How to hire an internal communications specialist

How to hire an internal communications specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step internal communications specialist hiring guide:

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

What does an internal communications specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the internal communications specialist you need to hire. Certain internal communications specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An internal communications specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, internal communications specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of internal communications specialist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Internal Communications Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Internal Communications Specialist	Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. They design media releases to shape public perception of their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals.	$19-44
   Publicist	Public Relations Supervisors are responsible for implementing the media and public relations strategy of an organization. Their duties include developing public relations campaigns, organize public relations events, assist in emergency response planning, updating documentation, monitoring media, improve management of press office, and manage media databases... Show more	$14-39
   Public Relations	Public relations is a strategic way of developing and maintaining a client's or company's public image through media coverage, appearances, and press releases by designing and developing events to raise funds or to spread awareness to the public regarding products, brands, or individuals. It involves research and evaluation of programs including financial, marketing, employee, or government relations using topics of public interest and news items... Show more	$15-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Employee Engagement
   • PowerPoint
   • HR
   • External Security
   • Project Management
   • SharePoint
   • Communication Channels
   • Proofreading
   • Editorial Calendar
   • Internal Communications Strategy
   • Internal Stakeholders
   • Corporate Communications
   • Guidance
   • Content Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide project management and liaison to 3rd party marketing company to manage PPC campaigns
   • Design and manage student organization websites using Wordpress.
   • Manage, create and edit internal and external communication collateral, providing high-level management copywriting and document creation support.
   • Improve aesthetics, effectiveness, ROI and time-to-market of marketing communications by re-designing and effectively managing the development process and procedure.
   • Train staff in the use of the Drupal CMS.
   • Ensure accuracy of Internet research, reporting and proofreading.

   More internal communications specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your internal communications specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An internal communications specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, internal communications specialists' average salary in mississippi is 45% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level internal communications specialists earn 55% less than senior-level internal communications specialists.
   • Certifications. An internal communications specialist 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 an internal communications specialist's salary.

   Average internal communications specialist salary

   $61,999yearly

   $29.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level internal communications specialist salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average internal communications specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$86,719	$42
   2	District of Columbia	$80,117	$39
   3	Washington	$75,518	$36
   4	New Jersey	$75,240	$36
   5	Massachusetts	$74,736	$36
   6	Ohio	$73,184	$35
   7	New York	$73,179	$35
   8	Virginia	$69,623	$33
   9	Oregon	$67,465	$32
   10	Illinois	$65,734	$32
   11	North Carolina	$65,606	$32
   12	Arizona	$62,827	$30
   13	Colorado	$58,479	$28
   14	Nevada	$56,503	$27
   15	Texas	$51,984	$25
   16	Georgia	$51,132	$25
   17	Utah	$49,385	$24
   18	Alabama	$48,956	$24
   19	Florida	$47,533	$23
   20	Kansas	$46,669	$22

   Average internal communications specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Parsons	$128,279	$61.67	1
   2	McKinsey & Company Inc	$126,085	$60.62
   3	Apple	$118,537	$56.99	13
   4	Realogy	$117,404	$56.44
   5	Hitachi Vantara	$114,559	$55.08
   6	Intuitive Surgical	$113,859	$54.74
   7	BDO USA	$107,578	$51.72	1
   8	Infineon Technologies	$106,292	$51.10
   9	City National Bank	$104,041	$50.02	2
   10	Earthjustice	$102,985	$49.51	2
   11	Cargill	$95,809	$46.06
   12	Amazon	$93,279	$44.85	46
   13	Capital Group	$92,071	$44.26	5
   14	Coinbase	$88,980	$42.78	73
   15	Medtronic	$88,576	$42.58	4
   16	Salesforce	$87,434	$42.04	6
   17	Boston Public Schools	$85,915	$41.31
   18	Mercury Systems	$84,630	$40.69
   19	Activision Blizzard	$84,521	$40.64	1
   20	AECOM	$81,067	$38.97	1

4. Writing an internal communications specialist job description

   A good internal communications specialist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an internal communications specialist job description:

   Internal communications specialist job description example

   This position earns competitive compensation plus a full benefits package, including 401(k) with match and three weeks of PTO! We also offer opportunities for growth , as well as a great team atmosphere that empowers you to seek better ways to deliver service and take ownership of outcomes in providing quality service and support.

   Required Knowledge and Experience

   • Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred
   • At least 5+ years of experience writing in a deadline-driven business environment
   • Minimum of five years in career development role, preferably in healthcare

   Required Skills and Abilities

   To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong time management skills and attention to details, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and superior written and verbal communication skills.

   
   

   Please review the full job description for more details about this exciting opportunity.

   
   

   ABOUT MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP

   Formed in 2008, Millennium Physician Group has grown into one of the largest comprehensive primary care practices with more than 400 health care providers located throughout Florida. With corporate headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida, Millennium Physician Group consists of primary care offices, Imaging Centers, Lab Services, and Wellness Programs. You can also find various programs, such as weight management and smoking cessation, led by Millennium Physician Group doctors.

   If you are interested in joining an organization that emphasizes teamwork and family, then Millennium Physician Group is the right choice.

   Millennium's core values summarize how we treat others, patients, and fellow community members. Millennium CARES for every patient every time.

   Millennium Physician Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. Additionally, Millennium is proud to join the nearly 3,000 health system and physician groups who have gone completely Tobacco Free.

   ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT TEAM?

   If you feel you are the right candidate for this Internal & Patient Communications Specialist position, please click the link to apply today. We look forward to meeting you!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right internal communications specialist 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 internal communications specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit internal communications specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting internal communications specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 internal communications specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect internal communications specialist 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new internal communications specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire an internal communications specialist?