How to hire a senior public relations manager

How to hire a senior public relations manager, step by step

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

What does a senior public relations manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior public relations manager 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 public relations manager 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

   A senior public relations manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior public relations managers 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior public relations managers.

   Type of Senior Public Relations Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Public Relations Manager	Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.	$31-66
   Manager Of Corporate Communications	A manager of corporate communications is primarily responsible for overseeing the external and internal communications in a company, ensuring everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for managing marketing communications and public relations, and even developing various marketing content... Show more	$27-58
   Campaign Manager	Campaign managers are responsible for developing, executing, and managing marketing campaigns for events, products, and services targeting consumers or organizations. These professionals typically collaborate with external agencies in the preparation and execution of campaigns... Show more	$26-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Press Releases
   • Marketing Campaigns
   • Content Development
   • Media Buying
   • External Communications
   • Pr Campaigns
   • Communications Strategy
   • Corporate Communications
   • Digital Marketing
   • Spokesperson
   • Crisis Communications
   • Business Objectives
   • External Audiences
   • Subject Matter Experts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Interview featured alumni, manage copywriting staff and editorial calendar, and coordinate photography.
   • Direct internal communications tactics including newsletters, Intranet, domestic and international executive meetings, and special events.
   • Direct strategic planning and execution for entertainment partnership platform to include B2C communications and marketing.

   More senior public relations manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior public relations manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior public relations manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior public relations managers' average salary in south carolina is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior public relations managers earn 53% less than senior-level senior public relations managers.
   • Certifications. A senior public relations manager 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 a senior public relations manager's salary.

   Average senior public relations manager salary

   $95,756yearly

   $46.04 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior public relations manager salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average senior public relations manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$134,939	$65
   2	Nevada	$128,049	$62
   3	Washington	$118,275	$57
   4	Michigan	$116,603	$56
   5	Virginia	$116,087	$56
   6	Connecticut	$115,546	$56
   7	District of Columbia	$114,265	$55
   8	Massachusetts	$112,130	$54
   9	Georgia	$110,205	$53
   10	Texas	$107,264	$52
   11	New York	$105,645	$51
   12	Tennessee	$95,192	$46
   13	Illinois	$93,303	$45
   14	Florida	$91,658	$44
   15	Missouri	$91,386	$44
   16	Utah	$91,074	$44
   17	North Carolina	$90,615	$44
   18	Maryland	$90,014	$43
   19	Colorado	$89,626	$43
   20	Minnesota	$86,863	$42

   Average senior public relations manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$179,287	$86.20	90
   2	Microsoft	$162,221	$77.99	2
   3	Apple	$160,084	$76.96	19
   4	Intuit	$155,400	$74.71	5
   5	Twilio	$151,129	$72.66
   6	Workday	$147,976	$71.14
   7	Match Group	$147,766	$71.04	1
   8	Smartsheet	$147,762	$71.04
   9	Adobe	$145,432	$69.92	11
   10	Genentech	$144,282	$69.37	9
   11	Timberland	$143,521	$69.00
   12	Yahoo	$140,825	$67.70
   13	Chewy	$138,801	$66.73
   14	Amazon	$135,894	$65.33	82
   15	URBN	$131,974	$63.45
   16	Informatica	$130,802	$62.89
   17	Novartis	$130,540	$62.76
   18	SEGA	$128,422	$61.74	1
   19	Lam Research	$125,908	$60.53	2
   20	VF	$118,126	$56.79

4. Writing a senior public relations manager job description

   A senior public relations manager 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 public relations manager job description:

   Senior public relations manager job description example

   At FINN our mission is to make mobility fun and sustainable. We achieve this by offering all-inclusive, monthly car-subscriptions. For every car that our users drive, we offset their CO2 emissions. Join our movement.
   Your Role
   
   As PR Manager at FINN, you will be directly responsible for building one of the most exciting consumer brands in automotive. You love to coordinate suitable PR strategies that increase brand reputation and awareness. By continuously iterating and challenging the status quo, you develop concepts that make our brand stand out. Through outstanding communication, strong relationships with relevant media, and interdisciplinary collaboration, you will make FINN the talk of town.
   Your ResponsibilitiesShape and direct an awesome brand: Develop FINN's communication strategy to build the most trusted and popular brand in on-demand car ownership. Coordinate PR activities: Track, develop and implement public relations strategies that contribute to a clean and consistent external perception of our brand. Cultivate and maintain relationships: Leverage existing relationships and build new ones with journalists, opinion leaders, editorial offices, businesses and other stakeholders to enhance FINN's reputation.Proactively pitch stories to the media: Outline story concepts successfully to ensure publication and secure wide media coverage placements.Make FINN the talk of town: Collaborate with different departments to realize promotional activities and concepts that enhance brand awareness.
   Your Profile Graduated top of your class with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in PR, Communication, Journalism, Marketing Management or similar. 5+ years of experience in a fast-growing startup or other high-performance environments like a top-tier agency.Experience in public relations and e-commerce; automotive industry experience a plus Versatile, curious and hungry for challenges.Proactive mindset with an ability to think outside the box and enrich the team with new, creative ideas.Outstanding communication skills - clear & concise articulation as well as strong, convincing tone through all forms of communication.Ability to respond to changing priorities in an evolving business environment and coordinate multiple projects.Genuine interest in and curiosity about the mobility industry with experience as a plus.Fluent in English, both written and verbal.
   Why Work At FINN?Competitive salary with equity participation of the company Annual personal development budget of $2,000A baseline comprehensive medical insurance plan with all premiums paid by FINN. An additional 7 PPO plans are available to satisfy any specific personal circumstance (with employee contributions), including an HSA option 401(k) with match eligibility for all full-time employees You want to drive your own car with FINN? - Subscribe to a FINN car and receive a generous employee discount (subject to availability)
   Interested?
   
   Please upload your CV and transcripts online. Our hiring manager, Frank, is looking forward to your application!
   
   Equal Opportunities for Everyone
   
   FINN is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type relating to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
   
   We're revolutionizing car ownership by breaking down barriers to access and are committed to creating a team that is reflective of our customers. We embrace and celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior public relations managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior public relations manager job on Zippia to find and attract quality senior public relations manager 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 public relations managers, 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 public relations manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior public relations manager 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.

   To prepare for the new senior public relations manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 public relations manager?