Public relations director

Public relations director - overview

As a public relations director, you’ll use your impressive communication skills to manage the reputation and image of your clients through publicity campaigns. Learn more about a career in public relations, find out what it involves and what you’ll need to study and do to get a role.

Learn what the role involves below.

What does a public relations director do?

As a public relations (PR) director, you’ll look after the communication strategies of a company or client and manage their reputation in the media.

You’ll probably be part of team and lead on building strong relationships with existing clients and networking to establish new connections, reporting to your company board or owner.

As a director, you’ll plan communication campaigns and either help deliver these or oversee teams or commission others to do so. You might use a range of channels to communicate messages like print, broadcast and digital media.

You’ll need to stay up to date with media stories and trends and analyse data to evaluate campaign success.

Working in public relations can be stressful with competing deadlines but is a potentially rewarding experience, bringing your creative ideas to life.

What will your days involve?

Daily tasks will vary but could involve:

Organising, delivering, reviewing and approving communications strategies and campaigns
Promoting and raising the profile of your company or clients and protecting their reputations
Creating content and communicating messages through different kinds of media
Reporting ideas, progress and results to a company’s board or CEO
Negotiating contracts for different types of campaigns
Building and managing client relationships
Arranging events, interviews, press releases and other promotions
Representing the company or client online and at events
Researching best practices and target audiences
Staying aware of any media updates or new stories
Overseeing the recruitment and training of new team members
Managing budgets

FAQs

How much can you earn as a public relations director?

The average salary for a public relations director in the UK is £69,160. Graduates start at around £33,500.

Does a public relations director role involve travel in the UK or overseas?

As a public relations director, you’ll travel frequently to an office, to see clients and to attend networking, media, and exhibition events. Some overseas travel may be involved on occasions.