What does a director of corporate communications do?
According to the Public Relations Society of America website:
Communications directors are ultimately responsible for managing all internal and external messaging throughout organizations. Typically a communications director manages all communications staff, including public relations, media relations and community relations team members to ensure adequate and appropriate messaging. Communications directors work closely with top executives to ensure messaging is projected to organizational standards, throughout all possible resources.
With the Rays, "Amador will work to increase the visibility of the organization's business and community efforts through effective and strategic communication. She will work across departments to ensure consistency and quality throughout the organization's communications efforts."
Amador has years of experience working with the Tampa area, having been with Public Relations/Public Affairs firm Tucker Hall and vice president of public affairs and communications at the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.
Public Relations news website O'Dwyers linked the Amador hiring to a possible move to Tampa. The site also states Rick Vaughn will remain VP of communications "on the baseball side".
Of course, the stadium issue is the stadium issue, and that's not changing any time soon. But I'm not sure what "on the baseball side" means in this case. On the Rays front office web site, Vaughn is listed under "Officers", while Amador is listed down in the Communication division.
(Disclaimer: I was a section co-chair with Emerge Tampa, a Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce young professional group, while Amador worked for the Chamber. I met her a few times in passing.)