Directors of corporate communications oversee organisations' internal and external communications strategies, ensuring the correct messages are delivered to staff, customers, partners, the media and shareholders.
It is usually the most senior position in a company's in-house public relations team and, as the role can include crisis management and dealing with major investors, it is only open to professionals with significant employment experience and a high level of qualifications.
Employers will not consider candidates with less than ten years' experience in a senior role in either an in-house or agency environment. Most firms also look for staff who have worked in the same or a related industry and have established contacts.
Qualifications and Salary
Applicants for director of corporate communications jobs should also be educated to at least degree level, preferably in public relations, marketing or communications. A Chartered Institute of Public Relations diploma or Chartered Practitioner status will also be useful.
Most major companies have a corporate communications director, while many public sector bodies also have equivalent positions. As the requirements are usually very specific, many of the opportunities are unadvertised and most organisations use a specialist PR recruitment agency or executive search firm to draw up a shortlist.
Salaries vary hugely depending on whether the employer is in the private or public sector and how large it is. Packages worth between £65,000 and £80,000 are common, while major corporations and brands often pay in excess of £100,000.