External Communications Manager
About the Firm
McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm with over 1,700 lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community, and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault, and others. We are Great Place to Work certified and invest in accelerating your career both in and outside the office.
Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity, encouraging you to be yourself. We value diverse perspectives and provide opportunities for your career to thrive. Wellness is integral to our benefits program, supporting your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health with an emphasis on work-life balance. We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.
About the Role
The External Communications Manager supports the firm’s proactive and reactive public relations strategy by identifying, pitching, and placing opportunities that align with firm, practice, industry, and individual profile-raising priorities. This role is embedded in an integrated, global marketing, communications, and business development team and partners with firm stakeholders to implement strategic communication programs.
Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with priority media outlets and key industry influencers.
- Develop strong relationships with firm stakeholders, including leadership, lawyers, and lateral hires; collaborate with brand and communications teams, business development, events, and practice/industry marketing teams to implement strategic communication programs aligned with business objectives.
- Monitor industry trends, editorial calendars, and competitor activity; provide trend analysis.
- Identify media opportunities; lead topic generation efforts and collaborate across practices and markets.
- Pitch and place profile-raising coverage.
- Craft media messages, including press releases, deal announcements, client-related communications, and website copy.
- Serve as a firm contact for media requests; coordinate information and interview preparation.
- Collaborate with external agencies as directed by communications leaders.
- Use Salesforce to track PR activity and leverage data to report to stakeholders and inform public relations plans.
- Leverage the firm’s news distribution and media monitoring tools.
- Track and report on KPIs and media metrics; maintain working knowledge of firm technologies and resources.
- Report coverage using internal announcements, newsletters, and the firm’s website.
- Align and help implement firmwide processes related to media relations.
- Provide back-up support to the global communications team.
- Travel as needed.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree.
- At least five (5) years of related work experience.
- Ability to build strong media relationships within key sectors.
- Knowledge of news distribution, media monitoring, and tracking software.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to work under tight deadlines.
- Ability to prioritize responsibilities and handle confidential information.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, independently, and under own direction.
Pay
Target hiring range: $138,000 - $194,000. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Full-time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk, and hear.
- Occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds.
- Typical indoor office environment.