Communications Manager

Position Overview:

This position will work with the Chief Communications Officer and Director of Communications to provide strategic leadership and guidance in developing a consistent communications and public relations message and to generate positive press coverage for the firm and its practices.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Helps craft and execute a national communications and public relations strategy, seeking high-level placements in a variety of business and trade media outlets that help protect, build and enhance the firm's reputation and brand. The successful candidate will develop a thorough understanding of the firm's practice areas, clients and communications needs and will build close connections with the firm's partners.
• Manages and develops media relationships, maintains media contact lists, including editors and reporters.
• Proactively researches and identifies news trends and topics that are relevant to the firm's core practices, crafts media pitches that build on identified trends, and secures media opportunities.
• Proactively researches and drafts attorney talking points for media interviews and participates in attorney media training as needed.
• Fields inquiries from outside media and coordinates with firm attorneys on responses and interviews.
• Increases thought leadership capabilities and presence in the media by partnering with attorneys to pitch and prepare new and thought-provoking articles relevant to the firm's practices and clients.
• Writes, prepares, and places firm announcements, press releases, and other external marketing and advertising copy, as needed.
• Prepares, drafts, edits and otherwise participates in awards submissions for the firm, practices, and attorneys, as needed.
• Assists with internal communications.
• Serves as a liaison and provides oversight to firm's outside public relations agency.

Secondary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• Job is performed in a typical office environment, but is subject to time pressures and constraints, and is often dependent on input from others.
• Long hours are required periodically.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts or Science in public relations/communications, journalism, liberal arts or business. An advanced degree is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of broad-based public relations and communications experience, preferably with an energy firm, public relations agency, law firm or other global professional services firm.

Technical Skills:

• Proficient use of PC and knowledge of MS Office.

Attributes:

• Superior written and verbal communication skills, a strong image and a boardroom presence that engenders confidence from management, partners and business professionals of the firm. Proven track record in developing relationships with global business and legal/energy trade media. Proven management skills