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About the role
Strategic Steering of Public and Corporate Relations
An interim Head of Communications steps in to define and execute cohesive messaging that aligns with your corporate strategy. Operating at the intersection of public relations, corporate affairs, and internal dialogue, these professionals protect brand reputation while steering public perception. In the German market, they navigate a complex landscape of traditional media houses, digital platforms, and highly sensitive internal stakeholders.
Core Competencies and Strategic Deliverables
Seasoned freelance communications experts deliver immediately actionable frameworks and sustainable corporate strategies. They coordinate with executive boards, manage external agency partners, and establish structured processes for continuous brand visibility.
- Development of comprehensive crisis communication protocols and corporate messaging guides
- Orchestration of media relations targeting key German business publications and trade outlets
- Design of internal communication strategies to support organizational restructuring and change management
- Execution of stakeholder engagement programs during mergers, acquisitions, or market entries
- Media training and message alignment for executive leadership and corporate spokespeople
When to Hire an Interim Communications Leader
Companies bring in freelance communications directors during critical transition phases where permanent hiring would take too long. This includes sudden executive vacancies, high-stakes corporate restructurings, brand turnarounds, or preparation for an IPO. An external expert brings an unbiased, objective view to your media strategy, allowing them to handle delicate reputation issues with neutrality and precision.
Navigating German Corporate and Media Dynamics
Managing communications in Germany requires deep knowledge of localized media structures, regional press networks, and strict data privacy regulations under GDPR. Additionally, internal communications often demand coordination with co-determination bodies such as works councils. A freelance leader working in Germany must command both professional German and business English to navigate these regional corporate governance structures while maintaining a global brand voice.
Meet FRATCH Heads of Communications
Kerstin Dinauer
Corporate Communications Manager
Last position:
Corporate Communications Manager at Freelancer
- Site communications for the company's largest production site
- Internal and external communications
- Advisory support for management
Chrissy Trampedach
Senior Director, Communications & Social Impact; Executive Communications Director, Communications; Internal/Employee
Last position:
Senior Director, Communications & Social Impact; Executive Communications Director, Communications; Internal/Employee at Instacart
- Third communications team hire; built and led Instacart’s first Brand Communications and Social Impact functions.
- Tapped to additionally lead Brand/Consumer Communications and Product/Technology Communications.
- Directed the launch of Instacart Health, resulting in more than 100 pieces of media owned content coverage across business, technology, health, policy, consumer and grocery industry media, making the launch Instacart’s #1 proactive media cycle of 2022.
- Led the launches of Instacart’s first integrated brand campaigns, including “The World is Your Cart” featuring Grammy Award–winning artist Lizzo, resulting in top-tier national coverage across mainstream consumer, business, ad/marketing trades and tech outlets.
- Oversaw the successful launch of Instacart’s first Developer Platform, which included top-tier partners including The New York Times and WeightWatchers.
- Built Instacart’s first data storytelling program, including hiring a data analyst and developing an internal Trends Expert spokesperson, resulting in an always-on storytelling machine that drives thousands of pieces of coverage and established Instacart as a top source of grocery insights (e.g., led an opportunistic news cycle on “egg-flation” using Instacart data insights, resulting in hundreds of pieces of coverage).
- Established Instacart’s first celebrity partnerships, resulting in branded social media posts and Instacart endorsements in top consumer and lifestyle outlets.
- Led the development of Instacart’s first social impact strategy in service of the company’s policy objectives, including a three-year, multi-million-dollar partnership with Partnership for a Healthier America, a disaster relief program with Feeding America, and an employee volunteering and donation matching program.
- Created and led “Get Vaxxed for Snacks,” a pandemic-era vaccination campaign that resulted in 100+ pieces of media coverage and bolstered the company’s policy relationships.
- Conceived and directed Instacart’s first Giving Tuesday holiday giving campaign, leading to strong press coverage and an annual strategy that grew to include brand advertising partners.
André Hoffmann
Interim MarComms Director Germany
Last position:
Interim MarComms Director Germany at SailGP
- Led PR and marketing strategy for the German market, including press relations, influencer campaigns, media strategy, and event activation for a global sports property.
- Responsible for all marketing, PR, and media activities in Germany including media planning and budget allocation across print, OOH, and digital channels.
- Supported multi-market teams in adapting global campaigns to local requirements and reporting performance metrics to senior stakeholders.
- Collaborated with agencies (e.g. Media Monks) and partners to align media strategy and creative execution, ensuring maximum reach and ROI.
- Secured media coverage in top national outlets (ZDF, FAZ, STERN, Süddeutsche), increasing brand visibility by 30%.
Sonja Schmid
Head of Communication ad Interim
Last position:
Head of Communication ad Interim at Onyx Power
- Conducted media training for international executives.
- Advised and supported management on communication strategies and initiatives.
- Served as a sparring partner for executives on internal and external communication matters.
Katja Lippert
Freelance
Last position:
Freelance at Mark Kommunikation
- Project-based support for the agency Mark Kommunikation in PR for Global Connect Germany, Brandmonks, Green Petfood, Hafervoll, MyHeritage
Susanne Bachmann
Project Lead Change Communication
Last position:
Project Lead Change Communication at SAP AG
Developed a strategic communications concept to support "FlexWork" at the Germany site
Advised the client on change aspects of the project
Lars Stühlen
Lecturer in Integrated Communication and Sustainability
Last position:
Lecturer in Integrated Communication and Sustainability at International School of Management
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Heads of Communications statistics
Typical experience
26 years
Average project duration
4.1 years
Certifications per freelancer
0
Top business areas
Marketing, Human Resources, Project Management
Top industries
Professional Services, Advertising, Media and Entertainment
Most common languages
German, English, French
Bachelor's degree or higher
71%
Master's degree or higher
29%
Salary / Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for Heads of Communications & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions? Here you can find further information about FRATCH
A freelance Head of Communications designs and executes your entire public relations, media, and internal messaging strategy. They manage press relations, align stakeholder communication, handle crisis situations, and coordinate external PR agencies to ensure a consistent corporate voice.
While an agency focuses on executing specific outreach campaigns, an interim communications lead operates embedded within your leadership team. They steer the overall strategy, manage internal stakeholders, and directly supervise external agencies, ensuring all efforts serve the core business goals.
Hiring a freelance Communications Director is ideal during periods of rapid change, such as mergers and acquisitions, leadership transitions, major product launches, or unexpected corporate crises. They provide immediate, high-level expertise without the long ramp-up time or commitment of a permanent executive search.
A qualified interim communications manager understands that German restructurings require close alignment with works councils and compliance with local labor dynamics. They draft empathetic, transparent messages that address employee concerns while maintaining corporate stability and regulatory compliance.
Yes, experienced crisis communications specialists are specifically trained to manage sudden reputational threats. They establish immediate press protocols, draft responsive statements, set up monitoring systems, and advise the executive board on minimizing brand damage.
For roles based in Germany, a successful corporate communications lead must typically be fluent in both German and English. They need German to build trust with local journalists, regional authorities, and works councils, while English is essential for coordinating with international stakeholders.
The quality of a seasoned public relations director is best evaluated by their past track record in handling complex press situations, managing high-stakes media crises, and leading diverse communication teams. Look for strong relationships with key journalists and a portfolio of successfully executed corporate narratives.
Most freelance communications experts in Germany operate in a hybrid model. Strategy development, media monitoring, and agency management can easily be handled remotely, while critical press events, crisis response management, and key executive meetings often benefit from on-site leadership.
Request a Free Demo
Get in touch with the FRATCH team and we will get back to you within 4 hours.
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We always have the time for a call or email!
Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
