How to hire a director of corporate relations

How to hire a director of corporate relations, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of corporate relations hiring guide:

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

What does a director of corporate relations do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your director of corporate relations job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a director of corporate relations for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   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 director of corporate relations 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.

   Here's a comparison of director of corporate relations salaries for various roles:

   Type of Director Of Corporate Relations	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Corporate Relations	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.	$31-76
   Community Development Director	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... Show more	$33-81
   Communications Director	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... Show more	$29-90

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Foundation Relations
   • Alumni
   • Corporate Relations
   • Professional Development
   • Corporate Donors
   • Project Management
   • CFR
   • Strategic Plan
   • Oversight
   • Corporate Foundations
   • Corporate Engagement
   • Business Development
   • Foundation Support
   • Financial Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the complete accounting and reporting cycle and ensure compliance with GAAP.
   • Manage financial operations of the organization, including monthly bank account reconciliation, cash flow, accounts payable and payroll.
   • Program development includes managing and building strong relationships with corporate and affinity partners to secure sponsorship and career enhancement for alumni
   • Stay abreast of developments in CMS, compliance and regulatory guidelines.
   • Calculate and submit weekly and quarterly payroll taxes, as well as, monthly sales taxes for multiple states.
   • Collaborate on character development, website development, game development, business plan creation, PowerPoint presentations and investor outreach.

   More director of corporate relations duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, directors of corporate relations' average salary in florida is 39% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of corporate relations earn 59% less than senior-level directors of corporate relations.
   • Certifications. A director of corporate relations 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 director of corporate relations's salary.

   Average director of corporate relations salary

   $103,164yearly

   $49.60 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of corporate relations salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average director of corporate relations salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nevada	$119,328	$57
   2	California	$118,124	$57
   3	Michigan	$106,914	$51
   4	Illinois	$105,513	$51
   5	New York	$104,504	$50
   6	District of Columbia	$104,248	$50
   7	Massachusetts	$102,350	$49
   8	Pennsylvania	$100,108	$48
   9	Virginia	$99,927	$48
   10	North Carolina	$98,306	$47
   11	Georgia	$97,383	$47
   12	Indiana	$93,332	$45
   13	Maryland	$91,336	$44
   14	Wisconsin	$90,799	$44
   15	Arizona	$88,507	$43
   16	Washington	$87,965	$42
   17	Utah	$84,424	$41
   18	Colorado	$83,426	$40
   19	Ohio	$82,518	$40
   20	Tennessee	$82,059	$39

   Average director of corporate relations salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chewy	$152,388	$73.26	1
   2	Zoho	$152,184	$73.17
   3	Genentech	$151,253	$72.72	14
   4	ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.	$137,833	$66.27
   5	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$135,377	$65.09
   6	Karmanos Cancer Institute	$134,693	$64.76
   7	Burlington	$133,807	$64.33	4
   8	Univision Communications	$132,305	$63.61	3
   9	Verifone	$127,060	$61.09
   10	Splunk	$122,787	$59.03
   11	Signature Technicair	$118,310	$56.88
   12	Equifax	$117,214	$56.35	6
   13	Eversource Energy	$115,897	$55.72	4
   14	Berklee College of Music	$114,403	$55.00
   15	Geisinger Medical Center	$110,150	$52.96
   16	Stanford University	$107,832	$51.84	16
   17	Asbury Automotive Group	$107,560	$51.71	1
   18	New York University	$105,847	$50.89	3
   19	Museum of Science	$105,059	$50.51
   20	Loyola University Maryland	$103,645	$49.83	2

4. Writing a director of corporate relations job description

   A director of corporate relations 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 director of corporate relations job description:

   Director of corporate relations job description example

   WHO WE ARE
   United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is home to the change makers and justice seekers. We're individuals from various walks of life making collective steps towards a better future for our community. Our focus is on bringing about real and sustainable change by unleashing the collective power of people to open minds, unite diverse communities, and convert compassion into action for a more just, inclusive, and thriving L.A. County. Together, we make tangible impact on some of our toughest community issues including poverty, homelessness, education equity, and economic mobility. For us, being 'united' isn't just in reference to our organization but to our hope for the future of Los Angeles. Regardless of race, gender, orientation, or self-identification - we do our part as one by making room for all.
   
   WHAT WE DO
   Our Strategic Partnerships department advances United Way's mission by creating a philanthropic coalition of the willing: donors, connectors, and advocates who share our values of racial equity and our vision for a thriving Los Angeles. Our success is measured by the strength of the relationships we build that drive resources to the work that advances our mission. At our core, we are vocal activists who believe that the support we gather today, directly impacts how far we can go tomorrow in our pursuit of a better Los Angeles.
   
   WHY WE NEED YOU
   We are inviting entrepreneurial and solutions-oriented leaders with a passion for leveraging corporate relations strategies to engage organizations in social justice and racial equity work to apply for our Director, Corporate Relations role.
   
