Director, Strategic Communications

London, England, United Kingdom

12/28/2024

Schillings

Schillings handles high stakes situations for our international clientele; high profile and successful people, companies and other organisations across the world. The high stakes situations they face affect their reputations, their privacy and their security, both digital and physical. That is why we apply a particular focus to protecting these three assets. The high stakes situations present both threats that need to be mitigated, and opportunities to be taken.

We believe everyone has a right to fair treatment of their reputation, to a reasonable expectation of privacy and to feel safe.

Uniquely, Schillings combines five capabilities under one roof to handle these high stakes situations: intelligence, law, communications, security and diplomacy. Our experts contribute to this multidisciplinary mix.

We have the largest team of specialist lawyers in the world, an expanding Intelligence & Investigations team, a growing Critical Risks unit, an evolving Digital Resilience practice, and a new communications agency – Schillings Communications – that will grow significantly in the next three years.

Schillings is a collaborative, fun and welcoming place to work, with a positive culture, strong values and a developed service ethic. We require commitment, diligence, agility and professionalism, and in return provide competitive packages and incredibly stimulating and interesting work. We are committed to sharing learning and creating development opportunities so you can progress your career with us. Our people's career trajectory and longevity at Schillings is a good example of this: a third of our people have been at the business for over five years. Join us and become part of our story.

Schillings Communications

Schillings Communications, founded by Schillings, Victoria O'Byrne and George Pascoe-Watson, makes the group the first of its kind in the market offering clients a multi-disciplinary model of legal, intelligence, investigations, digital, security, strategy, and communications all under one roof.

Our objective is to support clients with complex challenges and opportunities and to bring together mixed specialists to solve those problems as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Schillings Communications provides senior counsel during high-stakes situations, rather than steady-state PR. You will work alongside our legal, intelligence, investigations, and security practices to offer clients world-class counsel.

Job Title: Director, Strategic Communications

Reporting to: Partners

Job Purpose: Schillings are looking for an experienced Director to join our Strategic Communications business, adding breadth and depth to our multidisciplinary skillset. Under the guidance of the Partners leading the practice you will collaboratively work with other experts in the organisation to create and tactically deliver strategic communications for our clients. The Director will proactively devise and execute strategies to protect our clients' values, brand and professional reputation and enable clients to deliver their objectives.

The Schillings Communications business, established in 2023, is on a trajectory from start up to critical mass and you will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the practice from day one. You will have the opportunity to use your skills in a uniquely collaborative environment providing solutions to complex client needs.

Role Accountabilities:

• To act as expert in your field of specialism in dealing with complex problems brought to the firm by its clients, supervising the work of more junior staff to provide a successful outcome.
• Responsible for all aspects of client management, anticipating clients' needs and providing advice while ensuring the highest standard of client care and communication.
• As a member of the firm's 'expert' team, responsible for developing the skills and experience of other fee-earners, sharing knowledge and best practice to the benefit of the firm, its clients and employees.
• Supports partners in developing the business and operations.
• Completes all mandatory training and understands the firm's responsibilities in the area of effective risk management.
• Matter (client work) management: Adheres to firm guidelines to successfully run matters. Excellent people manger, time manager and project manager who is strongly task focused and delegates effectively.
• Looks and acts as an ambassador for the firm and its values, keeping up to date with and involved in the firm's activities.
  
  

Technical:

• Thinks through concepts, analyses risk, and problem solves at speed.
• Develops creative solutions to client issues.
• Understands all the skillsets available at Schillings – Advisory (legal), Critical Risk, Intelligence & Investigations and Cyber Security - and how these can be utilised to best solve clients' problems.
• Works to continually develop knowledge and skills and maintains CPD requirements, as appropriate.
  
  

Commercial:

• Commercially minded with a sensible approach to risk management, proactive in avoiding and addresses potential issues as appropriate.
• Commercially aware of clients' business interests.
• Active in managing files, taking responsibility for projects, billing, account management and time management processes.
  
  

Client Care:

• Looks to develop relationships with clients and is comfortable and personable interacting with clients.
• Actively participates in marketing events and client seminars.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required:

• Ideally a blend of consultancy and non-consultancy experience; working agency side, or alternatively in a high profile/dynamic business or public sector organisation.
• Experience of strategic communications and high-profile crisis work for demanding and exacting clients or stakeholders.
• Confident in examining and reviewing client situations to offer a strategic and tactical response.
• Strong media relationships, and digital skills.
• Project management and engagement management skills required; including resource scheduling, project team management and billing.
• Entrepreneurial spirit; commercially minded and showing high degree of personal initiative and drive to grow the business and deliver for clients
• Driver of collaborative behaviour.
  
  

Please note, we are shortlisting and interviewing in January 2025.

Life at Schillings

Given our audacious (and successful) business strategy, it is not surprising that Schillings has a very strong culture. The atmosphere is highly collaborative and focused on excellence. We have worked hard over the years to develop a coaching culture and are remarkably non-hierarchical, especially given our roots as a law firm. Schillings has adopted a set of values to put at the heart of this change and they reflect the intention and tenor of our ambitious plans. They are: 'Innovative; Bold; United; and Excellent'. Our client list speaks for the outstanding results that have been delivered over many years and the task now is to grow without losing any of the commitment to delivering for clients or the service ethos. Finding people who share our values and can thrive in this environment is key to our success.

It takes a unique mix of people to create something truly great. We appreciate that diversity of thought, background and culture creates the best environment to truly innovate, solve problems and achieve our goals. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds – if you are driven and want to achieve your best then we will give you the platform and support to succeed.

Please let us know if there are any extenuating circumstances we should consider, or any adjustments we may need to make to our selection process, when making your application

Find our candidate privacy notice here, Candidate Privacy Notice (schillingspartners.com)