How to hire a strategic communications consultant

How to hire a strategic communications consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step strategic communications consultant hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The strategic communications consultant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 strategic communications consultant 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 strategic communications consultant that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of strategic communications consultants.

   Type of Strategic Communications Consultant	Description	Hourly rate
   Strategic Communications Consultant	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.	$23-61
   Digital Media Internship	In a digital media internship, an intern participates in various creative projects while under the supervision and guidance of a supervising manager or staff. They usually perform support tasks to gather industry insights and experience, which typically includes creating digital content according to project guidelines and themes, conducting research and analyses, utilizing client feedback, and handling digital platforms, such as websites and social media pages... Show more	$11-19
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Press Releases
   • Web Content
   • Linkedin
   • Public Affairs
   • Facebook
   • Twitter
   • Communications Support
   • External Audiences
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • DOD
   • Crisis Communications
   • Global Communications Strategy
   • Fact Sheets
   • Employee Engagement

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage back-end of website (CMS and technologies); update member directory; create content and news feed on website.
   • Develop internal intranet communication strategy tie to employee engagement, cultural assessment, company s share values and local business goals.
   • Organize daily media report for lottery executives and commissioners by gathering clips through media- monitoring services.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, strategic communications consultants' average salary in montana is 55% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level strategic communications consultants earn 62% less than senior-level strategic communications consultants.
   • Certifications. A strategic communications consultant 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 strategic communications consultant's salary.

   Average strategic communications consultant salary

   $79,405yearly

   $38.18 hourly rate

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   Entry-level strategic communications consultant salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a strategic communications consultant job description

   A job description for a strategic communications consultant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a strategic communications consultant job description:

   Strategic communications consultant job description example

   Join the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas AmeriCorps VISTA Program. The Unified Government (UG) has made a commitment to civic innovation, job creation, economic development, and the health of Wyandotte County residents - and our members are contributing in big ways! The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will bring massive opportunity into Wyandotte County, Kansas through various programs and initiatives. One of the most important jobs of the Unified Government is to make sure the residents are informed and up to date. The AmeriCorps members will construct and execute a communications plan specific to ARPA activities and related programming. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.
   
   Member Duties : The AmeriCorps member will construct and execute an ARPA-specific communication plan. Talk to stakeholders to get an understanding of the current landscape of Wyandotte County, how the ARPA funds are being utilized, and where the need for communications lies. Strategize ways to evaluate the communications plan in order to achieve the objectives for the plan. Adjust the plan as needed. Support a new community network to further the Strategic Communications Department's goals of the UG. Build a community network of organizations, groups, and individuals in order to quickly get needed communications out to the public. Strategize ways to build, sustain, and keep the community network up to date and effective. The AmeriCorps member will support the Strategic Communications Department's goals. Create communications materials and social media posts. Strategize ways the Strategic Communications Department could streamline workflows. Present those strategies to the department's leadership.
   
   Program Benefits : Childcare assistance if eligible , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , $100/ month housing stipend , Health Coverage* , Training , Living Allowance .
   Terms :
   
   Permits working at another job during off hours , Permits attendance at school during off hours .
   
   Service Areas :
   
   Community and Economic Development , Community Outreach .
   
   Skills :
   
   Writing/Editing , Communications , Public Health , General Skills , Recruitment , Disaster Services , Business/Entrepreneur , Team Work , Computers/Technology , Public Speaking , Law , Non-Profit Management , Urban Planning , Community Organization , Leadership , Social Services , Fund raising/Grant Writing .

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5. Post your job

   To find strategic communications consultants 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 strategic communications consultants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level strategic communications consultants 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.

   To find strategic communications consultant candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting strategic communications consultants 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.

   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 strategic communications consultant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the strategic communications consultant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new strategic communications consultant. 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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