Head of Communications / PR: skills & capabilities the market requires
Based on 660 real Head of Communications / PR job postings, here is what companies actually require for this role today: the capabilities that define it, the hard skills named most often, the scope expected, typical experience and pay. The market leans hardest on Strategic Leadership (79%) and Executive Communication (76%).
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Core capabilities for a Head of Communications / PR
- Strategic Leadership — required in 79% of postings
- Executive Communication — required in 76% of postings
- Stakeholder Management — required in 59% of postings
- Marketing & Brand — required in 51% of postings
- Cross-functional Leadership — required in 46% of postings
- People Leadership — required in 25% of postings
- Customer & Relationships — required in 20% of postings
Most-required hard skills
- Media Relations
- Digital Marketing
- Internal Communications
- Crisis Communications
- Brand Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Budget Management
Leadership & soft skills
- Strategic Thinking
- Leadership
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Stakeholder Management
Scope, experience & pay
Head of Communications / PR roles expect deal / M&A experience in 1% of postings, IPO or capital markets in 2%, and transformation in 15%. Typical stated experience: 10 years. Pay signal from postings (base): $180K–$215K.
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