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What is a senior communications specialist and how to become one
A senior communications specialist manages and develops an organization's communication strategy. They create and implement communication plans to reach target audiences via social media, press releases, and newsletters. Senior communications specialists also collaborate with other departments to align all communications with the organization's goals. They may oversee a team of communicators or work independently to produce high-quality content and enhance the organization's reputation. Additionally, they analyze the effectiveness of communication efforts and adjust strategies.
What general advice would you give to a senior communications specialist?
Mike Bromberg
Assistant Professor, East-West University
Avg. Salary $78,948
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 8%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%
Asian 5.29%
Black or African American 10.03%
Hispanic or Latino 11.93%
Unknown 5.09%
White 67.07%
Genderfemale 64.33%
male 35.67%
Age - 40American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 40Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a senior communications specialist?
Pros
Chance to work on high-profile projects
Potential for high salary and benefits
Opportunity to work with a diverse group of people
Exposure to top-level management and executives
Possibility of travel for events or conferences
Cons
Heavy workload and long hours
High pressure to meet deadlines and expectations
Dealing with internal politics and bureaucracy within the company
Risk of burnout due to high stress environment
Potential for negative feedback or criticism from stakeholders
Senior communications specialist career paths
Key steps to become a senior communications specialist
Explore senior communications specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific senior communications specialist skills
Skills Percentages Project Management 8.12% PowerPoint 6.44% Strategic Communications 6.16% External Communications 5.14% Patients 4.26% Complete relevant senior communications specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior communications specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior communications specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior communications specialist resumes.Research senior communications specialist duties and responsibilities
- Manage the bureau s Facebook account and shoot/edit videos for the agency s YouTube channel
- Manage copywriting and copyediting process for plan benefit materials for county government and school employees.
- Plan and manage high-level institutional events in NYC, Washington, other U.S. cities and foreign capitals.
- Manage, create and edit internal and external communication collateral, providing high-level management copywriting and document creation support.
Get senior communications specialist experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior communications specialist. The most common roles before becoming a senior communications specialist include communications specialist, certified nursing assistant team lead and internship.Prepare your senior communications specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior communications specialist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior communications specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable senior communications specialist resume templates
Build a professional senior communications specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior communications specialist resume.
Apply for senior communications specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior communications specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior communications specialist job
Are you a senior communications specialist?
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Average senior communications specialist salary
The average senior communications specialist salary in the United States is $78,948 per year or $38 per hour. Senior communications specialist salaries range between $56,000 and $111,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
