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Senior communications specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Megan McFarlane Ph.D.,
Jamie Bowen Ph.D.
Senior communications specialist example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior communications specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for senior communications specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.1% of senior communications specialist resumes contained project management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior communications specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior communications specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Project Management

Here's how senior communications specialists use project management:
  • Developed and implemented communication plan for leading financial services company, utilizing advanced writing and editing skills and project management skills.
  • Provided communications project management, milestone tracking and status reporting.

2. PowerPoint

Here's how senior communications specialists use powerpoint:
  • Prepared manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, grant proposals, summaries of peer-reviewed articles and PowerPoint presentations for academic researchers
  • Authored, edited, and reviewed speeches and developed PowerPoint presentations for managers and senior executives.

3. Strategic Communications

Strategic communication is the conscious use of communication by an organization to fulfill its mission. It is a prerequisite and a tool for effective policymaking and public participation that facilitates the exchange of information and establishes consensus amongst different points of view and interests.

Here's how senior communications specialists use strategic communications:
  • Developed, managed strategic communications plans for federal programs that built capture momentum among key stakeholder audiences from Congress to end-users.
  • Developed strategic communications for IT management software and solution company to promote, educate and influence internal and external audiences.

4. External Communications

External communications refer to the exchange of information between the organization one is working with and another organization.

Here's how senior communications specialists use external communications:
  • Create, edit, and distribute leadership-level communications* Develop content for internal communications and external communications* Interview subject matter experts
  • Executed strategic internal and external communications via appropriate mediums; project managed executive relations; managed editorial relationships.

5. Patients

Here's how senior communications specialists use patients:
  • Assisted residents with day-to-day activities, encouraging resistant patients to comply and engage in lifestyle activities.
  • Promoted stronger ties between organization and prospective clients and patients by initiating daily information-filled newsletter.

6. Press Releases

Here's how senior communications specialists use press releases:
  • Developed an annual PR/Community Relations calendar including press releases, mailings and article placements in appropriate publications.
  • Drafted press releases and customer-facing materials to introduce the new system and promote anticipated improvements.

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7. Web Content

Here's how senior communications specialists use web content:
  • Performed regular updates to Web content using enterprise content management application.
  • Lead the project team responsible for Web Content Management application selection in Joint Application Design (JAD) sessions.

8. Corporate Communications

Corporate communication is a way for a company or a business to communicate and interact with their clients, whether external or internal. They usually work as investors, government agencies, employees, the media sector, employees, and the public. It is written reports, advertisements, promotional materials, press releases, interviews, and meetings.

Here's how senior communications specialists use corporate communications:
  • Worked closely with director of corporate communications and public affairs to ensure accuracy of information for each speaking venue.
  • Managed corporate communications and crisis management plans, acting as chief spokesperson for site on business continuity.

9. HR

HR stands for human resources and is used to describe the set of people who work for a company or an organization. HR responsibilities revolve around updating employee records and carrying out management processes like planning, recruitment, evaluation, and selection processes. HR is a key contributor to any company or organization's growth as they are in charge of hiring the right employees, processing payrolls, conducting disciplinary actions, etc.

Here's how senior communications specialists use hr:
  • Collaborated with vendor partners to drive internal HR program communications while ensuring consistency of their messaging.
  • Revised the intranet sections of over 20 different HR programs to improve the quality of content and ease of navigation.

10. External Audiences

External audiences refer to groups or individuals outside the company, who aren't closely related, don't have inside information about the organization, and have no common background (unlike internal audiences). To grow its business, a company needs to define the external audience within its target audience.

Here's how senior communications specialists use external audiences:
  • Created communication tools for internal and external audiences including print/online publications, audio/video production and pilot group specific websites/blogs.
  • Facilitated resolution of complex industry-specific issues by utilizing communications to effectively connect with both internal and external audiences.

11. Subject Matter Experts

Here's how senior communications specialists use subject matter experts:
  • Work with outside regulatory subject matter experts and consultants to develop and execute product hazard communications and registration plans.
  • Positioned practice area consultants as industry leaders and subject matter experts through targeted public relations.

12. Content Development

Content development refers to how users receive knowledgeable fillings obtained through extensive research, editing, and manipulations of the content to suit their needs.

Here's how senior communications specialists use content development:
  • Managed content development and dissemination of nearly 400 employee communications, including translated, global communications.
  • Coordinated technical and content development of public service announcements for web, radio, TV, print projects.

13. Employee Engagement

Here's how senior communications specialists use employee engagement:
  • Created and executed communications campaign for first-ever company-wide employee engagement survey, resulting in 86 percent survey completion rate.
  • Developed and executed an employee communications plan that focused on employee engagement and aligned with Canadian employee communications.

