What does a vice president, corporate communications do?
A vice president of corporate communications is an executive professional who is responsible for developing and executing communications goals and strategies for an organization. This vice president must manage advertising campaigns to improve the organization's brand awareness and ensure that consistent messaging is delivered across all platforms. The vice president must lead cross-functional and divisional teams to develop crisis communications processes to manage company reputation among customers, media, and elected officials. The vice president must also serve as the primary contact for all external communications with media and non-profit organizations.
Vice president, corporate communications responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real vice president, corporate communications resumes:
- Maintain strong working relationships across all departments to manage successful on-site opportunities, content and multimedia asset development and spokesperson requests.
- Launch an initiative to completely redesign the company's intranet site to improve internal communications and increase colleague engagement.
- Deliver up-to-date information regarding organizational strategies, initiatives and progress toward goals through creation and maintenance of organizational intranet site.
- Maintain strong working relationships across all departments to manage successful on-site opportunities, content and multimedia asset development and spokesperson requests.
- Create and executing CSR program that aligns with the company's business and employee volunteerism.
- Lead communication planning, copywriting, editing, and publishing using a variety of media.
- Lead copywriting for newly launch Chinese language website LeEco.com/Chinese to attract Chinese American customers.
Vice president, corporate communications skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Vice Presidents, Corporate Communications are proficient in Crisis Communications, Press Releases, and External Communications. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Organizational skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Vice Presidents, Corporate Communications that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Crisis Communications, 9%
Co-created and implemented a proprietary system to train front-line supervisors in crisis communications to enhance and protect the company's reputation.
- Press Releases, 8%
Developed talking points, press releases, and media briefs on deals, key new hires, and industry awards.
- External Communications, 8%
Served as primary contact for all external communications with media, current and potential investors, non-profit organizations and government officials.
- Investor Relations, 4%
Directed public relations, investor relations, internal communications, social media, and community relations.
- Issues Management, 4%
Directed global communications, issues management and financial literacy for world's largest payment card brand.
- Executive Communications, 4%
Ensured daily delivery of organization-wide internal updates, focusing on executive communications, new product offerings and employee retention communications.
"crisis communications," "press releases," and "external communications" are among the most common skills that vice presidents, corporate communications use at work. You can find even more vice president, corporate communications responsibilities below, including:
Leadership skills. The most essential soft skill for a vice president, corporate communications to carry out their responsibilities is leadership skills. This skill is important for the role because "public relations and fundraising managers often lead large teams of specialists or fundraisers and must be able to guide their activities." Additionally, a vice president, corporate communications resume shows how their duties depend on leadership skills: "advised ceo on matters relating to leadership, governance, investor relations, compliance, and policy issues. "
Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform vice president, corporate communications duties is organizational skills. Vice presidents, corporate communications responsibilities require that "public relations and fundraising managers are often in charge of running several events at the same time, requiring superior organizational skills." Vice presidents, corporate communications also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "delivered up-to-date information regarding organizational strategies, initiatives and progress toward goals through creation and maintenance of organizational intranet site. "
Speaking skills. vice presidents, corporate communications are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to vice president, corporate communications responsibilities, because "public relations and fundraising managers regularly speak on behalf of their organization." A vice president, corporate communications resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "managed public affairs efforts including writing press releases, industry award submissions, speaking opportunities, information briefs and strategic announcements. "
Writing skills. A big part of what vice presidents, corporate communications do relies on "writing skills." You can see how essential it is to vice president, corporate communications responsibilities because "managers must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases and speeches." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical vice president, corporate communications tasks: "contribute to writing and editing of earnings press releases and conference call scripts. "
Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in vice president, corporate communications job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what vice presidents, corporate communications do. Vice president, corporate communications responsibilities rely on this skill because "managers deal with the public regularly; therefore, they must be friendly enough to build a rapport with, and receive cooperation from, their media contacts and donors." You can also see how vice president, corporate communications duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "provided public/media/investor relations, issues management, corporate communications, strategic planning and marketing advice to public and private companies. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill commonly found on vice president, corporate communications job descriptions is "problem-solving skills." It can come up quite often in vice president, corporate communications duties, since "managers sometimes must explain how the company or client is handling sensitive issues." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day vice president, corporate communications responsibilities: "manage editorial calendar and write content for company intranet site; analyze data and implement solutions to improve readership. "
