What is the role of a Communications Specialist?

Communication is an integral part of the functioning of every organization. It enables the company to broadcast its objectives and mission to its desired target audience and also touch base with other key stakeholders, such as investors, customers, and the media. Considering the crucial nature of the job, skilled professionals are hired by organizations across the globe to serve as Communications Specialists. They are essentially responsible for managing and improving an organization’s internal and external communications. This blog looks at the Communications Specialist job description in detail and also highlights the key role they play in furthering the success of an organization.

Who is a Communications Specialist?

A Communications Specialist refers to a skilled professional who is responsible for strategizing, creating, and disseminating all communication materials relevant to the organization, both within and outside the company. They take complete ownership of the content, responsible for creating messaging that is clear, effective, and consistently supports the overall objectives of the organization.

Some of the prominent Communications Specialist responsibilities include drafting press releases to be distributed to the media for conveying messaging to the external audience, handling the social media accounts of the organization, and coordinating all internal communications. In addition, they take ownership of organizing events and designing effective communication strategies. 

Roles and responsibilities of communications specialist

A communications specialist plays a crucial role in handling the entire communications strategy for an organization. Some of the top Communications Specialist roles are outlined below:

• Handling internal communications: A communications specialist is responsible for designing and distributing all material related to the internal workings of an organization. These include newsletters, memos, and important announcements. Additionally, he/she is responsible for conducting internal company events such as employee briefings and town halls. 

• Creating and managing content: Communications specialists are responsible for writing, proofreading, and editing all communication materials on behalf of the organization. Examples include blog posts, reports, press releases, social media content, and newsletters. They also take complete ownership of the published content, ensuring that it is regularly updated in line with the changes in organizational communication. 

• Handling public relations: PR is a very important part of a Communications Specialist’s duties. They take responsibility for communication with the media and external stakeholders during company crises and also design strategies to reduce negative publicity of the organization during critical times. In short, they are the flag-bearers of the company’s public image and reputation.

• Facilitating media relations: One of the key responsibilities of communications specialists is to maintain positive and healthy relationships with the media and press. This is important to ensure that the company’s image stays in good light at all times. Hence, they organize interviews and press conferences with the media from time to time and also prepare communications material such as media kits for distribution to the press during internal and external company events.

• Social media branding: Social media marketing for the brand is one of the most important Communications Specialist tasks. They are responsible for handling the official social media handles for the organization, to enhance brand presence in the market. Audience engagement is one of their primary duties, ensuring community building in the process. They also analyze social media metrics and create and post content on social media platforms on behalf of the organization. 

Different sectors of Communications Specialists can work in

As a Communication Specialist, you can look forward to working in a variety of sectors and domains, since the role is much sought after by nearly every organization. Here are some common sectors that demand Communications Specialists:

• Government sector: Involves handling crisis communication, information on public policies, and communication for building community relations

• Corporate sector: Involves handling all internal communications from the top management to all employees, public relations reports, and advertising or marketing campaigns

• Education sector: Involves handling communication for maintaining relationships with the alumni as well as current students and parents

• NGO sector: Involves communicating with the community at large to raise funds facilitating community development activities and promoting awareness campaigns on social issues

• Healthcare sector: Involves handling health awareness campaigns, patient communication, and internal communications within the healthcare organization

Skills required for Communications Specialists

To be a communications specialist, you need the following skills:

• Effective written and verbal communication
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinking and analysis
• Proficiency in working on Content Management Systems (CMS)
• Basic knowledge of graphic design
• Social media management
• Creativity 
• Project management 
• Attention to detail
• Time management 
• Problem-solving ability 
• A fair understanding of the industry and the organization working for

Best degree to become a Communications Specialist

If you’re keen on considering a lucrative and rewarding career in the role of a Communications Specialist, BA and MA degrees in English are considered the ideal choices. A Bachelor of Arts (BA) with English as a specialization lays the perfect foundation for improving your communication skills – a prerequisite for communications specialist roles.

You can advance your knowledge base and skill sets with a Master of Arts or MA in English, learning and polishing the finer nuances of communication for more high-paying roles in the industry.

Conclusion

A Communications Specialist plays a vital role in building and maintaining the public image of an organization by conveying the right messaging to the right people at the right time. If you too look forward to a career in this role, consider pursuing an online BA or MA in English from Sikkim Manipal University (SMU).

Offered on the Online Manipal platform, these degree programs are UGC-entitled. Sikkim Manipal is accredited by NAAC and offers these degrees in 100% remote learning mode to students.