Head of Brand & Communications

Career Guide

Leads brand strategy and corporate communications to shape reputation, drive awareness, and ensure consistent messaging across channels. Oversees PR, media relations, executive and internal communications, and brand governance while managing teams, agencies, budgets, and measurement of brand impact.

Browse All Roles

Key Responsibilities

Define brand strategy, positioning, and architecture
Lead corporate communications, media relations, and PR
Own executive and internal communications programs
Plan and oversee integrated campaigns across channels
Establish crisis communications plans and response protocols
Monitor brand health, sentiment, and share of voice
Manage agencies, vendors, and marketing/PR budgets
Ensure brand governance and messaging consistency

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Vice President of Communications

Vice President of Brand

Chief Communications Officer (CCO)

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Transition Opportunities

Public Affairs Director

Investor Relations Director

Product Marketing Director

Brand Strategy Consultant

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Crisis communication planning and live incident responseEnterprise-level brand strategy and architectureAdvanced media relations and spokesperson trainingBrand health measurement and analytics

Development SuggestionsComplete APR or AMA PCM prep; build a portfolio by leading a pro-bono crisis plan and brand refresh for a nonprofit, and instrument KPIs via GA4 and a brand tracking survey.

Market Intelligence Report

Head of Brand & Communications is part of the Communications category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$110,000–$140,000

Mid Level$150,000–$200,000

Senior Level$200,000–$280,000

Growth Trend

stable

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

AmazonPfizerJPMorgan Chase & Co.

Industry Sectors

TechnologyFinancial ServicesHealthcareConsumer Goods

Recommended Next Steps

Pursue APR (PRSA) or AMA PCM; add a GA4/brand measurement course to demonstrate analytics rigor.

Create a portfolio: messaging framework, crisis playbook, and a case study showing SOV/brand lift results from a campaign.

Join PRSA/AMA chapters, attend media panels, and conduct 5–10 informational interviews with CCO/CMO leaders.