WHAT DOES A COMMUNICATIONS DO?

Published: May 27, 2025 – The Communications Professional develops and executes strategic communication plans to enhance brand visibility and stakeholder engagement. This role involves delivering clear, consistent messaging across digital, print, and broadcast platforms to support organizational goals. The position also monitors media trends and public sentiment to inform proactive and responsive communication strategies.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Communications

1. Communications Advisor Roles

  • Content Development: Research, write, and edit print and electronic communication, including online training and resource materials, content for newsletters, websites, social media, etc.
  • Communication Planning: Contribute to the development of communication and engagement plans and coordinate activities to support project requirements.
  • Graphic Design: Design, develop, and produce meaningful, cost-effective, and appropriately branded collateral, presentation, and engagement materials.
  • Information Analysis: Assist in identifying and responding to communications and engagement needs by appropriately gathering and sourcing information for analysis, undertaking report production, and creating communication material to provide accurate, timely, and effective responses.
  • Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively with team members across Metro North Communications and Engagement and the MrR project teams to ensure effective, coordinated, and aligned communications services, advice, and support.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Build and establish strong, meaningful, and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote and advocate for the achievement of project objectives and MNHHS's strategic goals.
  • Risk Management: Contribute to the identification of communication risks, escalate to the appropriate senior officers, and assist in the development of appropriate risk management strategies.
  • Change Management: Develop and maintain an awareness of the changing clinical environment and contribute to the implementation of plans and operational changes to support the iEHR project.
  • Compliance Monitoring: Balance service delivery excellence with managing, promoting, and monitoring compliance with legislation, standards, and MNHHS policies and procedures.

2. Communications Analyst Responsibilities

  • Communication Strategy: Coordinate/implement communication goals, objectives, and strategies.
  • Brand Management: Assist in maintaining the organization’s corporate image and identity.
  • Event Planning: Create/coordinate agenda and participation for dignitary visits, military ceremonies, industry conferences, meetings, and community events.
  • Material Development: Develop, coordinate, and manage materials, such as business cards, awards, certificates of appreciation, brochures, newsletters, and fact sheets.
  • Content Management: Coordinate and manage product images, graphics, multimedia, media relations, website content, and development.
  • Content Writing: Write and edit award nominations and articles for industry publications/newspapers.
  • Public Information: Manage and coordinate the approval of disseminating information to the public or specialized target groups within a domestic or foreign setting.
  • Vendor Coordination: Manage and coordinate vendor relationships in support of projects/tasks.
  • Administrative Support: Complete other ad hoc assignments, produce charts, analyses, and other tasks on demand.

3. Communications Assistant Duties

  • Media Monitoring: Compile and distribute daily press clips
  • Calendar Management: Schedule and maintain the CCO's calendar and other team members
  • Travel and Expense Management: Handle CCOs' travel and expenses as well as the department's ongoing expenses
  • Document Management: Update and maintain organizational folders, editorial/awards calendars, stat sheets, and one-pagers
  • Newsletter Support: Assist with the creation, formatting, and publishing of weekly newsletters
  • Media List Management: Build new media lists and organize and maintain existing media lists
  • Press Release Formatting: Format press releases for distribution
  • File Organization: Organize the department's Google share drive and ensure that all company assets are up-to-date
  • Internal Communication: Communicate with other internal departments
  • Meeting Support: Take notes during internal meetings and distribute follow-ups/action items
  • Meeting Scheduling: Schedule department meetings and calls

4. Assistant Director of Communications Details

  • Digital Strategy: Develop strategies for digital assets to increase reach and influence with target audiences, ensuring we have the right mix of assets, channels, and tactics
  • Content Calendar Management: Develop and manage an online content calendar in coordination with the Director, who manages the larger Communications calendar
  • Performance Assessment: Assess the effectiveness of online efforts on an ongoing basis and assist in developing internal quarterly analytics reports
  • Content Creation: Write (from scratch) content to engage and educate audiences across various channels, including newsletters, blogs, graphics, website, and social media
  • Press Material Drafting: Draft press materials from press releases to outreach emails
  • Email Marketing: Manage and monitor integrated email marketing initiatives
  • Proofreading: Proofread and coordinate the production of communications materials
  • Website Management: Oversee the development and maintenance of the NCTQ website, including using a data-driven strategic approach to updating website content to encourage audience engagement
  • Analytics Reporting: Report on key performance metrics, including website traffic and conversions, to effectively evaluate and refine outreach tactics
  • Website Optimization: Implement enhancement initiatives to maximize functionality and usability of the NCTQ website
  • Social Media Management: Manage social media presence across multiple platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), including synthesizing complex policy data and analysis into compelling bite-sized pieces
  • Social Media Toolkit Creation: Create social sharing toolkits for major releases and manage “day of” social media
  • Partnership Engagement: Build reciprocal relationships with peer organizations on social platforms