   You will contribute to the annual growth of revenue by successfully identifying trends in corporate relations and corporate social responsibility that can be leveraged to increase fundraising for UWGLA programs.
   
   You will have the unique opportunity to evaluate the intersections of UWGLA's current revenue channels from corporations, corporate foundations, employee donors, and community capital and design integration strategies that facilitate increased fundraising across all channels.
   HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE Strategic Planning o Develop an overarching workplace partnership plan structure that coalesces a range of UWGLA priorities as investment opportunities strategically positioned to support corporate partners in achieving their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals o Drive the strategy and execution around reimaging corporate partnerships and how to engage employees through workplace campaigns, and as individuals to support the work of United Way o Serve on the Strategic Partnerships leadership team and contribute to the overall direction of the department. Workplace Giving o Set the ongoing vision, strategy, and implementation of UWGLA's relationship- and issue-based workplace giving plan as a motivator for increased corporate engagement and giving o Contribute to the execution Centennial fundraising campaign celebrating the 100th anniversary of UWGLA o Oversee the development and implementation of Workplace Ambassador training and engagement to create cohorts of embedded mission evangelists in the workplace o Oversee employee giving campaigns and create meaningful growth through best practice strategies to grow participation and average gifts o Reimagine ways to engage individuals in the workplace channel to drive new levels of giving Corporate Relations o In collaboration with the VP, Strategic Partnerships, pursue unique opportunities for six and seven-figure contributions from our top 40 corporate partners o Expand UWGLA's existing universe of corporate partners to include new industries and connect with untapped philanthropy and social impact venture dollars o Serve as the key relationship owner and liaison to United Way's corporate partners by aggregating and facilitating all internal solicitations across departments and programs Internal Partnerships & Collaboration o Support the execution of a sponsorship fundraising strategy o Work across divisions to establish solicitation, recognition, and stewardship strategies for key corporate partnerships o Be a passionate advocate of our mission and be able to advocate amongst our corporate partners and their employees Team Management & Development o Build a team of passionate advocates who are strong relationship builders and who have a growth mindset o Mentor and coach a diverse team of fundraisers to grow skillsets, support individual professional development goals, and inspire team members to both lead and follow o Provide direct but respectful constructive feedback in real-time and during formal review periods to elevate team performance, maintain accountability, and reach goals
   WHAT 1 YEAR OF SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE Achieve Year 1 Centennial Campaign goals for workplace giving and corporate charitable contributions: $10M of unrestricted revenues secured by the workplace engagement and corporate relations team Successfully solicited top accounts for $2M in corporate charitable gifts Deployed a corporate relations infrastructure that facilitates incremental growth of financial resources over a 3-year period with tactics including corporate members program, sponsorship plan, grants, and charitable contributions
   SKILLS YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED (The Must-Haves) Education & Experience o High school diploma or GED required; Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience preferred o Minimum of 7 years' experience in a progressively responsible role securing financial resources from corporations and other institutional partners and/or developing and deploying corporate social responsibility plans o Minimum 3 years of experience supervising and developing direct reports Personal Qualities o You enjoy a hybrid environment that includes both in-person and remote work styles and are able to work from our DTLA office on Tuesdays and Thursdays o You are able to provide documentation of your status as fully vaccinated with primary series of COVID-19 vaccine upon being hired. o You understand the value of racial equity as an organizational operating principle and are committed to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion. o You are a social butterfly who can build and navigate relationships confidently with individuals and groups at all levels including community leaders, elected offices, clients, corporations and faith institutions
   HOW TO KNOW IF YOU'RE A FIT (The Nice-to-Haves) You've got the gift of gab when it comes to raising cash and are comfortable seeking donors to help fund the cause.Active listening is a common practice - you look for what was said in addition to how someone said it.You are passionate about non-profit work and committed to understanding UWGLA's landscape as it relates to business, community and politics. You have a results-oriented mindset, utilizing planning and problem-solving skills to get the job done. You can adapt and pivot quickly without so much as feeling dizzy. You stay calm under pressure and can meet tight deadlines when necessary. You work well with others - stakeholders and colleagues alike would agree that you are the quintessential “Team Player” Your communication style is highly motivational and passionate when discussing issues you care about You know how to build a plane while you fly it and thrive in the face of ambiguous situations You don't fear change and can help others learn how to be okay with it, too You wouldn't describe your creativity as 'out of the box' thinking, it's 'out of this world' believing - you're not afraid to break the mold to try something new You can be persuasive when getting someone to see the glass as half full vs. half empty and focus on the outcome vs. the obstacles they may face to get there You're all about taking action and using tactical, measurable approaches to get the job done You know your way around the Microsoft Windows operating systems and all it's essential programs including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right director of corporate relations 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 director of corporate relations job on Zippia to find and recruit director of corporate relations 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 directors of corporate relations, 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.

   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 director of corporate relations

   Once you've decided on a perfect director of corporate relations candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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