How to hire a senior communications specialist

How to hire a senior communications specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior 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 a senior communications specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior communications specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior communications specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior communications specialist 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 senior communications specialist 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?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a senior communications specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a senior communications specialist that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Senior Communications Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior 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.	$26-53
   Social Media Internship	In a social media internship, the primary role is to take part in managing a brand's social media platforms for public relations. One of their primary duties is to craft informative and captivating content while under the supervision and guidelines of a manager or supervisor... Show more	$11-18
   Public Relations Internship	A public relations intern is responsible for assisting the public relations department in creating content to engage customers and prospective clients in availing of the goods and services of the company. Public relations interns participate in meetings to suggest strategies and observe areas of improvement... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • PowerPoint
   • Strategic Communications
   • External Communications
   • Patients
   • Press Releases
   • Web Content
   • Corporate Communications
   • HR
   • External Audiences
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • Content Development
   • Employee Engagement
   • SharePoint

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Create and develop all social media correspondence (Facebook, twitter, instagram, etc . )
   • Conduct CRM for 187k-member database.

   More senior communications specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior communications specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior communications specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior communications specialists' average salary in florida is 46% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior communications specialists 50% less than senior-level senior communications specialists.
   • Certifications. A senior communications specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior communications specialist's salary.

   Average senior communications specialist salary

   $78,948yearly

   $37.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior communications specialist salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average senior communications specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$104,663	$50
   2	Virginia	$98,527	$47
   3	Washington	$96,034	$46
   4	New Jersey	$95,741	$46
   5	New York	$93,989	$45
   6	District of Columbia	$93,110	$45
   7	Maryland	$86,075	$41
   8	Massachusetts	$80,463	$39
   9	Pennsylvania	$78,046	$38
   10	North Dakota	$77,852	$37
   11	Georgia	$76,949	$37
   12	Minnesota	$76,564	$37
   13	Illinois	$74,801	$36
   14	Colorado	$70,031	$34
   15	Missouri	$69,926	$34
   16	North Carolina	$67,433	$32
   17	Iowa	$65,828	$32
   18	Wisconsin	$63,870	$31
   19	Arizona	$61,893	$30
   20	Montana	$61,375	$30

   Average senior communications specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Analysis Group	$129,014	$62.03
   2	Sarepta Therapeutics	$118,496	$56.97
   3	Grant Thornton	$117,176	$56.33
   4	Deutsche Bank	$115,303	$55.43
   5	Booz Allen Hamilton	$105,343	$50.65	3
   6	Merck	$105,040	$50.50
   7	Ecolab	$101,439	$48.77	2
   8	Mayo Clinic	$101,348	$48.73
   9	Corning Incorporated	$99,716	$47.94	2
   10	Air Products	$99,705	$47.94	2
   11	Florida Power and Light	$99,653	$47.91
   12	Pacifi	$99,162	$47.67
   13	Northrop Grumman	$97,616	$46.93	9
   14	Sabre	$97,078	$46.67
   15	Halliburton	$97,077	$46.67
   16	Crown Castle International	$97,066	$46.67
   17	Edison International	$94,918	$45.63	2
   18	Exelon	$94,558	$45.46
   19	Boeing	$94,423	$45.40	4
   20	Verizon Communications	$94,423	$45.40

4. Writing a senior communications specialist job description

   A senior communications specialist 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. Below, you can find an example of a senior communications specialist job description:

   Senior communications specialist job description example

   You could be the one who changes everything for our 26 million members. Centene is transforming the health of our communities, one person at a time. As a diversified, national organization, you'll have access to competitive benefits including a fresh perspective on workplace flexibility.
   
   Position Purpose: Develop and create company written documents and communications and assist in the maintenance of an overarching marketing & communications practice which will include project management and execution.
   
   We re seeking a Senior Communications Specialist to join our team Marketing & Communications team in Iowa. We're looking for a strategic thinker and collaborative team player who has experience in both creating content and managing social media channels.
   What You'll Do:
   
   Write and edit engaging content driven by strategic marketing and communication goals.
   
   Provide communication, grammar, editing and marketing support to other departments as needed.
   
   Responsible for project execution and ensuring all standard procedures are being followed
   
   Manage multiple projects (timelines and priorities) simultaneously; with some requiring outside resources to produce the most effective communications.
   
   Manage various communication processes and workflows
   
   Promote employee engagement lunch and learn events to inform, educate and inspire Iowa Total Care employees.
   
   While this position is remote, we are looking for someone who lives in Des Moines or surrounding areas.
   
   Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience. 2+ years of related experience.
   
   Our Comprehensive Benefits Package: Flexible work solutions including remote options, hybrid work schedules and dress flexibility, Competitive pay, Paid time off including holidays, Health insurance coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) and stock purchase plans, Tuition reimbursement and best-in-class training and development.
   
   Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.
   
   **TITLE:** Senior Communications Specialist
   
   **LOCATION:** Various, Iowa
   
   **REQNUMBER:** 1354577

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find senior communications specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any senior communications specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level senior communications specialists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior communications specialist job on Zippia to find and attract quality senior communications specialist candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior communications specialists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 senior communications specialist

   Once you've found the senior communications specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior communications specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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How much does it cost to hire a senior communications specialist?