St. Stephen's Episcopal School, a day and boarding school of 690 students (grades 6-12), is seeking a Comprehensive Campaign Director. With the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in the history of the school on the horizon, the school has retained campaign counsel and is in the feasibility study process, and the Board of Trustees anticipates a vote on campaign goals at its December 2022 meeting. The Advancement team is focused on an increased volume of visits, particularly to alumni, for intentional conversations about the exciting future of St. Stephen's made possible through the campaign as well as the school's plans to celebrate its 75th anniversary. A new assistant director of alumni relations position has been recently created to support deepening and broadening alumni engagement opportunities.
   
   This newly created Comprehensive Campaign Director position reports to the Director of Advancement and will work to ensure all aspects of the advancement program and comprehensive capital campaign move forward to successful completion. Key responsibilities include campaign planning and implementation, the creation of print and digital campaign material, and the organization and support of campaign volunteers. A leader on the Advancement Team, the Campaign Director sets the campaign tone as directed by the Director of Advancement, Head of School, Board of Trustees, and campaign counsel and works in concert with the other members of the team on all fundraising efforts.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   Communications:
   Writes, develops, edits and oversees digital and print materials for the advancement office in support of the campaign, including 75th-anniversary celebration, annual giving, donor proposals, stewardship reports, gift agreement templates, event and meeting briefings, solicitation support documents, and campaign correspondence; Coordinates design and production with St. Stephen's MarCom team and outside vendors; In partnership with the Director of Advancement, Head of School, and Campaign Counsel, creates the case for support, case statement, and accompanying documents; In concert with the 75th-anniversary steering committee and working closely with the Director of Alumni Relations, assists with the development and implementation of an anniversary plan and related materials; Drafts correspondence on behalf of the Head of School, Director of Advancement, and campaign leadership; Oversees Director of Advancement Operations in campaign prospect and foundation research, and writes grant proposals to appropriate foundations and corporations; Serves as a training resource to educate team members on persuasive writing and best practices for both print and electronic communications
   
   Reporting:
   Oversees day-to-day campaign operations including coordination of the follow-up efforts of the Advancement team and Campaign steering committee, arrangements, and notifications for meetings; Ensures that gift officers and campaign volunteers complete visit reports and send follow-up materials (thank yous, proposals, reports, etc) in a timely manner; Collaborates with the Director of Advancement Operations to design campaign status reports regarding campaign progress and goals for the Board of Trustees, Head of School, and senior staff. Evaluates progress toward goals and recommends revisions to the fundraising plan as needed to meet and exceed goals; Provides regular progress reports to the Director of Advancement; Monitors and reports on campaign budget to Director of Advancement, Head of School, and Chief Financial Officer; Oversees implementation of campaign gift counting and recognition guidelines; Schedules meetings for Director of Advancement, Head of School, and Campaign Counsel as needed; Maintains the campaign calendar, ensuring that it is coordinated with the school calendar; Working in partnership with the Director of Advancement Operations, manages all campaign gift correspondence, including timely acknowledgments, pledge payment reminders, pledge agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, and prepares and submits reports as required to granting foundations and institutional donors; Working closely with the Director of Advancement Operations, manages prospect lists, prospect research, prospect tracking, and solicitation timeline.
   
   Volunteer/ Event Management and Donor Engagement:
   Schedules, attends, and supports all meetings of the 75th anniversary, Campaign steering, and Trustee Advancement committees, including preparation of agendas, supporting materials, and coordination of any follow-up activities; Devises and directs cultivation and stewardship events for the campaign, including calls to conversation events, donor acknowledgment and naming opportunities, groundbreaking, site visits, tours, and dedication ceremonies; In concert with Advancement and International Office colleagues, develops and expands philanthropic efforts with international constituencies; Partners with school staff and volunteers in creating and implementing donor engagement opportunities; Conceptualizes, attends, and supports campaign events as needed; Other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement.
   
   Professional Qualifications
   The most competitive candidates will offer most or all of the following qualifications:
   A bachelor's degree and a minimum of five to seven years of professional fundraising experience, with a focus on campaigns or major gifts; Independent school, college, or university experience preferred; Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills, and ability to prioritize and execute responsibilities in the face of competing priorities and deadlines; Demonstrated experience in producing campaign materials; Success in managing campaign budgets; Experience in special event planning and volunteer management; Experience with fundraising databases - Raiser's Edge preferred; Experience with the design and implementation of campaigns or large-scale project reporting A demonstrated ability to work independently and as a collaborative team member; Ability to handle complex situations with professionalism, poise, maturity, and flexibility; Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity Ability to travel, to work flexible hours as necessary, including evenings and weekends for special events, meetings, or other commitments; Desire to be a part of and engage in the life of the School; A clear understanding and commitment to St. Stephen's culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.
   
   About St. Stephen's Episcopal School St. Stephen's Episcopal School is a coeducational boarding and day school that was founded by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in 1950. It is a caring, diverse community, inclusive of all faiths and grounded in the Christian tradition, which nurtures moral growth and values the potential and dignity of every human being. St. Stephen's challenges motivated students to live intelligently, creatively, and humanely as contributing members of society. The school develops the whole person within a balanced program of academics, athletics, and the arts. Students also participate in a wide variety of clubs and organizations, outdoor education and recreation programs, service learning activities, and study abroad opportunities.
   
   In accordance with our founding mission, St. Stephen's Episcopal School infuses diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in everything we do, from admission policies, curriculum, and professional development to our hiring practices. We seek qualified candidates who are committed to these values and ready to work in community to create a more just society. We celebrate every individual, recognizing that our unique stories, histories, and voices are essential to creating a vibrant living and learning space. As such, we strongly encourage people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply to become members of our community.
   
   Equal access to employment, programs, and services is available to all. With respect to its employment practices, St. Stephen's Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender or gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation or identity.
   
   Qualified candidates should submit their resume and a letter of interest addressing their qualifications for this role.
   
   PI194525800

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find campaign directors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your campaign director job on Zippia to find and attract quality campaign director candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting campaign directors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 campaign director

   Once you've selected the best campaign director candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new campaign director. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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