PR Manager

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is seeking an exceptional PR Manager to lead strategic media relations and profile-raising efforts across two divisions. You will work with senior leaders, advise on messaging, and shape the firm’s external reputation through high-impact campaigns.

The role requires a highly commercial, collaborative communications professional who can manage multiple priorities, build strong journalist relationships, and drive content across channels in a fast-paced professional

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience within PR, corporate communications, media relations or reputation management
• Experience within a law firm, professional services environment or regulated sector
• Proven track record of developing and delivering PR and communications strategies
• Experience advising senior executives and leadership teams
• Demonstrable success in securing high-quality media coverage and building journalist relationships
• Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills
• Experience with complex stakeholder management and influencing at senior levels
• Strong understanding of corporate reputation and issues management
• Excellent organisational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver integrated PR and media strategies aligned to firm-wide objectives
• Lead strategic media relations for the firm’s divisions and identify opportunities to strengthen market positioning
• Build and maintain relationships with national and international media, trade press and business outlets
• Proactively identify high-value profile-raising opportunities for the firm and its people
• Manage thought leadership campaigns to enhance reputation and visibility
• Collaborate with Directors and senior leaders on major corporate communications initiatives
• Coach and prepare stakeholders for media opportunities and interviews
• Deliver joined-up campaigns with Communications, Marketing, Digital and Events teams
• Oversee agency relationships and monitor campaign performance and impact
• Provide strategic counsel on media engagement, messaging and crisis communications

Job description

At Charles Russell Speechlys, we are an international law firm with a focus on private capital, working at the intersection of personal, family and business. Our ability to understand people, build lasting relationships and deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients sets us apart.

With offices across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and a growing international footprint, we advise businesses, institutions, private individuals and families on their most important opportunities and challenges.

We are ambitious, collaborative and committed to building a culture where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an exceptional PR Manager to join our Communications & Corporate Affairs team.

This is a high-profile role for an ambitious and commercially minded communications professional who wants to make a real impact within one of the UK's leading international law firms.

Reporting to the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, you will lead strategic media relations and profile-raising activity across two of the Firm's four divisions:

• CRED (Construction, Real Estate & Disputes)
• BATS (Business Advisory & Transactional Services) (Corporate, Employment, Immigration, Financial Services, and our Tech, Consumer, & Sports Practice Group)

You will also play a key role in supporting the Firm's wider corporate communications agenda, working directly with senior leadership including the Managing Partner, COO, Divisional Managing Partners, Practice Group and Business Services Leaders and Partners across the Firm.

This is a unique opportunity to operate as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders, shape the Firm's external reputation, and help tell the stories that showcase the depth, quality and impact of our work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Media Relations

• Develop and deliver integrated PR and media strategies aligned to firmwide and divisional business objectives
• Act as the communications lead for CRED and BATS, identifying opportunities to strengthen market positioning and support business growth
• Build and maintain strong relationships with national, international, legal, trade and business media
• Proactively identify and secure high-value profile-raising opportunities for the Firm and its people
• Manage the development and delivery of thought leadership campaigns that enhance the Firm's reputation and visibility
• Monitor competitor activity and industry trends to identify emerging opportunities and risks.

Corporate Communications

• Work closely with the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs on major corporate communications initiatives and strategic projects.
• Support the delivery of firmwide announcements, office launches, Partner hires, promotions, leadership communications, strategic initiatives and other corporate milestones.
• Draft and edit high-quality communications materials including Press releases, Media statements, Briefing documents, Q&As, Opinion pieces, Executive messaging, Corporate announcements.
• Feature articles and commentary.
• Support reputation management activity, crisis communications planning and issues management when required.
• Help ensure consistent messaging and positioning across all external communications.

Stakeholder Management & Advisory

• Serve as a trusted communications adviser to Partners and senior leaders across the Firm
• Provide strategic counsel on media engagement, messaging, profile building and reputation management
• Coach and prepare stakeholders for media opportunities, interviews and speaking engagements
• Build credibility and strong working relationships with colleagues at all levels across the international business
• Challenge constructively and confidently where appropriate, while maintaining trusted relationships.

Integrated Campaign Delivery

• Work closely with colleagues across Communications, Marketing, Digital, Events and Client Development to deliver joined-up campaigns
• Ensure PR activity supports wider firmwide, divisional and sector objectives
• Collaborate with internal communications colleagues to align external and internal messaging where appropriate
• Identify opportunities to maximise content across owned, earned and shared channels.

Agency & Performance Management

• Manage relationships with external PR agencies and specialist providers
• Develop campaign plans, monitor progress and ensure delivery against agreed objectives
• Track, analyse and report on campaign performance, media coverage and communication outcomes
• Use data and insights to refine activity and demonstrate impact.

Leadership & Collaboration

The successful candidate will be a highly collaborative communications professional who enjoys building strong relationships and influencing at senior levels.

You will

• Be a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders across the Firm.
• Work closely with Communications Managers and colleagues across the wider Communications & Corporate Affairs function.
• Contribute positively to the team's culture, development and success.
• Support, manage and mentor junior colleagues where appropriate.
• Build strong relationships across the Firm's international offices and practice groups.
• Share best practice, ideas and expertise to continually improve the function.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a strategic and highly credible communications professional with strong commercial awareness and excellent judgement.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience (typically 5+ years) within PR, corporate communications, media relations or reputation management
• Experience gained within a law firm, professional services environment, consultancy or similarly regulated sector
• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful PR and communications strategies
• Experience advising senior executives and leadership teams
• Demonstrable success in securing high-quality media coverage and building journalist relationships
• Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills
• Experience of complex stakeholder management and influencing at senior levels
• Strong understanding of corporate reputation and issues management
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Highly Desirable

• Legal sector communications experience
• Experience supporting managing partners, executive committees or other senior leadership teams
• International communications experience
• Experience working across both proactive profile-building and reactive communications activity
• Crisis communications and reputation management experience.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded and business focused
• Strategic in their thinking but comfortable rolling up their sleeves to deliver
• Calm, resilient and confident under pressure
• Highly collaborative and relationship-driven
• Proactive, curious and solutions-oriented
• Credible with senior stakeholders
• Detail-oriented with exceptional judgement
• A natural communicator and storyteller
• Able to deal with sensitive and confidential information
• Be available to deal with enquiries out of core office hours if appropriate
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, professional services environment.

Why Join Charles Russell Speechlys?

This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing Communications & Corporate Affairs team at an exciting point in the Firm's growth.

• Work directly with senior leadership on some of the Firm's most important communications priorities.
• Influence firmwide communications strategy and reputation-building activity.
• Lead high-profile media campaigns across key growth areas of the business.
• Build relationships with leading journalists and industry influencers.
• Help shape how Charles Russell Speechlys is perceived across the UK and internationally.
• Join a collaborative, ambitious and supportive team that values creativity, excellence and innovation.
• For communications professionals seeking a role that combines strategic influence, corporate visibility, stakeholder engagement and media relations within a leading international law firm, this represents an outstanding next career move.

Hybrid working

We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.

For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.