A Community Relations Coordinator working in the corporate or business sphere has an interesting job. In this position the individual coordinates the relationship between the corporate business and local agencies, civic groups, schools, community groups, political entities, and governmental agencies. The Community Relations Coordinator is required to plan and design programs that will both help the local community and promote the image of the corporation in a positive way. While performing these tasks the individual must continue to be sensitive to the local community and its needs.
The individual is responsible for representing the corporation in beneficial community activities. He or she may work with the sponsorship of programs including sporting events, cultural events, and community-related programs. For example, the Community Relations Coordinator may arrange company sponsorship of Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops or local sports teams.
The Community Relations Coordinator may develop programs or work with local community groups such as the United Way or Red Cross on specific projects. The Community Relations Coordinator, as an example, may act as a liaison between the United Way and employees of the corporation in programs in which monthly donations are taken out of participating employees’ paychecks. The individual may work with the Red Cross in a program where a select day is set up for employees of the corporation to donate blood. The individual may also be required to develop new or innovative community relations programs. These might include events in which the company can take leadership, such as marathons, fairs, art auctions, and parades. An example of this technique is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is aired on television every year. These events will keep the corporation favorably in the public eye. Programs such as these also indirectly help market the corporation’s products or services to the public.
The Community Relations Coordinator may be required to be the representative of the company on nonprofit organization boards and committees. The individual may also be asked by the corporation to become an active member of civic and community groups. He or she may work with other departments in the corporation coordinating functions and handling details. These might include public relations, advertising, marketing, and promotion. Depending on the structure of the company, the individual may be responsible for writing press releases and feature articles on various community relations projects. He or she might also be responsible for taking photographs during corporation-sponsored community events or arranging to have a professional photographer present.
At times the Community Relations Coordinator may be asked to give speeches on behalf of the company. The usual procedure is for the community relations person to point out in the speech a tie-in with a community project in which the company is currently involved. He or she may be required to appear on local public service television and radio interview shows to promote the corporation’s community projects as well as to make sure the company maintains a good public image. The Community Relations Coordinator usually has a good working relationship with the media. In this way, when the corporation is sponsoring a local team or helping to raise money for a worthwhile cause, the company reaps the benefits of press coverage.
The Community Relations Coordinator often takes community groups on tours of the company plant. He or she may arrange teas, luncheons, or dinners for these groups so that they can learn more about the corporation and its community programs. Individuals in this position may often have to work after normal business hours to attend civic, nonprofit, and community group meetings, to make speeches, or to represent the corporation at an event. The Community Relations Coordinator may be responsible to the community relations director, if there is one. He or she may also be responsible to the public relations director of the company.
Earnings for this position may range from $23,000 to $56,000 or more depending on the specific corporation and the responsibilities and experience of the individual. Many larger corporations hire people with limited experience and pay a relatively low salary at the beginning. Individuals who have more experience or handle extensive responsibilities may have annual earnings averaging in the mid-thirties.
Employment prospects are fair for individuals seeking Community Relations Coordinator positions. It should be noted that not every corporation hires someone specifically for this job. Instead, many expect someone from the public relations department to be responsible for the functions of a Community Relations Coordinator.
Advancement prospects are fair for a Community Relations Coordinator. An individual may take a number of different career paths in climbing the ladder of success. He or she may locate a similar position in a larger, more prestigious company that would result in higher earnings. The individual may also advance by becoming a community relations director or manager. This may be difficult, however, because relatively few corporations have this position available. The individual might find more opportunities by climbing the ladder and landing a job as a corporate public relations director or a manager or assistant director of marketing. If he or she has developed a good working relationship with a nonprofit organization that is seeking a director, the individual may be considered for the position.
Community Relations Coordinators working in corporations are usually required to have a minimum of a four-year college degree. While majors might vary, emphasis should be placed on courses in publicity, public relations, marketing, advertising, journalism, English, communications, writing, psychology, and sociology. There are numerous seminars on working with nonprofit groups, community relations, public relations, and publicity that will prove useful to the individual in obtaining a position and being successful at it.
Individuals working in community relations should enjoy working with people. They should be community-minded and have an understanding of nonprofit, civic, and community groups. Individuals in this profession are the type of people who are always the first to volunteer to help when someone has a problem. They like to solve problems and help others. Community Relations Coordinators should be outgoing, personable, aggressive, and articulate. Good writing, organizational, and planning skills are necessary. The individual must have the ability to speak in front of large and small groups without getting flustered.
Community Relations Coordinators may have advanced to their present job in a variety of ways. They might have had experience working in a nonprofit organization as a publicity or community relations assistant or as an administrative assistant in the publicity, marketing, or community relations office.
Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Webworldarticles.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.
This article was sent to us by:
Lara Karling at
03282010
1. Copywriter jobs in corporations and industry
All articles in this directory are property of their respective authors. Additionally, read our Privacy Policy
© 2010 WebWorldarticles.com - All Rights Reserved.