Media Relations-Senior Specialist

New York, NY

Summary

A premier, global law firm seeks a Media Relations Senior Specialist to join its global Communications team, which strives to generate visibility for and maintain the industry-leading standing of the firm and its lawyers. The Media Relations Senior Specialist will be responsible for helping to raise the firm’s profile utilizing all media and message channels. This strategic position reports to the Media Relations Manager and works closely with members of the Communications and Business Development teams, as well as lawyers worldwide.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with the in-house PR team to drive media strategy and high-impact PR programs that strengthen the visibility and reputation of the firm, its practices and lawyers and support broader business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted media adviser to partners and senior leaders, providing strategic counsel on media opportunities, messaging and positioning.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key business, legal and trade media, proactively identifying opportunities and managing and vetting incoming inquiries.
• Develop compelling external communications, including press releases, media pitches, deal and matter announcements, website content, statements and other materials.
• Prepare lawyers for media engagements, researching and synthesizing complex topics, developing talking points and briefing materials, and providing interview coaching.
• Turn the firm’s thought leadership into media opportunities, repurposing client memos, articles, presentations and other content for pitches, commentary, social media and external publication.
• Assist with byline placement and tracking.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to showcase lawyers as leading voices in their fields, including media commentary, bylined articles and timely responses to breaking news.
• Support issues and crisis communications, monitoring the news environment for emerging opportunities and reputational risks and helping coordinate timely responses.
• Partner across Communications, Business Development and law firm practice areas to develop creative, integrated campaigns that advance practice and firm priorities.
• Measure and strengthen the impact of media programs, using media monitoring, CRM data and reporting metrics, while overseeing coordinators and outside writers as appropriate.
• Adhere to responsibilities related to maintaining firm and client information, including complying with the firm’s information security policies, protecting firm assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference, and reporting security events or potential risks to management.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in delivering proactive, high-level, results-oriented public relations programs.
• An interest in and understanding of the legal industry is preferred.
• Client service oriented; able to build productive working relationships with colleagues.
• Ability to work with and influence multiple constituencies and deal with changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work and collaborate as part of a global team is essential.
• Excellent written communication skills; able to convey complex concepts in simple terms.
• Confident, credible and persuasive; able to act as an adviser to senior leadership.
• Excellent organizational skills, with a very high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to problem-solve, handle multiple priorities simultaneously, communicate matters of concern effectively and meet deadlines consistently.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a demanding professional environment, demonstrate good judgment, handle time-sensitive requests from multiple lawyers across time zones, and generate quality work product.
• A commitment to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism.
• Three to five years of experience in a media relations, marketing or PR capacity in a law firm, financial institution, or other professional services firm, or with a PR agency specializing in professional services clients.
• Established relationships with business, legal and trade media.
• Experience working with senior executives/partners.
• Bachelor’s degree required; JD, MBA or other applicable graduate degree is a plus.

Compensation: $105,000.00-$135,000.00, plus bonus