Career guide
Communications Manager Job Description: Internal, Corporate and Marketing
A communications manager plans and writes how an organization talks to the people who matter to it, such as employees, customers, media, investors or members. The job splits into three common types: internal communications, corporate communications and marketing communications. Below are templates for each and how to tell them apart in a posting.
Key takeaways
- A communications manager plans and writes how an organization talks to its audiences, such as employees, customers, media, investors or members.
- Most communications manager postings are one of three types: internal communications, corporate communications or marketing communications.
- Internal communications managers focus on employees and change, corporate communications managers on reputation and media, and marketing communications managers on customers and campaigns.
- Communications managers are measured on whether the right people heard the message and acted on it, plus coverage and reputation for corporate roles.
- The audiences a posting names tell you which type of communications job it is, more reliably than the title.
Download all 3 templates (Word) Opens in Google Docs too.
What does a communications manager do?
A communications manager decides what an organization needs to say, to whom, through which channels and when, and then writes or edits most of it. They’re the person leaders turn to when there’s news to share, a change to explain or a reputation to protect.
The work overlaps with public relations, which PRSA defines as "a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics". A communications manager often does PR, but usually covers more audiences and channels than media alone.
Our main communications manager page covers skills, the career path and a general job description. This page breaks the job into its three common types, each with its own template.
Which type of communications manager is it?
| Type | Main audiences | Typical work | Usually reports to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal communications manager | Employees, managers | Leadership updates, change programs, intranet, town halls, newsletters | HR, the CEO’s office or corporate communications |
| Corporate communications manager | Media, investors, the public, regulators | Press releases, media relations, executive messaging, issues and crisis response | Head of communications or the CEO |
| Marketing communications manager | Customers, prospects | Campaign messaging, launches, content, customer newsletters, sales materials | Marketing director or CMO |
Read which audiences the posting names. A “Communications Manager” listing that mentions employee engagement and change is an internal role, whatever the title says.
Internal communications manager job description template
Job title: Internal Communications Manager About [Organization] [Two sentences: what you do, how many people work here and where, and what's changing.] About the role We're hiring an Internal Communications Manager to keep [number] employees informed, connected and clear on where [Organization] is going. You'll own the internal channels and calendar, write for leaders and support major changes. You'll report to [title]. What you'll do - Plan and run the internal communications calendar across [intranet, email, Slack/Teams, town halls]. - Write and edit leadership messages, updates and talking points. - Support change programs: [reorganizations, new systems, policy changes, return to office]. - Help managers cascade news to their teams with briefing packs and FAQs. - Run or support all-hands and town hall meetings. - Measure reach and understanding, and improve channels based on feedback. What you'll bring - [X]+ years in internal communications, corporate communications or a related field. - Excellent writing for a wide range of employees. - Experience communicating change and sensitive news. - Comfort advising senior leaders. How we'll measure success - [Metric 1: e.g. open and read rates on key updates] - [Metric 2: e.g. employee survey scores on understanding company direction] - [Metric 3: e.g. managers briefed before company-wide news] Pay and benefits [Salary range], [benefits], [location / hybrid / remote].
Corporate communications manager job description template
Job title: Corporate Communications Manager About [Company] [Two sentences: what you do and why your reputation matters to the business.] About the role We're hiring a Corporate Communications Manager to protect and build [Company]'s reputation with media, investors, partners and the public. You'll run media relations, write announcements and prepare executives to speak for the company. You'll report to [Head of Communications / VP Communications]. What you'll do - Plan and run announcements: [earnings, partnerships, leadership changes, product news]. - Write press releases, statements, Q&As and executive talking points. - Build relationships with reporters and manage media inquiries. - Prepare executives for interviews, panels and posts. - Monitor coverage and conversation, and flag issues early. - Help lead the response when something goes wrong. - [Work with the PR agency on campaigns and media outreach.] What you'll bring - [X]+ years in corporate communications, PR or journalism. - Strong writing and editing under deadline. - Media relations experience, including tough questions. - Calm judgment in sensitive or fast-moving situations. How we'll measure success - [Metric 1: e.g. coverage in priority outlets, and its tone] - [Metric 2: e.g. response time and accuracy on media inquiries] - [Metric 3: e.g. issues handled without escalation] Pay and benefits [Salary range], [benefits], [location / hybrid / remote].
Marketing communications manager job description template
Job title: Marketing Communications Manager About [Company] [Two sentences: what you sell and to whom.] About the role We're hiring a Marketing Communications Manager to make sure customers hear one clear story from [Company] across every channel. You'll own campaign messaging and the communications calendar, write and edit customer-facing content, and work with [design, product marketing, PR, sales]. You'll report to [Marketing Director]. What you'll do - Write and maintain messaging for [products / campaigns / audiences]. - Plan the customer communications calendar: [launches, newsletters, events, announcements]. - Write and edit [web copy, emails, brochures, case studies, sales materials]. - Coordinate PR and social so announcements land together. - Keep brand voice consistent across teams and agencies. - Report on engagement and what each campaign achieved. What you'll bring - [X]+ years in marketing communications, content or PR. - Excellent writing for customers, with examples. - Experience running launches or campaigns across channels. - Comfort managing freelancers or agencies. How we'll measure success - [Metric 1: e.g. engagement with launch communications] - [Metric 2: e.g. leads or sign-ups from campaigns] - [Metric 3: e.g. on-time delivery across the calendar] Pay and benefits [Salary range], [benefits], [location / hybrid / remote].
What skills does a communications manager need?
- Writing and editing for very different readers, often on the same day.
- Judgment. Knowing what to say, what not to say and when to say nothing yet.
- Advising leaders. Telling a senior executive their message won’t land, and offering a better one.
- Planning. Running a calendar so announcements don’t collide.
- Measurement. Reading open rates, coverage, survey results and engagement, and acting on them.
- Media skills for corporate roles: pitching, briefing and handling hard questions.
How do you use this when applying?
Decide which of the three types the posting is, then lead with your experience for that audience. An internal communications role wants your change program; a corporate role wants your media relationships and a tough moment you handled; a marketing communications role wants a launch you wrote. Tell those stories plainly, in the voice you’d use with a colleague, since a communications interview is partly a test of how you naturally explain things.
Our communications cover letter page has examples, and the public relations interview questions page covers what corporate roles ask. For pay, the PR manager salary page has government figures for public relations managers, the nearest occupation.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a communications manager and a PR manager?
A PR manager focuses on media and public reputation. A communications manager often covers PR plus other audiences, such as employees or customers. At small organizations one person does both. See the PR job description.
What qualifications does a communications manager need?
Postings commonly ask for a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, marketing or a related field, plus several years of experience. A portfolio of writing across audiences carries a lot of weight.
What does an internal communications manager do?
They make sure employees understand what’s happening and why: leadership updates, change programs, internal channels, town halls and the materials managers use to brief their teams.
Is communications manager a marketing job?
Marketing communications is. Internal and corporate communications often sit outside marketing, in HR, the CEO’s office or a separate communications team, though they work closely with marketing.
What does a senior communications manager do differently?
They own a larger area (all internal communications, or all media relations), advise the most senior leaders directly, lead crisis response and often manage a coordinator, specialist or agency.