Director of Public Relations at Mayer Brown in Chicago, IL

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are achievement, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Marketing and Business Development Benefits department in Chicago as our Director of Public Relations.

In conjunction with Senior Leadership, develops and manages all external public relations communications and related materials to raise the Firm’s profile and enhance its reputation, including Firm, office, practice area, client team, industry group and individual lawyer media relations efforts.

Responsibilities

• Acts as senior media relations strategist and Public Relations (PR) executive

• Advises Firm leadership on ongoing communication opportunities and strategy

• Acts as Firm’s primary “crisis communications” executive, in coordination with the Global Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer and Firm leadership

• Ensures that the Firm’s core values are incorporated as appropriate into Firm communications

• Recommends strategic approach and plans and manages the execution of external media and public relations activities and lawyer achievements, Firm growth and performance, special events, breaking news, crisis communications and community relations

• Drafts certain awards submissions and manages overall award submissions (FT Innovation, Law 360 Law Firm of Year, AmLaw Litigation Department of the Year, etc.)

• Tracks and reports to management on coverage by business, industry, and legal media of the Firm and its offices, practices and lawyers

• Coaches Firm/practice/office leadership and individual lawyers or teams in media relations and presentation skills

• Develops and maintains effective relationships with editors, publishers and reporters who cover the Firm, the legal profession or Firm clients’ business sectors

• Coordinates PR/press strategy and communications globally and serves as Firm-wide PR director, managing and mentoring the Firm’s media/PR staff in the writing, design, and execution of the full range of the Firm’s PR activities, including: Press releases, Spotlights stories, leadership communications and media tracking and reporting

• In conjunction with the Director of Communications, manages the Firm’s internal communications functions (both collaborating with the Global Director of Business Development and Marketing and Firm leadership), ensuring that all significant Firm communications are effective, timely and consistent with Firm values and strategy

• Collaborates with other departmental directors on skills-building in the areas of writing, presentation skills, effective media relations technique, etc.

• Directs the operations and relationships of agencies/vendors retained to provide public or media relations support or training, writing or other editorial services

• Collaborates with lawyers, business-development specialists and others on the creation and placement of editorial content bylined by Firm lawyers

• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism or related field, required

• Advanced degree in a related area, preferred

• Juris Doctor degree, preferred

• Minimum of fifteen years of demonstrated success in a PR/media and/or communications-related field, preferably in the professional services arena (e.g., law, accounting, consulting) or in one or more positions of comparable seniority in the corporate, trade association, or agency sectors, required

• Prior experience working at a law firm, preferred

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, required

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors

• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm

• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities

• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative

• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects

• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion

• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills

• Manages processes for direct reports in regards to performance appraisals, annual compensation, goal setting and performance counselling

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience

• Operational budget analysis and recommendations

• Conducts analysis of staffing levels and participation in the recruitment process

• Able to determine and implement change processes to improve workflow efficiencies

• Process- and service-oriented with strong leadership and project management skills

• Able to set priorities and delegate in an efficient manner