Communications Manager (Public Relations)
What the work is
Plans, organises, directs, controls and coordinates public relations activities within an organisation.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Plans, develops, directs and coordinates communication strategies to best represent the employer's interests
- Creates and manages publication production timelines
- Oversees reputation management through internal communications, government relations, media relations and social media management
- Stays informed of changes in media by assessing web, email and social media analytics to understand opportunities and barriers
- Liaises with, supports and manages public relations teams to create press releases, advertising and promotional materials
- Organises and manages events to promote key messages
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the communications office of a fictional regional hospital foundation and community services charity. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A story you told well brings in volunteers and people say they heard it on the radio
- A fast, honest statement calms a worried community before the rumours spread
- Your team's event runs smoothly, and the chief executive says thank you in front of everyone
Hard days
- A bad news story breaks at 7am and you have an hour to decide what to say
- Leaders who want to say less than the situation needs
- Being on call over a weekend, with your phone always within reach
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 112231, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.