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Director strategic communications vs public relations manager

The differences between directors strategic communications and public relations managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a director strategic communications and a public relations manager. Additionally, a director strategic communications has an average salary of $105,320, which is higher than the $91,426 average annual salary of a public relations manager.

The top three skills for a director strategic communications include project management, business development and professional development. The most important skills for a public relations manager are press releases, web content, and pr campaigns.

Director strategic communications vs public relations manager overview

Director Strategic CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Yearly salary$105,320$91,426
Hourly rate$50.63$43.95
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs30,74635,273
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a director strategic communications do?

A director of strategic communications is responsible for monitoring the strategic communications of an organization, relating to the media relations and dissemination of information across the company and public platforms to promote brand image and close deals with business partners. Directors of strategic communications identify efficient marketing techniques and opportunities to gain more resources for revenue by analyzing the current trends to develop new services and improve existing ones. A director of strategic communications must be highly communicative and organizational, especially on coordinating with project teams to support business functions.

What does a public relations manager do?

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. Public relations managers maintain the company's presence on various social media platforms, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the company's goods and services. A public relations manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and profitability.

Director strategic communications vs public relations manager salary

Directors strategic communications and public relations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Director Strategic CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Average salary$105,320$91,426
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $167,000Between $64,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CityCarson City, NVLas Vegas, NV
Highest paying stateNevadaNevada
Best paying companyThe Hatcher GroupGoogle
Best paying industryProfessionalTechnology

Differences between director strategic communications and public relations manager education

There are a few differences between a director strategic communications and a public relations manager in terms of educational background:

Director Strategic CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorBusinessCommunication
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNorthwestern University

Director strategic communications vs public relations manager demographics

Here are the differences between directors strategic communications' and public relations managers' demographics:

Director Strategic CommunicationsPublic Relations Manager
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 61.7% Female, 38.3%Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between director strategic communications and public relations manager duties and responsibilities

Director strategic communications example responsibilities.

  • Manage and develop marketing, communication, and implementation process improvements for training curricula and the department's intranet website.
  • Support principal's digital presence, including Facebook.
  • Serve as representative to senior management team during community events and company spokesperson for division, including to nonprofit sector clients.
  • Perform all aspects of CLETS / NCIC data entry / inquiry
  • Direct company communications and publications including brand messaging and design, copywriting, media relations, and website content.

Public relations manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage social media - provide content ideas, monitor FB and Instagram activity.
  • Manage events and promotions; create Christmas event, manage twitter account and make marketing plans.
  • Lead a successful rebranding effort to transition the organization into a premier corporate training provider in SoCal.
  • Lead a rebranding and revitalization of the intranet by focusing on improving internal communication, search capabilities, and branding elements.
  • Interview featured alumni, manage copywriting staff and editorial calendar, and coordinate photography.
  • Maintain strong working relationships across all departments to manage successful on-site opportunities, content and multimedia asset development and spokesperson requests.
  • Show more

Director strategic communications vs public relations manager skills

Common director strategic communications skills
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Business Development, 8%
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • C-Suite, 7%
  • Executive Leadership, 7%
  • Leveraged, 7%
Common public relations manager skills
  • Press Releases, 20%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Pr Campaigns, 4%
  • Marketing Campaigns, 4%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
  • Facebook, 3%

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