Public Relations Job Descriptions

Ever Wondered What It’s Like To Work In PR?

Jobs in the public relations industry are diverse, and range from being admin-based to being managerial in nature. Public relations job descriptions vary from company to company, as well as from one position to another.

What Are The Job Descriptions For The Different Types Of PR Professionals?

First, let’s look at the general requirements for a job in the PR industry.

All public relations professionals are responsible for managing the reputations of the organisations for which they work. They usually make use of a wide variety of media platforms to communicate – and build relationships – with the relevant stakeholders (including employees, customers/clients, suppliers, the media, and the public).

In a public relations role, you may be expected to perform any of the following duties:

Drafting and/or overseeing internal and external communications
Defining and analysing a target audience
Creating marketing content
Planning and promoting events
Managing media campaigns
Preparing and implementing crisis response plans

This is just a general overview – there are many specific activities that you may be expected to perform, depending on the nature of your role.

So What Do The Various Public Relations Professionals Do?

As you can see in the table below, not all professionals in the public relations industry necessarily do the same thing. Many of the titles and roles can overlap, depending on the nature of the business and the type of role in which one is employed.

Here is a brief guideline to explain some of the different job roles in the field of PR:

Job title	Job Description	Requirements
Public Relations Manager	A Public Relations Manager plays a mid- to senior-level role in an organisation or PR department. He or she is responsible for managing the reputation of an organisation or individual, and may be required to supervise junior PR staff members. A Public Relations Manager’s specific duties vary from one organisation to another, and may range from drafting disaster response plans and recruiting junior PR employees to writing PR content and arranging press conferences.	Excellent communication skills Leadership skills Critical thinking and decision-making skills Attention to detail A suitable qualification (e.g. certificate, degree, or diploma in PR, Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, or a related field) 2+ years of experience in PR
Public Relations Assistant	A Public Relations Assistant position is an entry-level position that involves providing assistance and support to the senior members of a PR team so that they are able to carry out their tasks and responsibilities effectively. Some of the tasks that a PR Assistant might be required to perform (depending on the organisation for which he or she works) include the following: Writing press releases Preparing social media posts Dealing with queries and complaints, and escalating serious issues to a superior Drafting internal communication documents Liaising with various stakeholders (including journalists and customers/clients) Various admin tasks as required	Excellent communication skills Time management skills Attention to detail Customer-service orientation Ability to work in a team A PR qualification is not always required, but is recommended Previous experience in PR may or may not be required
Communications Officer	A Communications Officer could be responsible for internal and/or external communication within an organisation. He or she may be responsible for tasks such as drafting e mail newsletters, responding to queries and complaints, drafting and implementing communications policies, and posting on social media platforms.	Excellent communication skills Interpersonal skills Time management skills Problem-solving skills Attention to detail Depending on the level of the position, a certificate, diploma, or degree in PR, Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, Marketing, or a related field may be required Depending on the level of the position, experience required may vary from little or no experience (for an entry-level position) to 5+ years of experience (for a mid- or senior-level position)

Job title

Job Description

Requirements

Public Relations Manager

A Public Relations Manager plays a mid- to senior-level role in an organisation or PR department. He or she is responsible for managing the reputation of an organisation or individual, and may be required to supervise junior PR staff members. A Public Relations Manager’s specific duties vary from one organisation to another, and may range from drafting disaster response plans and recruiting junior PR employees to writing PR content and arranging press conferences.

Excellent communication skills
Leadership skills
Critical thinking and decision-making skills
Attention to detail
A suitable qualification (e.g. certificate, degree, or diploma in PR, Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, or a related field)
2+ years of experience in PR

Public Relations Assistant

A Public Relations Assistant position is an entry-level position that involves providing assistance and support to the senior members of a PR team so that they are able to carry out their tasks and responsibilities effectively. Some of the tasks that a PR Assistant might be required to perform (depending on the organisation for which he or she works) include the following:

Writing press releases
Preparing social media posts
Dealing with queries and complaints, and escalating serious issues to a superior
Drafting internal communication documents
Liaising with various stakeholders (including journalists and customers/clients)
Various admin tasks as required

Excellent communication skills
Time management skills
Attention to detail
Customer-service orientation
Ability to work in a team
A PR qualification is not always required, but is recommended
Previous experience in PR may or may not be required

Communications Officer

A Communications Officer could be responsible for internal and/or external communication within an organisation. He or she may be responsible for tasks such as drafting e mail newsletters, responding to queries and complaints, drafting and implementing communications policies, and posting on social media platforms.

Excellent communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Time management skills
Problem-solving skills
Attention to detail
Depending on the level of the position, a certificate, diploma, or degree in PR, Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, Marketing, or a related field may be required
Depending on the level of the position, experience required may vary from little or no experience (for an entry-level position) to 5+ years of experience (for a mid- or senior-level position)

Is PR A Good Career Choice For You?

Working in the public relations industry is a good choice if you regard yourself as someone who:

Is always willing to take on new challenges
Can communicate effectively with people at all levels
Is willing to embrace change
Works well under pressure
Has a strong sense of responsibility

Prepare For A Career In PR

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