Change Communications

Source: Melcrum CommsNetwork, Eric Eggertson, Group Medical Services

In terms of competencies, the typical ones are good to excellent written and interpersonal communications, competency with word processing and presentation software (and possibly in design software, if that’s part of the job), and the ability to handle a fast-paced environment. Good organizational skills, proven ability to conduct research, and the ability to connect strategic direction with company activities (with help from the manager!) are also pretty close to mandatory.

Depending on how your HR group is set up, you may have to delineate the degree of decision-making the position makes, (often it’s more “make recommendations” rather than decide). You’ll also have to indicate the degree to which the position has to show judgement (this would probably rank higher than decision-making, since even writing a headline can require a lot of good judgement).

The kind of breakdown of duties that I’ve seen goes something like this:

Manager: liaison with senior management; establish and maintain effective relationships with other departments/divisions; set direction for team; lead strategy development; budget and hiring; decisions that affect the department or organization (mostly “make recommendations” for things that affect whole organization); develop and maintain quality standards for corporate communications; responsible for achieving dept. Goals/objectives; lead media and public relations for senior management and spokespersons; make recommendations re. structure and make decisions re. internal/external resource use.

Coordinator: lead projects; make recommendations; create editorial plans/write/edit/proofread/layout publications; maintain effective relations with key people in other departments; show good judgement and maintain confidentiality; communications plans for projects; make decisions that affect the project; manage resources within established project budget; may also be responsible for speechwriting, briefing notes, Q&As, web site updates, report writing, promotions, event management/coordination, internal and external communications coordination, and much more.

Not comprehensive, but that’s what comes to mind. Hope it helps!