Community Relations Coordinator Career Guide

Sample job description

If you have excellent communication skills and are a naturally charismatic leader, consider joining [Your Company Name] as a community relations coordinator! The communication relations coordinator will be required to serve as the face of our organization, creating social media content and coordinating press releases as needed. If you are comfortable going to relevant events, such as fundraisers and speaking in front of a crowd or audience when needed, then this position might be for you. You should be charismatic, confident, and able to convince people to support our organization. Access to reliable transportation will be needed for this position, so please consider this before applying. You should have excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills as well as an understanding of various computer programs like Canva and Word. Relevant qualifications can be beneficial, but the number one thing we’re looking for is the ability to represent our brand!

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Write press releases and other traditional print materials 
• Create and coordinate social media content 
• Organize outreach programs to interact with the community and influence public opinion or promote services 
• Plan and promote public events and press conferences in the community
• Choose materials to distribute on multimedia channels and promote a positive image of the organization
• Deliver speeches at public events
• Attend fundraisers  
• Respond to questions, comments, and concerns from community members

Education and experience

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, mass communications, or a similar field. 

Required skills and qualifications

• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills
• Strong public speaking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to speak face-to-face with community members
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to multitask and organize in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with a team

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in company reputation management 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to maintain effective communication
• Experience overseeing time-sensitive projects and deadlines
• Bachelor’s degree in public relations or related field
• 3+ years of experience working with a Fortune 500 company
• Excellent social media management

Available certifications

Community relations coordinators will usually not be required to have any certifications, but there are some relevant certifications to this position. Some of these include the following:

• Professional Certified Marketer (PCM). Becoming a professionally certified marketer can assist community relations coordinators in showcasing themselves as an expert when it comes to brand presentation and relations management. This certification can be immensely useful in practical application as well, assisting community relations coordinators in successful marketing.

• Certified Professional – Human Resource (IPMA-CP). The IPMA-CP assists relations or interpersonal professionals to accurately understand leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, and various techniques that will assist in the position. Because of this, this certification can be immensely useful to community relations coordinators.
  
• Accreditation in Public Relations by PRSA. This organization offers lifelong learning opportunities, as well as resources to help public relations professionals at every step of their career. Their certification programs cover digital strategies, hot trending topics, crisis communication, and reputation management.