Associate Director, Digital Strategy & Experience - New York

About the role

The Associate Director, Digital Strategy and Experience is responsible for leading the development, execution and optimization of the firm's digital presence across all channels. The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on delivery, ensuring the firm's digital communications reflect the firm's brand positioning, support business development objectives and drive meaningful engagement with clients, prospects and colleagues. The Associate Director oversees digital channels including website, social media, videos, podcasts, ads and other digital mediums and serves as a steward of the firm's visual brand with responsibility for the design function across all channels. This colleague will drive continuous improvement by measuring the effectiveness and impact of the firm's programs to enhance the Dechert brand. This key role within the firm's Marketing Department will manage a team of individuals aligned with each digital channel and will collaborate closely with colleagues across the department as well as with the firm's partners, and colleagues in Talent, Diversity and Inclusion, Pro Bono and other functions. This is a hands-on leadership role for a commercially minded digital marketer who can translate strategic priorities into effective digital execution, optimize performance over time and bring best-practice thinking to the firm's digital channels and visual brand.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Innovation

• Lead the firm's multi-year digital marketing strategy ensuring alignment with firm priorities, brand guidelines, growth objectives and client experience expectations.
• Serve as the firm's senior advisor on digital marketing trends, audience behavior, AI-enabled marketing and emerging technologies, identifying opportunities that enhance client experience, brand visibility, business development outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Establish governance, measurement and operational standards across all digital channels.
• Lead cross-functional digital initiatives involving Communications, Business Development, Recruiting, Alumni Relations, Diversity and Inclusion, Pro Bono and other firm stakeholders.
• Partner across the Marketing team to improve the discoverability and performance of thought leadership, practices and lawyers' content across all client-facing digital touchpoints, with clear KPIs and measurable outcomes across target audiences.
• Ensure a consistent brand voice and visual identity across all digital touchpoints.

Website Strategy

• Serve as steward of the firm's public website and related digital properties, establishing governance standards and ensuring alignment with firm priorities, brand guidelines and digital best practices.
• Provide strategic leadership for the firm's website and digital experience roadmap, establishing priorities, aligning stakeholders and overseeing the delivery of enhancements that advance user experience, engagement, accessibility and conversion outcomes.
• Oversee strategy for search visibility across traditional search engines and emerging AI-powered platforms, including SEO, AEO and GEO.

Social Media

• Oversee the firm's social media strategies, both organic and paid, to increase the firm's online presence and engagement with target audiences, including LinkedIn, YouTube, Vimeo as well as pursuing additional social networks as appropriate.
• Provide strategic oversight for expanding the reach and amplification of firm content across social channels, including partner and employee engagement with firm content.
• Provide input into the firm's social media policy alongside firm counsel and proactively seek updates as technology and market requirements evolve.

Design

• Oversee the design team in the development and execution of all graphic design projects for the firm, including but not limited to client-facing communications (both digital and print), recruiting collateral, web and intranet graphics, mobile apps, venue branding for external and internal events and firm advertisements.
• Collaborate with team members and other key stakeholders to develop creative concepts and design solutions that advance or enhance the firm's visual brand and messaging.
• Alongside the Senior Manager of Graphical Communications, manage the firm's visual brand and ensure that all design work adheres to established brand guidelines and graphic design best practices.

Podcasts, Video and Production Strategy

• Develop and oversee the firm's multimedia strategy, including podcasts and video content, ensuring alignment with the firm's brand, thought leadership priorities, client engagement goals and business development objectives.
• Partner with stakeholders across the firm to identify and execute strategic multimedia opportunities that showcase lawyer expertise, client-focused insights, firm culture and key initiatives.
• Establish KPIs to measure performance and develop best practices for distribution and promotion.
• Lead the planning, production, distribution and ongoing optimization of multimedia content, establishing quality and brand standards, performance metrics and best practices while overseeing budgets, vendors and other resources.

General Management

• Mentor team members, providing guidance and support as needed to ensure high-quality work and professional development.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and agencies to ensure that all design and multimedia projects meet the firm's quality standards and are completed within budget.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the firm, including firm leadership and senior marketing team members, to ensure that all design and multimedia projects meet expectations.
• Establish KPIs to monitor and report on the effectiveness of design and multimedia projects, using data and analytics to make recommendations for future improvements.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of the purpose, strategy and relevant metrics for digital channels.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to deal with complex subject matter – preferably legal or financial.
• Demonstrated experience leading high-performing teams, effectively delegating work, developing talent and fostering a collaborative, results-oriented culture.
• Creative and innovative thinker with ability to create attention-grabbing, impactful content.
• Detail-oriented and organized.
• Strong interpersonal skills, positive, and collaborative.
• Strong grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to learn new skills as they become necessary.

Education and Experience

• College degree with an emphasis on communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or English.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing and developing multi-channel marketing campaigns and digital assets, preferably with a professional services firm.
• Experience in law, professional services, financial services or asset management preferred.
• Understanding of legal industry is a plus.

Pay

At the time of this posting, the salary range for this position in New York is $215,000 to $275,000 annually. Actual compensation is commensurate with job related knowledge, skills, experience and location of the position.