Director of communications

Director of communications^[1] is a position in both the private and public sectors. A director of communications is responsible for managing and directing an organization's internal and external communications. Directors of communications supervise public relations staff, create communication strategies, and may serve as the key spokesman and media contact for the organization.

A director of communications may also be called a public relations manager^[2], communications director, or press secretary.

The director of communications usually reports directly to a CXO, including a chief communications officer (CCO) or chief executive officer (CEO) of a company or organization.

In an organization, the director of communications directs the Communications Department, sometimes called a Public Affairs Department. The director of communications may be assisted by a deputy director, clerical staff, and communications specialists and public affairs officers.

Communications in politics

In United States politics, a director of communications is usually a senior aide to the President of the United States (White House Communications Director), a member of the House of Representatives, a senator, a judge, a candidate for political office, a Cabinet secretary, or a government department. The current White House Director of Communications is Dan Pfeiffer.

In Canada and the United Kingdom, a director of communications is a senior aide to members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, the prime minister, Cabinet ministers, and government departments. The current director of communications to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is Craig Oliver; the director of communications to the Prime Minister of Canada is Angelo Persichilli.^[3]

In Australia, the director of communications is a senior adviser to the Prime Minister. They manage the Prime Minister's communications office including Press Secretaries and Speechwriting staff. The current director of communications is Russell Mahoney.

In Nigeria the director of communications or special adviser on communications is a senior aide to the president, vice president, and senior members of the National Assembly.

In the Council of Europe, the director of communication plays a key role in the organisation, directly supporting the work of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

References

1. ^ Public Relations Society of America http://www.prsa.org/jobcenter/commjobs.html
2. ^ U.S. Department of Labor http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/11-2031.00
3. ^ "Harper finds new communication director in ranks of ethnic media". The Globe and Mail, August 31, 2011.