The three companies that hire the most vice president, corporate communicationss are:
- Synchrony Financial16 vice presidents, corporate communications jobs
- Ketchum4 vice presidents, corporate communications jobs
- FleishmanHillard3 vice presidents, corporate communications jobs
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Vice president, corporate communications vs. Director of public affairs
Directors of Public Affairs are executives who manage the public relations and communications initiatives of the company. They oversee all external communications that are intended for broadcast. They create guidelines on the proper crafting of communication materials that will be published or broadcasted. They also lead the public affairs department in networking activities and industry events. Directors of Public Affairs must be level-headed, calm, and creative. They should know how to communicate with the public, handle crises, and create successful brands.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, vice president, corporate communications responsibilities require skills like "investor relations," "executive communications," "corporate communications strategy," and "reputation management." Meanwhile a typical director of public affairs has skills in areas such as "government affairs," "public policy," "policy issues," and "regulatory issues." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Directors of public affairs earn the highest salaries when working in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average yearly salary of $137,872. On the other hand, vice presidents, corporate communications are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $99,963.The education levels that directors of public affairs earn slightly differ from vice presidents, corporate communications. In particular, directors of public affairs are 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a vice president, corporate communications. Additionally, they're 4.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Vice president, corporate communications vs. Media director
A media director spearheads and oversees a company's entire media-related activities, including marketing and advertising campaigns. They are in charge of setting goals and guidelines, liaising and building positive relationships with external parties, conceptualizing plans for projects and campaigns, and developing strategies to optimize operations. It is also their duty to address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a media director, it is essential to monitor the progress of different teams, leading and encouraging them to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, vice president, corporate communications responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "crisis communications," "external communications," "investor relations," and "issues management." Meanwhile, a media director has duties that require skills in areas such as "digital marketing," "video production," "client relationships," and "tv." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Media directors may earn a higher salary than vice presidents, corporate communications, but media directors earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $117,485. On the other hand, vice presidents, corporate communications receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $99,963.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Media directors tend to reach lower levels of education than vice presidents, corporate communications. In fact, they're 6.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 4.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Vice president, corporate communications vs. Public relations director
A public relations director is an individual who is employed to design and implement marketing strategies that can cultivate the relationship between a company and the media. Public relations directors collaborate with the internal team to boost brand awareness and maximize brand consistency in all advertising efforts. They must arrange interviews and press releases so that they can promote their company and its products or services. They also maintain relationships with the media and should manage sensitive issues to maintain the company's good reputation.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a vice president, corporate communications is likely to be skilled in "investor relations," "issues management," "executive communications," and "corporate communications strategy," while a typical public relations director is skilled in "web content," "instagram," "fact sheets," and "communications strategies."
Public relations directors earn the highest salary when working in the internet industry, where they receive an average salary of $114,632. Comparatively, vice presidents, corporate communications have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $99,963.public relations directors typically earn lower educational levels compared to vice presidents, corporate communications. Specifically, they're 5.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Vice president, corporate communications vs. Public relations manager
A public relations manager is responsible for monitoring the public relations department to boost its brand image and attract potential clients through press releases and media coverage. They work closely with the marketing team, developing marketing campaigns and promotional strategies for creating brand awareness. Public relations managers maintain the company's presence on various social media platforms, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the company's goods and services. A public relations manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and profitability.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between vice presidents, corporate communications and public relations managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a vice president, corporate communications might have more use for skills like "investor relations," "issues management," "executive communications," and "corporate communications strategy." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of public relations managers require skills like "web content," "marketing campaigns," "digital marketing," and "fact sheets. "
In general, public relations managers earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $114,540. The highest-paying industry for a vice president, corporate communications is the technology industry.public relations managers reach similar levels of education compared to vice presidents, corporate communications, in general. The difference is that they're 4.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of vice president, corporate communications
Updated January 8, 2025











