Directors of community relations must interpret and strategically address public concerns.
Community relations directors assist clients or employers with building positive public relationships. Clients of community relations directors include non-profit organizations, businesses, hospitals and universities. Relations directors understand the success of an organization is dependent upon good public relations. Community relations directors should specialize in implementing communication strategies that continuously foster these relationships.
Duties
Duties of community relations directors entail communicating strategies, establishing policy guidelines, and effectively building public relationships. You also introduce newly identified resources that maximize internal and external communications. Community relations directors promote public involvement with established business goals. Directors of community relations must interpret and strategically address public concerns. Community relations directors also prepare materials, research, and perform other duties in support of potential employers' marketing efforts.
Qualifications
Community relations directors must be able to effectively and clearly communicate thoughts. Relations directors should show initiative, be creative, and exercise sound judgment. Confidence and the ability to motivate people are highly desired skill sets in this role. Candidates meeting the qualifications should become accredited with the Public Relations Society of America. The qualifications are five years of public relations work or teaching experience, and a bachelor's degree in a communications-related field.
Education
Community relations directors are required to have a bachelor of arts or sciences from an accredited college or university. Potential employers usually look for candidates with a focus in public relations, communication, journalism or marketing. For a director of community relations, a graduate degree is preferred but not required.
Industry
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a projected 24 percent growth in employment opportunities for community relations directors between 2008 and 2018. Social media networking has increased the need for those relations directors adept at utilizing these technical outlets. Opportunities will be better for college graduates combining degrees with an internship, or other related work experience. There will also be an increased demand for bilingual candidates interested in community relations employment opportunities.
Salary
Director of community relations salaries will normally commensurate with experience. April 2010 reporting from Payscale.com estimates a community relations director entry-level salary range at $24,417 to $54,045. The starting salary also varies among potential candidates' chosen industries. According to Payscale.com, those going into hospital community relations can expect a starting salary of $51,204. Non-profit organizations have the lowest average starting salary for relations directors at $38,274.
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