WHAT DOES A COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT DO?

Published: August 14, 2024 - The Communications Consultant develops and implements comprehensive communication strategies, including drafting, reviewing, and managing the production of complex organizational content. This role involves coordinating internal, technical, legal, and client reviews to resolve issues and ensure accuracy while independently managing smaller projects. The consultant also audits communication effectiveness, identifies integration opportunities, and provides consulting support to ensure professionalism in all program communications.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Communications Consultant

1. Communications Consultant Roles

  • Policy Management: Manage monthly policy communication and documentation workflow  
  • Content Strategy: Determine appropriate content distribution channels and related communication strategies  
  • Production Oversight: Oversee production, approval, and distribution of materials  
  • Project Coordination: Lead and coordinate large-scale policy documentation projects and corresponding communication plans  
  • Announcement Development: Develop policy update announcements for internal and external audiences  
  • Document Editing: Audit and edit policy document formatting before publication  
  • Content Posting: Post policy documentation to the applicable internal and external web portals  
  • Collaboration: Work collaboratively with policy authors to ensure content integrity and usability  
  • Team Collaboration: Function as a member of a self-directed team to meet specific individual and team performance requirements  
  • Metrics Management: Manage and maintain quality and productivity metrics  
  • Strategic Direction: Provide strategic benefit communications direction and support for programs, processes, and activities  
  • Meeting Leadership: Schedule and lead client meetings and attend strategy meetings  
  • Content Standards: Set standards for the content of communication materials, distribution, and timeliness  
  • Approval Oversight: Overview and approve drafts of benefit communications materials

2. Communications Consultant Job Description

  • Communications Calendar Management: Lead, manage, and update the overall annual communications calendar in support of fundraising efforts, program, and event delivery  
  • Advocacy Communications: Assist with communications for advocacy work, including legislative priorities, advocacy updates, and drafting testimonies  
  • Content Management: Lead content management on the WRA website and social media  
  • Policy Statements: Support WRA staff in developing and honing reactive and proactive statements around current policies and evolving issues  
  • Brand Management: Manage the WRA’s brand development and ensure consistency  
  • Document Systems: Create systems for document/media retention and storage for communications needs  
  • Cultural Responsiveness: Ensure that strategies and interactions are culturally responsive, respectful, and aligned with WRA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion  
  • Press Release Preparation: Support WRA staff in the preparation process of press releases  
  • Team Collaboration: Meet with the WRA team on an ongoing basis to stay organized on communication tasks  
  • Consultation: Offer consultation and feedback for communications-related developments  
  • Newsletter Writing: Write and disseminate the monthly e-newsletter  
  • Legislative Summaries: Develop written summaries of the legislative priorities during the legislative session and intermittently during the interim  
  • Blog Writing: In collaboration with staff and interns, write and edit blogs that highlight the work

3. Communications Consultant Accountabilities

  • Online Research: Utilize online research tools to find information  
  • Administrative Support: Assist project teams by providing administrative, technical, and clerical support  
  • Meeting Coordination: Organize team meetings and communication per project specifications to keep project deliverable schedules on track  
  • Travel Arrangements: Handle travel and accommodation arrangements for training seminars, conferences, and other project-related events  
  • Report Preparation: Analyze information, prepare reports, proofread and edit documents, and develop presentations  
  • Information Gathering: Request information needed to fill in incomplete documents  
  • Partner Communication: Ensure key partners receive project information  
  • Record Keeping: Create written records of meetings and maintain task and progress records  
  • Employee Communication: Design and develop employee communication programs and materials to facilitate awareness of benefits transformation  
  • Client Relationship Building: Build productive, trusting relationships with the client HR Leadership Team  
  • Event Support: Design and write materials for event and program activities, including promotional fliers and talking points  
  • Presentation Creation: Create slide deck presentations on request  
  • Content Management: Ensure approved content is updated for both Portal and App to support launch readiness  
  • Member Communication: Develop a member communication plan and deliver all required member communications for a successful transition to the new portal and app

4. Communications Consultant Job Summary

  • Content Review: Review existing content developed for the Member Portal and App to ensure it is current  
  • Content Development: Develop content for approved feature changes for the Portal and App  
  • SME Collaboration: Liaise with subject matter experts to review draft content for accuracy and completeness  
  • Tone Approval: Liaise with Communications to ensure draft copy is approved for tone of voice  
  • Compliance Sign-off: Arrange sign-off of content through compliance to ensure approved content is available to the project  
  • Record Maintenance: Maintain records of due diligence reviews and sign-offs for all content produced  
  • Client Relationship Management: Develop and enhance client relationships through direct contact to ensure satisfaction, loyalty, and commitment to Vanguard  
  • Sales Process Support: Contribute to the success of the sales process and position Vanguard as a leading provider of education, advice, and financial management products and services  
  • Change Advocacy: Embrace department efforts to transform and optimize client consulting and operations functions, advocating for change and recommending improvements  
  • Special Projects: Participate in special projects and perform other duties as required  
  • Participant Experience: Demonstrate knowledge of the Participant Experience Story in presentations to Vanguard clients and internal business partners  
  • Client Consulting: Consult with and influence clients to show how effective strategies add value, drive behaviors, and contribute to positive retirement outcomes

5. Communications Consultant Details

  • Communication Strategy: Develop and implement communication strategies and work plans  
  • Content Development: Draft, review, edit, and proofread complex benefit and organizational change information  
  • Review Coordination: Coordinate internal, technical, legal, and client reviews to resolve issues and ensure accuracy  
  • Production Management: Manage the design and production of communication materials  
  • Client Interaction: Interact with clients on various projects and manage smaller projects independently  
  • Project Support: Assist with project management and production coordination on large complex assignments  
  • Expectation Management: Manage internal and client expectations, ensuring clear communication with all team members  
  • Education Strategy: Analyze participant populations, develop education strategies, and implement approved strategies  
  • Integration Opportunities: Identify opportunities for integrating communications to similar stakeholders and managing dependencies  
  • Communication Audit: Audit the effectiveness of communications  
  • Consulting Support: Provide communications consulting to program team members and edit materials created by others  
  • Professionalism Assurance: Ensure the professionalism of program communications in all aspects
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