Corporate Communications
Executive Communications
You'll architect narrative strategy across crisis management, investor relations, and C-suite messaging. This path creates leaders who control corporate reputation through sophisticated stakeholder influence and media orchestration.
The Career Arc
Rotational · L1–L3
Build the Executive Communications craft. Prove you can wield the tools of Corporate Communications.
Transformational · L4–L7
Deliver Executive Communications outcomes — each Corporate Communications tour at this altitude has a defined mission and success criteria.
Foundational · L8–L9
Shape the Corporate Communications organization from the Executive Communications chair — build institutions, not just products.
L1 — Associate Executive Communications Specialist Rotational Full detail →
Mission
Learn executive communications fundamentals through research and content support
This tour of duty
Draft your first executive social media content that earns strong engagement
Own the outcomes
- • Learn executive voice and messaging style for assigned leaders
- • Draft social media posts and short-form executive content under supervision
- • Research speech topics and compile background briefing materials
- • Support preparation of board meeting presentation decks
- • Build foundational knowledge of thought leadership strategy and platforms
- • Assist senior writers with fact-checking and content coordination
Executive Communications at L1 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Researching speech topics and compiling background materials
- • Drafting executive social media post options
- • Summarizing industry trends for thought leadership angles
L2 — Executive Communications Coordinator Rotational Full detail →
Mission
Own executive social media and short-form content production
This tour of duty
Own an executive thought leadership article from research to publication
Own the outcomes
- • Own executive social media content calendar and posting schedule
- • Draft executive blog posts and short thought leadership pieces independently
- • Execute research for keynote speeches and conference presentations
- • Implement systematic approaches to executive content planning
- • Debug tone and messaging inconsistencies across executive platforms
- • Prepare executive event briefing packages and talking points
Executive Communications at L2 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Analyzing executive content engagement and audience response
- • Generating thought leadership article drafts and outlines
- • Building conference and event briefing packages
L3 — Senior Executive Communications Specialist Rotational Full detail →
Mission
Lead speech drafting and manage executive thought leadership pipeline
This tour of duty
Write a keynote speech that an executive delivers at a major conference
Own the outcomes
- • Lead drafting of keynote speeches and major executive presentations
- • Manage content pipeline for executive thought leadership program
- • Mentor junior writers on executive voice and narrative construction
- • Design improvements to speech development and review processes
- • Coordinate with communications and marketing on executive positioning
- • Build relationships with conference organizers and speaking bureaus
Executive Communications at L3 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Modeling speech narrative arcs and audience engagement flow
- • Synthesizing industry perspectives for keynote differentiation
- • Generating board presentation draft content
L4 — Executive Communications Manager Transformational Full detail →
Mission
Manage executive voice and strategic narrative for C-suite leaders
This tour of duty
Build a narrative framework that establishes an executive as an industry voice
Own the outcomes
- • Own executive communications strategy for the CEO or a C-suite executive
- • Lead the team through major speaking engagements and media appearances
- • Design narrative frameworks that position executives as industry visionaries
- • Mentor executive writers on strategic messaging and audience adaptation
- • Define quality standards for all executive-facing communications
- • Architect the annual executive visibility calendar and thought leadership roadmap
Executive Communications at L4 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Analyzing executive visibility metrics and competitive positioning
- • Building thought leadership program strategies and content calendars
- • Creating speaking engagement evaluation frameworks
L5 — Senior Manager, Executive Communications Transformational Full detail →
Mission
Own C-suite communications strategy and thought leadership program
This tour of duty
Run a C-suite thought leadership program that drives measurable visibility
Own the outcomes
- • Drive executive communications across the entire C-suite
- • Lead cross-functional initiatives to align executive narrative with corporate strategy
- • Establish executive communications policies that scale across leaders
- • Own relationships with executive principals for strategic narrative alignment
- • Define career development paths for executive communications professionals
- • Architect measurement frameworks for executive visibility and influence impact
Executive Communications at L5 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Designing executive influence measurement dashboards
- • Modeling narrative positioning scenarios for corporate announcements
