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.
Director strategic communications responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real director strategic communications resumes:
- 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.
Director strategic communications skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Directors Strategic Communications are proficient in Project Management, Business Development, and Professional Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Problem-solving skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Directors Strategic Communications that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 11%
Provided project management for large client/server and software product development projects.
- Business Development, 8%
Provided business development, capture management, technical and financial guidance for numerous proposal efforts.
- Professional Development, 8%
Directed and managed day-to-day training, operations, professional development, administrative matters as director.
- C-Suite, 7%
Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Commercial, HR, Legal, and Business Development teams as well as C-Suite leadership
- Executive Leadership, 7%
Partnered with executive leadership team to focus communications efforts on driving business results.
- Leveraged, 7%
Created financial process for US and international agencies that leveraged metrics to improve performance.
Most directors strategic communications use their skills in "project management," "business development," and "professional development" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential director strategic communications responsibilities here:
Leadership skills. One of the key soft skills for a director strategic communications to have is leadership skills. You can see how this relates to what directors strategic communications do because "public relations and fundraising managers often lead large teams of specialists or fundraisers and must be able to guide their activities." Additionally, a director strategic communications resume shows how directors strategic communications use leadership skills: "collaborated with leadership team for employee engagement events. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling director strategic communications duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "managers sometimes must explain how the company or client is handling sensitive issues." According to a director strategic communications resume, here's how directors strategic communications can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "scoped enterprise needs for crm and pos systems, evaluated 10+ options, selected best solution, managed customization and implementation. "
Speaking skills. This is an important skill for directors strategic communications to perform their duties. For an example of how director strategic communications responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "public relations and fundraising managers regularly speak on behalf of their organization." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a director strategic communications: "presented findings and results to executive leadership team on a quarterly basis. ".
Writing skills. director strategic communications responsibilities often require "writing skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "managers must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases and speeches." This resume example shows what directors strategic communications do with writing skills on a typical day: "lead and manage does corporate website, developing, writing, editing, and approving all website content. "
Communication skills. Another common skill required for director strategic communications responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of directors strategic communications all the time, as "managers deal with the public regularly; therefore, they must be friendly enough to build a rapport with, and receive cooperation from, their media contacts and donors." An excerpt from a real director strategic communications resume shows how this skill is central to what a director strategic communications does: "managed outreach, development of internal and external publications; provided communications support to meetings and conference. "
Organizational skills. Lastly, "organizational skills" is an important element of what a director strategic communications does. Director strategic communications responsibilities require this skill because "public relations and fundraising managers are often in charge of running several events at the same time, requiring superior organizational skills." This resume example highlights how director strategic communications duties rely on this skill: "provided counsel to c-level leaders through the development of comprehensive communications strategies that drove consistent messaging and supported organizational change initiatives. "
The three companies that hire the most director strategic communicationss are:
- Oracle8 directors strategic communications jobs
- Ernst & Young7 directors strategic communications jobs
- FTI Consulting6 directors strategic communications jobs
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Director strategic communications vs. 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. 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between directors strategic communications and community development director. For instance, director strategic communications responsibilities require skills such as "professional development," "c-suite," "executive leadership," and "leveraged." Whereas a community development director is skilled in "economic development," "oversight," "community outreach," and "program development." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Community development directors earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $92,043. On the other hand, directors strategic communications are paid more in the professional industry with an average salary of $111,652.community development directors tend to reach similar levels of education than directors strategic communications. In fact, community development directors are 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Director strategic communications vs. Community relations director
A community relations director is an individual who is responsible for managing positive relationships with community members, nonprofit organizations, and fellow employees surrounding an organization. Community relations directors must plan, organize, and manage activities to help the organization achieve its public relations goal. They need to interface with vital community groups so that they can ensure the organization is producing effective results. Community relations managers must also assist in preparing a variety of publicity materials such as speeches and media content.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that director strategic communications responsibilities requires skills like "project management," "professional development," "c-suite," and "executive leadership." But a community relations director might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "community relations," "community events," "memory care," and "sales process."
Community relations directors earn a lower average salary than directors strategic communications. But community relations directors earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $87,495. Additionally, directors strategic communications earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $111,652 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Community relations directors tend to reach lower levels of education than directors strategic communications. In fact, they're 8.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director strategic communications vs. Public relations director
A public relations director is an individual who is employed to design and implement marketing strategies that can cultivate the relationship between a company and the media. Public relations directors collaborate with the internal team to boost brand awareness and maximize brand consistency in all advertising efforts. They must arrange interviews and press releases so that they can promote their company and its products or services. They also maintain relationships with the media and should manage sensitive issues to maintain the company's good reputation.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, directors strategic communications are more likely to have skills like "project management," "professional development," "c-suite," and "executive leadership." But a public relations director is more likely to have skills like "web content," "pr campaigns," "instagram," and "fact sheets."
Public relations directors earn the best pay in the internet industry, where they command an average salary of $114,632. Directors strategic communications earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $111,652.Most public relations directors achieve a lower degree level compared to directors strategic communications. For example, they're 11.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director strategic communications vs. Publication director
A publication director spearheads and oversees the operations of publishing establishments, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They have the authority to make publication decisions, set goals, establish guidelines and timelines, delegate tasks and resources among teams, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They also monitor the workflow and the performance of the workforce, addressing issues and concerns if any arise. Moreover, a publication director leads and encourages staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, developing new ones as needed.
Types of director strategic communications
Updated January 8, 2025











