PR & Communications Manager

The opportunity

We are looking for a PR & Communications Manager to join our team in London. You will help to guide the London Management Team on strategy for the UK business, whilst developing and strengthening relationships across the firm’s sector, practice and business services groups. We are looking for someone creative and determined, with the ability to flex to achieve results.

The firm

Bird & Bird opens up a world of possible for lawyers and professionals everywhere. Here you can advise major enterprises and high-growth businesses on matters that are often transformative in nature, and alongside people who are truly collegiate in the way they work with everyone at Bird & Bird. We are one international firm, where over 70% of our work involves teams from across our firm. And that is only going to increase. It is this common purpose and shared approach that makes for a more productive, and collaborative place to work.

The team

You’ll be joining our Marketing & Business Development (MBD) team who work in partnership with senior stakeholders across the firm to set the strategy and shape the tactics to build our firm's profile. We help to win new work and strengthen and deepen client relationships, using a data driven and sales focused approach. The team is mostly based in London and is made up of over 60+ specialists in marketing communications, business development and client service. As a central team we lead global activities while working closely with our network of MBD colleagues based across our international offices. Whether it's driving a new content strategy, pitching for cutting-edge work, building our brand, or contributing to the development of our client relationships, we're committed to strategically guiding the firm and are known for leading the way when it comes to new technology and solutions. Energetic, creative and global, we're looking for people who have a passion for MBD and are keen to take a fresh approach.

What you'll do

• Guide the Head of London, the London Management team and other stakeholders on PR strategy and internal communications planning for the firm’s London office, and lead the implementation of those plans
• Work closely with across the London office’s practice and sector groups to raise their profile including, for chosen individuals within each group, arranging media and communications training and implementing profile raising plans
• Develop creative profile-raising campaigns for the London office focused on recruitment and retention of talent or groups’ growth priorities
• Manage, explore and develop partnerships with external organisations that enhance the firm’s brand in London and provide business development opportunities
• Utilise video, social media and other digital-first communications channels to build internal and external awareness of the London office’s expertise and results
• Develop and further strengthen our good relationships with key trade, national and legal journalists, and proactively generate positive media coverage that supports the firm's key messages, with a particular focus on boosting the firm’s profile with blue chip clients and potential clients
• Provide high level advice and guidance on reputational risk and on crisis situations if and when they arise – including social media crisis management
• Drive internal engagement with key changes and developments in the London office through all internal communications channels

About you

Behavioural competencies

• A dynamic, creative, and determined individual who makes things happen
• Strong team player who can work well with others
• Professional in attitude and able to work under pressure
• Self-motivated with a high level of initiative and persistence
• Ability to work with nuance
• The drive to focus clearly on several different projects and ensure that all deadlines are met
• Ability to work at both a strategic level as well as get into the detail by ‘rolling up sleeves’ on operational matters
• Ability to stay calm under pressure
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to manage competing requests from many internal clients
• Experience of working across multiple internal groups and stakeholders, flexing styles where needed

Work based competencies

• Educated to degree level
• Experience within a similar marketing communications role ideally within a professional services environment
• An understanding of the legal environment and experience of dealing with the legal, trade and business press is desirable
• Experience in content marketing / campaigns
• A structured, process driven approach coupled with project management skills
• A strong and creative writer
• Ability to hone campaigns and identify and encapsulate themes
• Experience developing content for social media and digital communications channels

The main responsibilities of this role are outlined above; however, this description is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be required to undertake additional duties from time to time to ensure the smooth running of the department. The role may require some working outside our normal working hours of 9:30am- 5:30pm.