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Communications director vs community development director

The differences between communications directors and community development directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a communications director and a community development director. Additionally, a community development director has an average salary of $109,396, which is higher than the $107,700 average annual salary of a communications director.

The top three skills for a communications director include web content, press releases and customer service. The most important skills for a community development director are economic development, oversight, and project management.

Communications director vs community development director overview

Communications DirectorCommunity Development Director
Yearly salary$107,700$109,396
Hourly rate$51.78$52.59
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs27,93966,252
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a communications director do?

A communications director is responsible for monitoring and supervising the overall media relations from internal to external communications. A communications director's duties include managing campaigns, providing organizational updates to the employees, supporting social media marketing, developing effective communication strategies to build the organization's reputation, and efficiently leading team members in handling events that represent the business. Communications directors must have strong leadership and communication skills to provide support for the company's daily operations and strategies.

What does a community development director do?

The job of a community development director is to manage and direct the management and planning initiatives for a community or city organization. Your duties will include collaborating with community partners in developing strategies to improve the community, architectural and economic initiatives, monitoring budgets for department initiatives, and participating in business development efforts. As a community development director, it is your responsibility to develop and maintain the community development department's short- and long-term developmental goals. It is also your duty to develop and coordinate marketing strategies for economic development.

Communications director vs community development director salary

Communications directors and community development directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications DirectorCommunity Development Director
Average salary$107,700$109,396
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $188,000Between $70,000 And $169,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyMcKinsey & Company IncBazaarvoice
Best paying industryHealth CareManufacturing

Differences between communications director and community development director education

There are a few differences between a communications director and a community development director in terms of educational background:

Communications DirectorCommunity Development Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorCommunicationBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Communications director vs community development director demographics

Here are the differences between communications directors' and community development directors' demographics:

Communications DirectorCommunity Development Director
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 40.2% Female, 59.8%Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between communications director and community development director duties and responsibilities

Communications director example responsibilities.

  • Assist in managing the Facebook and Instagram pages.
  • Develop and manage c-level strategic client relationships to grow revenue base.
  • Create and manage corporate website, online demand gen through SEO and SEM.
  • Manage editorial content of the organization website, build and upload web pages via HTML.
  • Manage the marketing strategy and budget, including B2C acquisition campaigns focuse on out of home and DRTV.
  • Manage media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking opportunities the organizations.
  • Show more

Community development director example responsibilities.

  • Manage organization s membership program by implementing annual membership drives and appeals.
  • Support documentation activities for FDA audits & manage integration activities for acquisitions.
  • Provide oversight and leadership to HUD fund rehab lending and grant programs, housing counseling and financial fitness training.
  • Write grants, speeches, e-blasts, and appeals on social media and websites for non-profits and political campaigns.
  • Ensure target ROI with feasibility studies on potential acquisitions, identifying optimum projects requiring rezoning and entitlement approvals for development.
  • Craft innovative plan for rebranding agency image; plan and implement new outreach focusing on culturally aware approaches.

Communications director vs community development director skills

Common communications director skills
  • Web Content, 8%
  • Press Releases, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • External Communications, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Employee Engagement, 4%
Common community development director skills
  • Economic Development, 6%
  • Oversight, 6%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Press Releases, 5%
  • Community Outreach, 5%
  • Program Development, 4%

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