14. SharePoint

Here's how senior communications specialists use sharepoint:
  • Implemented and maintained SharePoint server with 32 web portals, which substantially increased communications with internal, external organizations and agencies.
  • Persuaded executive management to use collaboration tools and created a grassroots communication campaign to use SharePoint.

15. Fact Sheets

A fact sheet is a short, typed or handwritten one-page document that contains the most important information about a specific topic, product, substance, or service in the least amount of space. The aim is to convey key facts and points on a topic in a clear, concise, and easily understandable way and to communicate the most relevant information effectively.

Here's how senior communications specialists use fact sheets:
  • Served as contributing editor for historical and technical publications, news and feature stories, fact sheets, and other material.
  • Provided media training to selected company spokespersons, developing fact sheets and talking points, as needed.
top-skills

What skills help Senior Communications Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on senior communications specialist resumes?

Megan McFarlane Ph.D.Megan McFarlane Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Communication, Faculty Advisor for Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, Marymount University

I think many of the same skills will stand out - for example, oral and written communication, teamwork/collaboration, and critical thinking/problem solving. What is important is to not just list these skills, though, but to provide specific examples, effectively showing these skills in action. Many of these so-called soft skills can be strengthened and give applicants an edge if they also possess some of the more "hard skills" (technical training or skills required for a specific job).

In the case of the pandemic, especially for Communication majors, the ability to effectively manage an online/virtual meeting will be important. Knowing how to set up a meeting, manage participants (muting, etc.), screen share effective presentations (both in terms of visual and audio) will be even more important. This semester, I often told students in my classes that their presentations were preparing them well for the post-COVID world where virtual presentations will be more common, whether for interviews, work, or for conventions. This means it is important for job seekers to understand and implement what makes an effective presentation, such as minimal colors, easy-to-read fonts, and conversational tone.

What soft skills should all senior communications specialists possess?

Jamie Bowen Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Austin Peay State University

It is important to have a diverse resume, so having experience working with or in the media is important. Additionally, having public relations abilities or experience can help land that person the job of their dreams.

What hard/technical skills are most important for senior communications specialists?

Jamie Bowen Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Austin Peay State University

Any experience working with the Adobe Suite can go leaps and bounds in landing someone a job as a Communication Specialist. However, knowing how to use a camera to take pictures and video and then edit the footage can set them apart from the rest of the pack.

What senior communications specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Annemarie FranczykAnnemarie Franczyk LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Buffalo State College

No one location is better than the rest. The wider the graduates cast their nets, the luckier they will be in landing a job.

What type of skills will young senior communications specialists need?

Gheni Platenburg Ph.D.Gheni Platenburg Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, Auburn University

To prepare for tomorrow's jobs, students need a solid background in fundamental journalism techniques and the technical skills of today. This is a multimedia journalism industry, meaning journalists need to possess the ability to tell stories across multiple platforms. There is no longer such a thing as a journalist who only broadcasts work or writes stories for print. It's OK to have specialty areas, but all new graduates need to have writing, video, audio, and graphics skills.

Additionally, mobile journalism skills will also be essential. Before and after the coronavirus pandemic's start, the ability to produce quality work from outside of the newsroom remains a coveted job skill. I foresee the industry moving more into this direction as we advance. Therefore, students should take the opportunities now to perfect those skills.

What technical skills for a senior communications specialist stand out to employers?

Dr. Musonda Kapatamoyo Ph.D.Dr. Musonda Kapatamoyo Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor, Chair, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Our students are excellent at Multimedia production (video editing, audio production, web design, and other content production software). There are also good writers for broadcast, online publications, and newspapers. Most are also self-driven.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about senior communications specialist

List of senior communications specialist skills to add to your resume

Senior communications specialist skills

The most important skills for a senior communications specialist resume and required skills for a senior communications specialist to have include:

  • 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
  • Fact Sheets
  • Proofreading
  • Photoshop
  • Graphic Design
  • Communications Materials
  • Twitter
  • Content Management
  • Patient Care
  • Communications Support
  • Facebook
  • Event Planning
  • Marketing Campaigns
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Linkedin
  • Video Production
  • Communications Projects
  • Executive Communications
  • HTML
  • Internal Clients
  • Company Intranet
  • Flyers
  • Video Scripts
  • Medicaid
  • Communication Efforts
  • Executive Leadership
  • External Vendors
  • Training Materials
  • Crisis Communications
  • CMS
  • Writing Articles
  • Media Management
  • Copywriting
  • Feature Stories
  • YouTube

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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