What does a communications coordinator do?
A communications coordinator is responsible for overseeing the communications department's operations, developing the brand image, and monitoring press releases, company articles, and other related marketing materials for business promotion and visibility. Communications coordinators actively interact with existing and potential clients, negotiate contracts, and build profitable partnerships. They also develop strategic procedures for creating the business' online presence, organizing promotional events, and media conferences. A communications coordinator must have excellent communication and organization skills to maintain a good reputation and customer satisfaction.
Communications coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real communications coordinator resumes:
- Launch and manage the corporate Instagram account @ xcelenergy.
- Manage and maintain the admission website by using basic knowledge of HTML and web editing templates.
- Co-developed regional, national and international trade show strategy including logistics, management, qualifying leads, communications and ROI tracking.
- Contribute brand appropriate content for: blog, instagram, and twitter.
- General administrative and marketing duties including sending e-marketing campaigns, updating intranet and SharePoint sites, and publishing public relations newsletters.
- Monitor the daily work of the travel agency booking agents.
- Conduct marketing research, development of artwork, typesetting, special print projects.
- Arrange discussion topics for professional networking site, LinkedIn, for the TAC audience.
- Review resumes and LinkedIn profiles to pre-screen candidates by communicating job requirements and duties.
- Develop and maintain branding for CSR department including develop team jersey for philanthropic event.
- Implement the company's first use of HTML e-mails to portray a more professional image.
- Proofread all work for content, spelling, punctuation, grammar, typographical errors and branding specifications.
- Determine selling price of each publication base on costs for outside staffing, typesetting, and printing.
- Work on special CSR projects in coordination with other NewWave departments to facilitate corporate wide philanthropy and wellness.
- Shoot and edit video projects to be share on YouTube, social media and at admissions presentations around the country.
Communications coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Communications Coordinators are proficient in Customer Service, Web Content, and Event Planning. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Communications Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 7%
Provided exemplary customer service and professionally handle consumer/interdepartmental inquiries
- Web Content, 7%
Maintained organization's website including development and oversight of web content standards to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and relevance.
- Event Planning, 6%
Streamlined approval process for publication approval with government entities eliminating waste and redirecting staff and budget toward production and event planning/staffing.
- Press Releases, 5%
Copy edited and formatted all external communications materials including technical proposals, press releases, contracts, and PowerPoint presentations.
- Patients, 5%
Provided physicians assistance with urgent or non urgent referrals, transportation arrangements and follow-up information regarding their patients' progress.
- Community Events, 5%
Organized and attended all community events and cultivated relationships with local business owners to ensure a positive impact on the community.
"customer service," "web content," and "event planning" are among the most common skills that communications coordinators use at work. You can find even more communications coordinator responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a communications coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "public relations specialists deal with the public and the media regularly." Additionally, a communications coordinator resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "distinguished interpersonal wrote and edited reports, press releases, and other important documents with and customer service skills. "
Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform communications coordinator duties is organizational skills. Communications coordinators responsibilities require that "public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events or communications at the same time, which requires excellent skills in coordinating arrangements." Communications coordinators also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "designed community outreach and sponsorship materials for organizational events and programs. "
Problem-solving skills. communications coordinators are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to communications coordinator responsibilities, because "public relations specialists sometimes must explain how a company or client is handling sensitive issues." A communications coordinator resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "work with technology support resources to develop solutions and processes related to electronic communication, newsletters, surveys & the intranet. "
Speaking skills. communications coordinator responsibilities often require "speaking skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "public relations specialists regularly speak on behalf of clients or their organization." This resume example shows what communications coordinators do with speaking skills on a typical day: "engaged in community outreach, including written communications and public speaking engagements. "
Writing skills. Another crucial skill for a communications coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is "writing skills." A big part of what communications coordinators relies on this skill, since "public relations specialists must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases, speeches, and social media posts." How this skill relates to communications coordinator duties can be seen in an example from a communications coordinator resume snippet: "provided personal consultation and community relations ghost-writing for members of senior management. "
The three companies that hire the most communications coordinators are:
- ICF56 communications coordinators jobs
- Elevance Health
33 communications coordinators jobs
- Americorps15 communications coordinators jobs
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Compare different communications coordinators
Communications coordinator vs. Public relations associate
A public relations associate is responsible for assisting the operations of the public relations department on developing campaigns and promotions to promote brand image on various digital platforms and other communication mediums. Public relations associates handle press releases, create digital content, organize public events, and identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and attract potential clients. They also disseminate accurate information to the public regarding company news and special announcements. A public relations associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on adhering to deadlines and business requirements.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a communications coordinator are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "patients," "community engagement," and "community relations." On the other hand, a job as a public relations associate requires skills like "pr campaigns," "trade publications," "market research," and "press materials." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Public relations associates tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $55,755. In contrast, communications coordinators make the biggest average salary, $46,362, in the government industry.The education levels that public relations associates earn slightly differ from communications coordinators. In particular, public relations associates are 4.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a communications coordinator. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Communications coordinator vs. Marketing communications specialist
A marketing communications specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating all the marketing materials that are distributed to customers to increase brand awareness for the company's products or services. To create these materials, marketing communications specialists must collaborate with graphic design teams. They are required to track their marketing performance so that they can identify ways to improve their marketing strategies. Marketing communications specialists must also set up interviews and press conferences as part of their marketing campaign.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, communications coordinator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "community outreach," "community engagement," and "community relations." Meanwhile, a marketing communications specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "digital marketing," "marketing campaigns," "channel marketing," and "marketing collateral." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, marketing communications specialists earn a higher salary than communications coordinators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, marketing communications specialists earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $70,324. Whereas communications coordinators have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $46,362.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Marketing communications specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than communications coordinators. In fact, they're 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for communications coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Mike Bromberg
Assistant Professor, East-West University
How we get our information will be more relevant, and new media platforms will continue to change how it is consumed.
I felt it essential to engage students with sources from both liberal and conservative views, especially with the discussion on fake news. For many people, unfortunately, ideology is more important than facts.
Communications coordinator vs. Coordinator
Coordinators are responsible for liaising between the department they are assigned to and any other external party. They oversee projects or agreements. They are in charge of following through negotiations between the two parties regarding work. They see through the conduct of such contracts by ensuring that all terms are amenable to both parties. They maintain records and other necessary data and paperwork. They also ensure that office policy and guidelines are being followed. Coordinators also ensure that all projects are completed efficiently and effectively.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from communications coordinator resumes include skills like "web content," "press releases," "community outreach," and "community engagement," whereas a coordinator is more likely to list skills in "excellent organizational," "data entry," "excellent guest," and "coordinators. "
Coordinators earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $51,731. Comparatively, communications coordinators have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $46,362.coordinators typically earn similar educational levels compared to communications coordinators. Specifically, they're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Communications coordinator vs. Marketing & events coordinator
A marketing and events coordinator is responsible for planning, producing, and supervising the execution of communications and marketing plan activities such as promotions, collateral materials, and media. You are expected to create materials to deliver the company's messages to the media and the public. You will perform other tasks that may include overseeing and coordinating conferences, seminars, and meetings, planning the communications calendar to ensure the program is executed on time, and participating in budget management and development. You are also expected to ensure information accuracy through proofreading.
Types of communications coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025