5. Learning, Design, and Communications Associate Functions

  • Training Program Development: Develop, implement, and evaluate employee training programs covering specific areas, such as on-the-job training, use of computers and software, quality and process changes, and product knowledge.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders across the business to identify areas requiring training and develop a curriculum to meet business needs.
  • Change Management: Create and develop change plans on policies, procedures, regulations, business initiatives, and technologies, and assist in the execution of change plans.
  • Instructional Planning: Formulate lesson plans and determine instructional methods such as individual training, group instruction, lectures, demonstrations, conferences, meetings, and workshops.
  • CBT Development: Create computer-based training (CBT) materials.
  • Teaching Aids Creation: Select or develop teaching aids such as training handbooks, demonstration models, multimedia visual aids, computer tutorials, and workshops.
  • Content Simplification: Simplify and effectively communicate complex concepts and materials to individuals and groups of varying experience.
  • Internal Communication: Collaborate with stakeholders to draft and distribute internal communications to the appropriate audiences.
  • Content Revision: Address feedback on training content and make edits/corrections.

6. Communications Associate Job Summary

  • Communications Support: Providing support on all communications strategies, tasks, and responsibilities to serve core audiences of homeowners, policymakers, and funders
  • Audience Outreach: Helping identify tactics for reaching core audiences through print, video, and other media
  • Content Creation: Producing compelling content in the form of blogs and social media posts to engage audiences across digital platforms
  • Website Content Management: Managing content on the Center’s websites
  • Message Development: Helping craft core messages to drive engagement of programs in coordination with stakeholders
  • Storytelling Collaboration: Collaborating on developing storytelling across the Center for various audiences
  • Content Editing: Assisting in coordinating and editing all external-facing materials
  • Media Campaign Support: Assisting with the creation of media campaigns through email marketing
  • Brand Representation: Serving as a brand ambassador for the organization
  • Email Marketing Management: Managing email lists and email newsletters using Mailchimp
  • Vendor Coordination: Managing relationships with outside vendors, including printers, graphic designers, and others, on a project-by-project basis, ensuring high standards for all materials

7. Internal Communications Business Partner Job Description

  • Internal Communications: Delivering internal communications activities which provide effective two-way communication between employees, senior leaders, and line managers, engaging staff on the issues that affect them
  • Campaign Management: Managing and developing engaging, high-quality internal communications strategy campaigns and plans delivered through multi-media channels, and leading in shaping the content, tone, and mode of delivery of messages to all internal audiences
  • Communications Planning: Managing and developing effective communications plans, writing engaging copy, developing creative briefs, and event management of staff events and forums
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Leading on the engagement with key stakeholders, including senior executive level, cross-government, and MOD
  • Team Management: Direct line management of junior colleagues within their team, as well as virtual management across the organisation
  • Strategy Development: Developing and implementing a business area internal communications strategy, aligned to the corporate communications process, channels, and strategy
  • Strategic Communication Advice: Providing strategic communications advice to senior management on the use of channels and the delivery of key messages
  • Relationship Building: Developing positive relationships with all stakeholders across senior management and programme teams
  • Performance Evaluation: Evaluating and measuring the effectiveness of communication activities
  • Brand Leadership: Responsibility for leading and developing the organisational brand

8. Senior Communications Consultant Overview

  • Project Leadership: Leading the delivery of marketing, communications, and campaign projects
  • Digital Strategy: Digital marketing and communications strategy and delivery, across web UX, SEO/SEM, social media, digital advertising, digital engagement, and apps.
  • Brand Development: Brand and campaign identity development, working collaboratively with the agency’s design studio.
  • Campaign Delivery: Campaign strategy and delivery from creative concept and channel approach, through to production, execution, digital development, and/or dispatch.
  • Content Writing: Writing, adapting tone and style for content, copy, media, stakeholders, speeches, and/or reports.
  • Client Relationship Management: Maintaining a positive relationship with clients, proactively identifying opportunities, and managing issues.
  • Supplier Relationship Management: Maintaining positive relationships with suppliers and forging new relationships with video production agencies, printers, web developers, and others that support high-quality execution of agency-led strategies.
  • Project Management: Project management, including timeline, budget management, and quality control.
  • Documentation: Maintaining comprehensive records stored on the server and the Teamwork project management system, ensuring all knowledge generated is maintained and shared.
  • Agency Marketing: Leading and contributing to Ellis Jones marketing activities, including generating content (blogs, social, collateral) and monitoring industry developments.
  • Proposal Development: Leading proposal responses in the areas of expertise and sector knowledge.
  • Business Development: Leading business development activities, including building and maintaining networks, seeking and attaining introductions with potential clients, finding opportunities to present at relevant conferences and meetups, and growing contracts under management.

