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Media Relations Manager - 6 month FTC

Employer
Allen & Overy LLP
Location
London (Central), London (Greater)
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
5 Jun 2023

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Vacancy Type
Marketing and Communications, Media relations, Public relations
Contract Type
Contract
Experience Level
Manager
Role Classification
Other Professional

Job Details

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Media Relations Manager (Litigation, Tax, Technology and Life Sciences) on a six month contract basis.

Department purpose

Our business development, marketing and communication teams contribute to the setting and achievement of the firm’s business objectives, which includes supporting our partners and associates in their pursuit of becoming our clients’ trusted advisers, building and maintaining long-lasting, deep institutional client relationships, winning new clients, increasing the visibility of the firm globally, and positioning the firm as the thought leader and most advanced law firm among the global elite law firms. The function works as one team across the globe with very close collaboration between the central teams and roles (such as this one) and professionals supporting offices, practice groups, sectors and clients.

Role purpose

We are looking for a Media Relations Manager to join the team on a six-month contract. They will work alongside a team of four other media relations professionals who are each responsible for various practice groups within the business.

The manager will have overall responsibility for the planning and execution of the media relations strategy for the global litigation and tax practices and the global technology and life sciences practices, and although based in London, will be a point of contact for our international colleagues who require comms advice and direction in relation to these practice and sector groups. The role also includes responsibility for some elements of the firm-wide PR such as working with the events team to organise the annual media party and supporting the wider team when it’s busy.
 
Key relationships

  • London media relations team
  • Global head of communications
  • London and international comms teams
  • Global head of BD for litigation, and litigation and tax BD teams
  • Global head of BD for sectors, and technology and life sciences BD teams
  • Team heads and broader partner group within litigation and tax

Role and responsibilities

  • This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong legal PR experience, good relationships with the legal trade media and a love of media relations
  • The manager will work with key stakeholders to plan, execute, track and evaluate the media relations strategy and activities for the litigation and tax practices. This includes writing media releases and other newsworthy content for our website and journalists, writing media briefing sheets and organising interviews and media roundtables The manager will need to be able to grasp a variety of different areas within litigation (intellectual property, employment, arbitration, litigation & investigations), the varying topics, priorities, messages and tone within the groups and also the relevant sector media.
  • They will work closely with the Global BD for sectors and the US PR agency to develop and execute media relations campaigns and opportunities around A&O work in the tech and life sciences sectors
  • Have confidence to work with people at all levels and take responsibility for advising and deciding what ideas should be taken to the media and act as gatekeeper to ensure the partners' and journalists' time is not being wasted.
  • Have a self-assured and mature outlook to develop relationships with target trade, broadcast and national media on their own to build up a strong network of contacts to introduce to partners.
  • Drive tactical news as well as longer term thought leadership and market commentary campaigns and opportunities with spokespeople.
  • Support the media relations team with ongoing requests. The team receives dozens of requests internally and externally every week and it's important that each team member takes their share of responsibility.
  • Liaise with wider marketing team and our social media executive on social media posts, ensuring that all activity meets our standards.
  • Work closely with internal comms, content & campaigns, digital and creative services teams to coordinate the profile of the practices and its successes internally and externally.
  • Organise, attend and offer advice on media training for key spokespeople.
  • Co-ordinate awards submissions with the BD team. In particular, supporting our diversity & inclusion strategy is important.
  • Play an active part in our hospitality programme including being involved in our annual media summer party and various other proactive initiatives throughout the year.

Key requirements

  • Proven track record in legal media relations and a passion for media engagement
  • Excellent writing and communication skills.
  • Ability to juggle multiple requests, prioritise and act quickly to meet tight deadlines.
  • Confident, pro-active self-starter and an avid consumer of news to be able to proactively identify and sell-in commentary opportunities.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and provide support and advice when we are managing potentially negative publicity.
  • Ability to plan and implement global PR campaigns, as well as track and evaluate activity.
  • Have the skills and presence to provide direct and clear advice to senior members of the business and be seen as a trusted adviser.
  • Quick adopter of new processes and navigating systems including journalist database, AI platform for media coverage, social media amplification tool and Microsoft Office.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of Allen & Overy’s recruitment team who will work with you to provide any reasonable adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

At Allen & Overy, we recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Allen & Overy recognises the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together. If you would like additional flexibility we will of course consider this in line with business needs.


Additional information - External

Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. We work on some of the most challenging and important deals and have built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal solutions that help our clients grow, innovate and thrive. The legal industry is changing, and we're committed to leading that change, putting our people first, embracing new ways of thinking and integrating technology into our everyday work. Our business teams work hand-in-hand with our lawyers, Consultants and other specialist teams, and are ambitious, driven and leaders in their field.

With us, you will constantly be learning and growing. We invest in you by offering exceptional professional and personal development – providing training, mentoring and practical support. We offer rewarding careers that are built around your strengths and designed to ensure you can achieve your personal and professional goals, recognising that those may look different for everyone.

We have a powerful commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We’re determined to play our part in advancing a workplace where progress is made by harnessing our differences – whatever defines you, we ask you to bring your whole self to work.

What truly defines a career at Allen & Overy? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. We provide challenge, support and a place for you to belong. And together we excel, working on meaningful projects of global significance.

Company

With over 5,600 people in over 40 offices, Allen & Overy is a business doing work of global significance.

Our success is built on the work of talented and motivated people who thrive in a supportive and collaborative environment, dedicated to delivering an exceptional standard of work for our clients. We’re ambitious and forward-thinking, committed to growing our business and meeting the future head-on. We’re not afraid of change, and we believe in challenging the status quo.

What we do goes beyond delivering an outstanding service. We lead the market by creating new solutions for our clients’ most complex legal and business challenges, helping them grow, innovate and thrive. By thinking creatively and entrepreneurially, we challenge expectations, push boundaries and build for the future. We draw on a world-leading network of expertise and a unique platform – such as our Advanced Delivery services and our network of Peerpoint consultants, to set the highest standards for our industry.

Global coverage in today’s market does not simply mean having offices in important cities around the world. For us, it means combining our global resources and sector expertise to work on matters that cross international boundaries with our culturally and geographically diverse teams. For you, it means that wherever you work, you’ll find a culture of inclusion and support – feeling confident to bring your whole self to work every single day. We have developed a culture in which difference is positively valued, and our people are free to be themselves.  At A&O, you're not only valued for what you do, but for who you are. 

We are in every sense one global team; supportive and collaborative, but also ambitious and driven.  Our capacity to combine these qualities and provide a setting in which our people can thrive is what makes us different.

Company info
Website
Telephone
+44 (0) 20 3088 0000
Location
One Bishops Square
London
E1 6AD
GB

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