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 prioritize warmth, authenticity, and inclusivity, ensuring everyone belongs and has a voice. Our benefits program supports physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance. We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.

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 and lead topic generation efforts 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 report data to stakeholders to 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 via 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.

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.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Benefits

• Outstanding career opportunities.
• Competitive total rewards package with performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits package supporting physical, emotional, mental, and financial health.
• Emphasis on work-life balance.

Pay

Target hiring range: $138,000 - $194,000. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Full-time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Primarily sedentary role requiring sitting, use of hands, reaching, stooping, talking, and hearing.
• Occasional lifting of up to twenty (20) pounds.
• Typical indoor office environment.