9. Communications Coordinator Details and Accountabilities

  • Channel Management: Manage social and digital channels to support strategic objectives.
  • Content Planning: Plan and ensure delivery of content as agreed in the content calendar, curating and reporting on social media comments, coordinating social and digital advertising spend and placements.
  • Rapid-Response Coordination: Social media coordination will also require rapid-response content preparation and posting to respond to evolving issues and opportunities not contemplated in the content calendar.
  • Performance Reporting: Prepare and share regular metrics of social media growth, performance, and sentiment.
  • Media Monitoring: Review and compile regular reports of relevant traditional media coverage to share with the Communications team and executives.
  • Member Communication: Ensure timely and accurate dissemination of Member Updates, including formatting, coordination of translation, proofreading, selecting distribution lists, and coordinating MailChimp or other chosen software.
  • Issue Monitoring: Monitor traditional and social media for emerging issues, breaking relevant stories.
  • News Tracking: Monitor key news media pages for breaking stories and developments.
  • News Alert Coordination: Arrange and share news alerts of media coverage on evolving issues as requested.
  • Media Database Support: Support the Media Relations Manager in maintaining the media database, including contact information, key interests, and coverage.
  • Communications Support: Support Communications Director and Communications Manager with various writing, research, and coordination projects.
  • Event Planning: Help plan the coordination of internal and external communications and media events.

10. Communications Director Essential Functions

  • Communications Strategy: Works with the Minority Leader and Minority Chief of Staff to develop a comprehensive communications strategy for the Minority Caucus
  • Spokesperson Duties: Acts as the official spokesperson for the Minority Leader and the Minority Caucus
  • Media Consultation: Consults with Minority House Members, Minority staff, and with news media representatives about legislative public policy and issues
  • Content Writing: Writes talking points, press releases, legislative columns, and other articles for use by Members
  • Event Coordination: Coordinates Minority Caucus press events and social media toolkits
  • Legislative Attendance: Attends legislative sessions, hearings, and meetings
  • News Monitoring: Monitors news reports and other information about the legislature
  • Team Collaboration: Works as a team with other directors to advise the chief of staff and the caucus
  • Staff Supervision: Supervises and directs all Minority communications staff
  • Task Management: Completes additional tasks as assigned by the Minority Chief of Staff

11. Communications Engineer II Tasks

  • Project Execution: Perform design, project management, acceptance testing, and vendor assessment activities.
  • Requirement Analysis: Communicate with internal and external groups to determine communications requirements and prepare engineering specifications to ensure functional requirements are met.
  • Product Testing: Perform product testing and create models and prototypes.
  • Documentation Accuracy: Ensure the accuracy and completeness of systems documentation.
  • Standards Development: Help drive a consistent set of standards for equipment, network protocols, configuration, and operational procedures.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Remain current on all regulatory requirements. Help prepare and maintain communications systems.
  • System Implementation: Design, develop, install, and test system equipment and implement procedures to make all components operational.
  • Technical Expertise: Provide technical expertise, services, and solutions revolving around various modes of communication and information transfer, including wireless telephony services.
  • Communication Technology: Radio and satellite communications. Internet and broadband technologies.
  • Service Delivery: Involved across all aspects of service delivery, from carrying out feasibility exercises and determining connectivity and signal access, to preparing detailed, technical, and operational documentation.

12. Digital Communications Executive Roles

  • Social Media Management: Managing social media pages, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram
  • Content Writing: Researching and writing long-form web, blog content, and electronic Direct Mail content, plus human-interest features.
  • Video Production: Filming and editing short video clips and photos
  • Digital Channel Optimization: Driving improvements across all digital channels, including web, social media, and e-newsletters.
  • Metrics Reporting: Reporting on relevant metrics
  • Proposal Writing: Researching and drafting award nominations and conference proposals
  • Content Calendar Management: Maintaining a content calendar to map out all key content pieces throughout the year (blogs, news articles, case studies)
  • Brand Support: Supporting brand and reputation, and telling a story, ensuring collation of content at industry days and other key events
  • Product Knowledge: Building a strong knowledge of F1000 Research and its benefits
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Building strong relationships with colleagues in other departments through regular meetings, co-design of marketing and communications activities, and providing expert advice.

