What should my job title be for this communications work I do?

July 21, 2015 11:50 PM

I need help coming up with a job title that is related to communications and writing. Would folks in the field take a look at what I do and offer some ideas? The goal is to get a job title that reflects what I do, but also positions me well for when my career progresses beyond my current role.

My main job that I was hired to do is doing policy-related research and political research. Think campaign-style opposition research, plus research into issues my organization cares about, which includes the legislative process. (Please note, I do not do policy analysis or legislative analysis or statistics or anything like that. It's a lot of public records, news database, internet, etc. research -- finding information, figuring out what is useful for our communications agenda and helping use information to develop narratives.) I would provide this research to communications teams in the field who would use it to create content, determine communications strategy, or for other things. The research was my primary focus when I was brought on board -- I directly manage a staff of research assistants and my title is Director of Research.

Now my role has been shifted because my organization has restructured -- we have a new strategy and we've scaled back staff. I still do research, but now I mostly focus on creating a lot of content because few other people are capable of doing it. I often ghost-write op-eds to be authored by our leadership, review emails to our membership, write/edit press releases, and review or edit posts for our website's blog. I also help teams in the field develop and execute communications strategy -- what content should be created, how we should get earned media, how we should capitalize on something that has happened, drafting answers for media interviews, etc. But I do not speak to reporters, I do not do any sort of pitching myself, and I don't engage directly with the media in any fashion.

So I wanted my title to be Director of Communications since we don't actually have one anymore and we won't be getting one, and I am probably the highest-ranking communications person now, other than my boss, the division VP who oversees a range of departments. But that was rejected because my boss felt that is a title for someone who speaks to reporters and acts like a spokesman, which I am not. I don't see myself ever moving into the spokesman role and I don't particularly want to either -- I prefer behind-the-scenes communications work. My boss suggested something more along the lines of Director of Content or something, but I don't like that. It seems...vague. I want something to reflect that I am very involved in communications since that's where I see my career path going. At least, on the behind-the-scenes side. I want to pitch "Director of Communications Strategy" but I have a feeling that will be rejected as well because a VP has both those words in his title and I'm sure it'll be deemed confusing. Any other good ideas?

Thank you! And sorry for all the explaining.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (12 answers total)

I think this is one of those situations where you should use communication rather than communications
posted by mpark at 1:25 AM on July 22, 2015

I think that Director of Communications would be the most appropriate, due to the fact that you are doing the strategy/etc. You could always hire a media relations person from that capacity -- you do not need to be personally conducting media relations.

If that's off the table, maybe:

Director of Political Communication and Content

Director of Strategic Engagement

Director of Strategic Content

Maybe two titles: Director of Content + Communications Strategist
posted by aaanastasia at 1:42 AM on July 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

I think this is one of those situations where you should use communication rather than communications

FWIW, I work in a field that seems closely related to OP's. Lots of policy research, though heavier on the "policy analysis [and] legislative analysis [and] statistics" work than OP is. Communications is appropriate, communication is really not.

I would think about fighting for Director of Communications. You might give examples of people in your field who have that title and do work that is similar to yours. But if that doesn't work, or if you don't think that pushing for it would be wise, then I would go with Director of Strategic Engagement or Director of Strategic Content. Since your boss already suggested Director of Content, perhaps you can say that you'd like to add "Strategic" to show your involvement in your organization's big picture goals.

Good luck!
posted by schroedingersgirl at 5:36 AM on July 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

I vote for Director of Communications. For what it's worth, as a journalist, I never want to talk to a communications director as a source (I want EDs and CEOs for interviews, not "spokespeople," though I realize that sometimes when people insist on email interviews they're not the ones drafting answers). Anyway, you could either suggest that you only coordinate interviews/pitch stories, or, if you don't want to do that, hire a PR firm.
posted by three_red_balloons at 6:45 AM on July 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

I've worked in PR and communications. What you're doing is communications. Actually engaging with the media would be public relations or media relations. You could always go with something like, Director of Editorial Services, though.
posted by dortmunder at 6:48 AM on July 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

But that was rejected because my boss felt that is a title for someone who speaks to reporters and acts like a spokesman, which I am not

Nthing that your boss is incorrect. Certainly PR and Communications are often combined in one department, but not always, and they do have separate meanings. That "spokesperson" role is firmly on the PR side.

I agree that "Director of Communications" would be the most accurate title. "Strategic Communications" is also a term that is used.

Maybe as a nod to your shifting role, you could suggest "Director of Research and Communications."
posted by desuetude at 7:04 AM on July 22, 2015

I used to have basically the exact job you are talking about and my title was "Director of Communications." I co-ordinated with journalists and such, but it was always the CEO who did the actual quotable talking. I think that "Director of Communications" is the right title for you.

Losing the "Director" word, "Communications Officer" also works for this role.

If you still want to be a director and "Director of Communications" is completely off the table, how about "Director of Information" or "Director of Communications Research."
posted by 256 at 7:43 AM on July 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

Mod note: This is a followup from the asker.

I appreciate that everyone thinks I should be the Director of Communications, but I can't be Director of Communications. In addition to my boss thinking it doesn't match my role, however wrong he may be, I suspect he also thinks that title is too senior for me, given how weirdly my organization is structured. I am really asking for different potential job titles.

posted by cortex (staff) at 9:32 AM on July 22, 2015

Communications Strategist
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:06 AM on July 22, 2015

Director of Strategic Communications? Senior Communications Officer? Strategic Communications Officer? Senior Communications Strategist? Strategic Communications Manager?
posted by kat518 at 11:30 AM on July 22, 2015

> In addition to my boss thinking it doesn't match my role, however wrong he may be, I suspect he also thinks that title is too senior for me, given how weirdly my organization is structured. I suspect he also thinks that title is too senior for me, given how weirdly my organization is structured.

I'd advise prioritizing keeping "Director" in your title, then, no matter what you need to be the director of, and compromise on the "Communications" bit. It's unreasonable and professionally inadvisable for you to accept a lower title -- and "Officer" is most definitely going to be assumed to be a step down unless it's preceded by the word "Chief." I wouldn't use "Strategist" either (no offense, cotton dress sock) because this is sometimes used a bit paradoxically for quite junior positions.

Director of Content is potentially a little 'off' because it's often used in media companies where the content is the product, but it does kind of work for the way it's used in Marketing context. So that might really be the best compromise.

Bonus: you get to agree with the boss.

It's smart of you to think about this in terms of what you want to communicate to your next potential employer, but remember that you can clarify your role on your resume using whatever words you want, i.e. "As Director of Content, I was responsible for directing communications strategy."
posted by desuetude at 11:35 AM on July 22, 2015

To piggyback on Desuetude — Chief Communications Officer would be fine. You really are doing a Director of Communications job, but I understand from fucked up organizational structure. (Your question is so close to one I asked that I had to double check to make sure you weren't working at my old org. ;) )
posted by klangklangston at 11:46 AM on July 22, 2015