Communications is essential to marketing.
The coveted marketing communications manager position is highly visible both within a company and externally to company clients. This visibility often leads to career advancement to senior executive positions. Work hours are typically long and include evenings and weekends. Business travel is also common for this job.
External Communications Management
One of the major job duties of a marketing communications manager is to create and implement a plan of strategic external communications directed towards company clients and the general public. This includes coordinating press releases, editorials, company website content and graphics, and promotion of the company's image through organization of employee community service opportunities and fundraising event participation. The manager also develops company advertising for appropriate media outlets and manages the company's trade show and event calendar.
Internal Communications Management
A marketing communications manager keeps company employees informed of company events or updates, service opportunities, and upcoming product releases. The manager also edits communications and strategic sales proposals and plans created by internal company staff.
People Management
Recruiting, hiring, training, and developing staff is another duty of the marketing communications manager along with communicating job expectations, assigning workflow, and appraising each employee's job performance. Preparing and maintaining an annual marketing operations budget is also an important task of those in this position.
Skills
To fulfill her duties, a marketing communications manager needs excellent written and verbal communications skills along with copyediting experience. Also required are marketing, advertising, and media experience, particularly in the area of social media. People management skills such as coaching, motivating, and leadership are necessary to effectively lead staff. Relational skills are required to successfully work with clients, vendors, and staff from other areas of the company.
Education
A minimum of a bachelor's degree in marketing, public relations, social media, communications, or a related field is required. Advanced degrees are also beneficial. Marketing trends continually evolve and staying educated on current trends through additional certification, particularly in the area of utilizing social media and the Internet, also gives the marketing communications manager a competitive advantage in their profession.
Salary
The annual salary for a marketing communications manager varies in accordance to their level of education and experience. Payscale reports, as of May 2010, earnings range from $48,000 to $80,000 annually.
Job Prospects
Competition is keen for this sought-after position. Prospects for future marketing communications manager positions are excellent for creative college graduates with communication and computer skills and social media marketing experience, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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