13. Senior Communications Executive Additional Details

  • Blog Calendar Management: Maintain the blog calendar with a defined schedule that meets communications strategy requirements
  • Blog Coordination: Coordinate and contribute to the delivery and publication of 2x blogs per week, supporting the Communications Executives in the creation of quality content
  • Strategy Reporting: Report on the efficacy of the blog strategy and adjust accordingly with support from the Communications Manager
  • Team Mentorship: Support the Communications Manager in mentoring junior team members, supporting in reviewing copy, and providing feedback
  • Blog Strategy Development: Support the Communications Manager in defining a blog strategy that supports the overall marketing and communications strategy to educate the market, drive awareness, and convert leads
  • Copywriting: Write engaging and compelling copy (including case studies, blogs, news, emails, website copy, and guides) with clear calls to action for use across the website, social, and email
  • Social Media Support: Support management of social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google Plus accounts)
  • PR Support: Support an external PR company to achieve frequent press coverage
  • Campaign Analysis: Analyse the success of communications campaigns and adjust strategy accordingly
  • Website Content Input: Input on the content and development of any website updates
  • Database Management: Support in the management of the marketing database
  • Marketing Support: Support with ad-hoc marketing activities
  • Event Support: Attend a range of events to support logistics and manage social media presence

14. Innovation and Communications Intern Role Purpose

  • Brand Development: Develop a visual brand and communications for Rocket Central Technology
  • Communication Strategy Support: Support communication strategy and plans for the internal Innovation Program
  • Graphic Content Development: Support and develop graphic content for Rocket Central Technology's internal communications
  • Email Design: Draft, edit, format, and graphically design email communications
  • Business Learning: Learn about business by attending meetings, huddles, and trainings
  • Idea Contribution: Share creative ideas that will help improve the innovation programs and communications
  • Asset Creation: Create design assets that will elevate the visual brand and communication efforts within the team
  • Presentation Support: Assist in creating materials and/or presentations for meetings

15. Strategic Communications Lead Responsibilities

  • Crisis Communication Strategy: Identify and assess major incidents or events, and quickly spin up an effective communications strategy that accounts for key audiences, channels, and messages
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate cross-functionally to get ahead of and scope issues
  • Timely Response: Ensure accurate and timely public and private response
  • Team and Agency Management: Manage across and down, work with agencies and colleagues to execute strategy, including materials, plan, timeline, and so forth
  • Executive Communication: Manage up, brief executives and the board of directors on sensitive issues, and obtain buy-in on the strategy
  • Media Engagement: Engage with media on sensitive inquiries or instruct the agency on media tactics
  • Spokesperson Guidance: Guide spokespeople to engage internal and external audiences appropriately
  • Response Evaluation: Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the response and adjust when necessary
  • Incident Reporting: Debrief and report on incidents

16. Senior Corporate Communications Manager General Responsibilities

  • Internal Communications Management: Manage the company’s primary internal communications channels, including the intranet (“the Circuit”), digital signage, and leadership emails
  • Employee Engagement: Find and implement creative ways to inform, educate, and engage employees around Analog’s agile business and culture initiative
  • Event Support: Support the planning and execution of Town Halls and other key company events
  • Remote Communication Innovation: In this unique environment where face-to-face interactions may be limited, find innovative ways to keep colleagues connected and support leaders in managing remotely
  • Message Consistency: Ensure consistent and accurate pull-through of corporate mission, vision, values, culture, and strategy into all communications
  • External Communications Support: Support the Senior Director, Corporate Communications, with the execution of external communications tactics, including managing the corporate website and corporate social media channels, and developing press releases and other external content
  • Channel Development: Provide insight and recommendations regarding new communication channels (e.g., Mobile SMS) and web-publishing and collaboration technologies
  • Leadership Collaboration: Work closely with various senior leaders and teams to strengthen employee engagement and reinforce a strong corporate culture
  • Channel Effectiveness Assessment: Monitor and assess the quality and effectiveness of internal communications channels via data analytics and feedback from personnel at all levels of the organization
  • Brand Management: Uphold the corporate brand, including helping to maintain brand guidelines and collateral and ensuring their consistent use across the organization

