How to become a public relations and communications director
Official title: Public relations and communications directors
Also called: Director, Head of communications, Head of public affairs, Communications director, Head of public relations, Public relations director, Director of communications, Director of external relations, Head of internal communications, Communications and policy director, Policy and communications director, Director of communications and policy
Public relations and communications directors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the public relations, communications and public information activities of an organisation or on behalf of clients.
Main tasks
- Develops and reviews the public relations policy and direction of an organisation
- Directs and oversees the work of the communications department of an organisation or work on behalf of clients at a public relations firm
- Liaises with client to discuss their needs and develops the most appropriate strategy to deliver the objectives directs public relations campaigns and communicates messages through a variety of media
- Reviews and revises campaign strategy and takes appropriate corrective measures if necessary
- Stays abreast of changes in media, readership or viewing figures
- Directs the arranging of conferences, exhibitions, seminars, etc. to promote the image of a product, service or organisation
How to become one
Entry is generally via career progression from related occupations (e.g. communications officer, public relations officer) and although there are no pre-set entry standards, in practice most communications and public relations directors hold a degree. Off and on-the-job training is provided.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £72,887 a year The middle half earn £59,788 to null.
- About 14,500 people work in this job now, and about 15,900 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)
Related jobs
- Marketing, sales and advertising directors
- Financial managers and directors
- Purchasing managers and directors
- Charitable organisation managers and directors
- Human resource managers and directors
- Information technology directors
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Questions people ask
How do I become a public relations and communications director?
Entry is generally via career progression from related occupations (e.g. communications officer, public relations officer) and although there are no pre-set entry standards, in practice most communications and public relations directors hold a degree. Off and on-the-job training is provided.
How much does a public relations and communications director earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £72,887 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a public relations and communications director a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 14,500 to about 15,900 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a public relations and communications director?
Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03