A corporate affairs manager is responsible for creating and communicating a favorable public image for his employer or client. He often does this through media campaigns designed to reach investors, consumers, employees, industry analysts, customers, government agencies and other stakeholders. The Bureau of Labor Statistics includes corporate affairs managers under the broader job category of "Public Relations Managers and Specialists." According to data from the BLS, the median annual wage for this position was $91,810 as of May 2010, with top 10 percent earning more than $166,400 a year. Candidates for the job must have a wide skill set, including proficiency at organization, communication, problem solving, speaking, writing and research.
Strategy
A public relations manager must think and plan strategically. She must keep herself updated with trends in her company's industry and anticipate potential problems so she can get her client’s message out first. This proactive approach can help soften the impact of potentially bad news. It shows that the company is aware of market changes and other issues and has a plan to deal with them. A corporate affairs manager must also coordinate with the client’s marketing team to ensure consistency between the client’s advertising message and its corporate affairs message. For example, if the marketing department is targeting the youth market with a branding campaign, the corporate affairs department must be aware of this and emphasize the youth market in its media campaign.
Content
As a supervisor, the corporate affairs manager will review and edit press releases written by more junior members of her team. The BLS reports that managers sometimes write content themselves if the press release is addressing a major corporate issue. In this role, she will consult with senior management to make sure her message is consistent with its goals. Also, because social media channels are an important method of modern corporate communication, the corporate affairs manager must sign off on Facebook posts, Tweets and YouTube posts. Social Media is instant and global, so it gives a corporate affairs department an opportunity to provide immediate updates on company news and events.
Team Leader
A corporate affairs manager usually leads a team of specialists. She must give direction to her team and is responsible for reviewing their work. It’s her responsibility to ensure that the message is accurate and consistent with company standards and goals. She also might have to oversee the mentoring and development of new team members. In addition, the corporate affairs manager serves as the conduit of communication between senior management and her team.
Qualifications
The BLS reports that public relations specialists, including corporate affairs managers, typically need a bachelor’s degree, preferably in public relations, journalism, communications, English or business. Courses in advertising, business administration, public affairs, public speaking, political science and creative and technical writing are helpful. Some employers prefer a master’s degree in public relations or journalism. In 2010, about 25 percent of public relations managers held a master’s degree. Managers should have several years of experience in public relations. The BLS also notes that the Public Relations Society of America offers a certification program for public relations managers that is based on years of experience and on passing an exam. In addition, the Accredited Business Communicator credential is available from the International Association of Business Communicators.
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Public Relations Managers and Specialists, What Public Relations Managers and Specialists Do
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Public Relations Managers and Specialists Pay
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Public Relations Managers and Specialists, What Public Relations Managers and Specialists Do
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Public Relations Managers and Specialists, What Public Relations Managers and Specialists Do
Writer Bio
Currently working in Dublin, Michael Mageean started out writing for Belfast-based “Fortnight” magazine in 1998. Recently he has written for Verify Recruitment’s technology blog, newsletter and scripted Verify's radio show, "New Job Radio." He trained as a journalist with the London school of Journalism in 2012. He is a graduate of the University of Ulster.