17. Communications Officer Key Accountabilities

  • Communication Strategy: Collaborate with management to develop and implement an effective communications strategy for all stakeholders.
  • Trend Analysis: Conferring with managers to identify trends and group interests, and providing advice on business decisions.
  • Team Coaching: Coaching marketing teams in effective communication with the traders, media, and community.
  • Content Development: Write, edit, and distribute content, including publications, press releases, digital content, speeches, and other marketing materials that communicate the company’s activities, projects, and announcements.
  • Compliance Alignment: Ensure the agreed content for publications and digital content is in line with compliance and business policies.
  • Media Representation: Act as a spokesperson for the company by responding to media inquiries in a professional manner.
  • Media Relations: Establish and maintain effective relationships with journalists and PR agencies.
  • Brand Reputation: Seek opportunities to enhance the reputation of the brand and coordinate publicity events
  • Performance Reporting: Analyse, review, and report on communications activity to maximise results and report on the success of existing projects, content, and campaigns.
  • Conflict Management: Manage conflict as it arises and escalate to management.
  • Audience Engagement: Develop and deliver innovative ways to engage with the traders, media, and the community.

18. Communications Specialist Roles and Details

  • Event Promotion: Establish and execute event promotion plans using traditional and digital channels.
  • Social Media Management: Develop a social media content calendar (includes writing copy and curating accompanying imagery/videos) and maintain social media community.
  • Website Management: Manage and update the company website.
  • Newsletter Production: Curate, edit, and assemble two monthly newsletters.
  • Internal and External Communication: Draft internal and external council announcements/communication using brand voice.
  • Storytelling: Capture and communicate Scouting stories by attending events and conducting interviews.
  • Content Collaboration: Collaborate with the graphic designer to create and disseminate timely content.
  • Advertising Support: Support paid advertising campaigns.
  • Event Photography: Provide photography support at events on an as-needed basis.
  • Print Operations: Conduct print shop operations, including using printers and assembling small mailings.
  • Data Reporting: Compile and assess statistics for monthly reporting.
  • Administrative Support: Support front desk staff on an as-needed basis.

19. Communications Strategist Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Communications Planning: Create and define multi-channel communications plans combining owned, earned, paid, and shared media
  • Campaign Execution: Bring big ideas to life across the ecosystem in both campaign periods and across the year, through clear, compelling, and connected user journeys across multiple touchpoints
  • Creative Strategy: Combine creativity and effectiveness through a strong understanding of audiences, touchpoints, and media thinking
  • Brand Communication: Apply an understanding of how brands grow, and how effective communications create impact and get results
  • Data-Driven Approach: Use data and research to inform the approach, whilst being open to innovation and exploration
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Strategy and Creative leads to ensure ideas make the most effective use of an integrated mix of owned, earned, and paid channels, and are deployed via innovative, targeted media and technology
  • Insight Development: Develop strong insights based on a deep understanding of consumer and shopper needs, as well as channels and behaviors
  • Campaign Measurement: Create measurable campaign goals, helping to enhance creative effectiveness and improve the sales rate of innovative ideas

20. Senior Communications Specialist Duties and Roles

  • External Communications Support: Support the external communications strategy for company vision, product launches, and other external brand activities
  • Messaging Development: Work with executives, product marketing teams, corporate partner teams, and customers to develop messaging and storytelling narratives that appeal to both trade and business press
  • Media Relations Support: Support media relations and press/analyst plans and deliverables, including building and maintaining press and industry analyst databases
  • Relationship Management: Cultivate, manage, and deepen key relationships with brand influencers/industry analysts, develop and manage a “buddy program” for Calix execs
  • Media Coordination: Continually field inbound media requests and connect media reps with the appropriate Calix executives, team members, and customers, staff interview calls, and develop briefs
  • Storytelling Collaboration: Collaborate cross-functionally to leverage customer success stories to promote in outbound/inbound media opportunities
  • PR Agency Management: Own the relationship with a PR agency to direct and manage all inbound and outbound media opportunities and initiatives, and coordinate rapid response times to inbound opportunities
  • Awards Coordination: Elevate products and solutions by coordinating awards submissions throughout the year
  • Media Program Management: Drive and manage strategic media programs internally to promote and raise awareness about technology products and solutions
  • Opportunity Identification: Stay current with new publications, journalists, and analyst firms to help identify potential new opportunities
  • Market Share Reporting: Manage quarterly analyst market share updates, take the lead on coordinating with press and analysts in content across media channels (white papers, podcasts, etc.), and annually at Calix ConneXions
  • Executive Visibility: Work cross-functionally to evaluate and pursue public-speaking opportunities/interviews for the C-suite, and develop media kits for the executive team
  • Internal Communications Support: Support the team in coordinating communications to Calix employees to keep the organization abreast of market momentum
Relevant Information
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