- • Generating governance and brand standards documentation
L6 — Director, Executive Communications Transformational Full detail →
Mission
Define executive communications standards as enterprise authority
This tour of duty
Define the executive messaging architecture for a leadership transition or IPO
Own the outcomes
- • Define executive communications standards and policies enterprise-wide
- • Design governance frameworks for C-suite messaging consistency
- • Provide strategic counsel on high-stakes executive messaging and positioning
- • Influence executive communications practices through industry thought leadership
- • Establish executive brand standards through expert guidance
- • Codify best practices and mentor senior executive communications professionals
Executive Communications at L6 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Analyzing executive communications patterns at enterprise scale
- • Building standards documentation and voice guides
- • Creating board-level communications effectiveness reports
L7 — Senior Director, Executive Communications Transformational Full detail →
Mission
Shape executive thought leadership excellence through strategic expertise
This tour of duty
Build the executive communications function that supports global leadership presence
Own the outcomes
- • Serve as the foremost executive communications authority for the enterprise
- • Shape the vision for world-class executive thought leadership
- • Architect operating models for global executive communications functions
- • Advise the CEO on personal brand and narrative implications of decisions
- • Define the strategic roadmap for executive platform and content investments
- • Develop executive communications leaders through mentorship and knowledge transfer
Executive Communications at L7 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Designing executive communications team capabilities and org structures
- • Building executive content analytics and measurement systems
- • Creating hiring frameworks for senior executive writers
L8 — VP, Executive Communications Foundational Full detail →
Mission
Own executive narrative strategy and leadership brand
This tour of duty
Navigate executive communications through a crisis that preserves leadership credibility
Own the outcomes
- • Build organization-wide executive communications governance
- • Define executive narrative strategy aligned with corporate reputation objectives
- • Shape the culture of executive authenticity and thought leadership
- • Establish operating frameworks for multi-executive communications programs
- • Build strategic relationships with board members on communications
- • Define the multi-year roadmap for executive visibility transformation
Executive Communications at L8 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Modeling executive narrative impact on corporate reputation
- • Analyzing executive visibility across global platforms
- • Generating operating models for global executive communications
L9 — SVP, Executive Communications Foundational Full detail →
Mission
Define executive communications vision enterprise-wide
This tour of duty
Transform executive communications into a strategic driver of corporate reputation
Own the outcomes
- • Define the executive communications vision for enterprise-wide leadership narrative
- • Shape industry standards for executive thought leadership and positioning
- • Establish executive communications as a strategic driver of corporate reputation
- • Build the next generation of executive communications leadership
- • Define innovation agenda for executive content and digital presence platforms
- • Shape board-level executive positioning and succession narrative
Executive Communications at L9 — the competency bar
AI in this role
- • Building strategic planning systems for executive narrative strategy
- • Analyzing industry executive thought leadership trends
- • Creating executive communications architectures
What Hiring Managers Look For
L1-L3: Demonstrates ability to translate complex business strategies into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with both internal teams and external stakeholders.
L4-L6: Shows measurable impact on corporate reputation during crisis situations and proven ability to build media relationships that generate consistent positive coverage.
L7+: Brings portfolio of high-stakes communications wins that directly influenced market perception, investor confidence, or regulatory outcomes during pivotal company moments.
Common Career Transitions
Executive Communications → Chief of Staff at L5-L6 for broader strategic influence across all business functions
Executive Communications → Head of Investor Relations at L6-L7 leveraging stakeholder management and financial storytelling skills
Official Classifications
| System | Code | Official Title |
|---|---|---|
| O*NET-SOC (US) | 27-3031.00 | Public Relations Specialists |
| ISCO-08 (UN/ILO) | 2432 | Public relations professionals |
| ESCO (EU) | — | public relations officer |
| SSOC 2024 (Singapore) | 24320 | Public Relations Professionals |
| NCO-2015 (India) | 2432.0100 | Public Relations Professionals |
At L6 and above, the manager classification 1222 — Advertising and public relations managers applies IN ADDITION to the professional code — a manager is a superset of the individual contributor, never a replacement.
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