Senior Communications and PR Manager (maternity cover)

Stephenson Harwood LLP; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in London seeks a Senior Communications professional to enhance media relations and internal communications. The role involves advising senior leadership, managing strategic communications, and collaborating with international offices. Ideal candidates will have extensive public relations experience and strong project management skills.

Benefits

Life assurance

Private health and dental care

Flexible benefits including gym discounts

Tech and cycle schemes

Volunteering leave

Wellbeing strategy

Qualifications

• Senior-level public relations/corporate communications experience required.
• Ability to advise and influence senior decision makers.
• Outstanding media relations skills and relationships.

Responsibilities

• Advise leadership on strategic communications.
• Manage internal communications channels.
• Guide media relations across international offices.

Skills

Public relations experience

Media relations skills

Project management skills

Communication skills

Collaborative networking

Job description

What we will offer

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You can expect:

• A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when our people experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
• Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

Team Structure

The communications team ensures the firm's media relations, social media platforms and internal communications support the firm's strategic goals, practice priorities and international brand. The team is responsible for managing communications activities that enhance Stephenson Harwood's reputation with a wide range of stakeholders.This role reports to the Head of Brand & Communications. The communications team is part of the firm's Business Development & Marketing department.

Main Responsibilities

Media relations/corporate communications

• Advise the Chief Executive and other members of the global leadership team in the preparation of strategic communications that support the firm’s business objectives, including preparing briefing documents and attending media interviews
• Plan, manage and execute the communication efforts in relation to important annual events, such as the global partner promotions round and firm financials

Internal communications

• Alongside the Head of Brand & Communications, manage the firm’s approach to sharing news and strategically relevant information via the firm’s internal communications channels – including supporting the Senior Partner, Chief Executive and London Office Managing Partner
• Advise Business Services Heads on all aspects of strategically important communications – including timing, cascade and the articulation of key messages and information

Social media

• Work with the Digital Marketing & Performance Manager to promote the effective use of social media, for business development purposes, by partners, other fee earners and business development team members
• Provide strategic direction for the firm's corporate LinkedIn account and be a custodian of the firm’s social media policy

International

• Guide business development team members in the Paris, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore offices to ensure that their media relations and internal communications efforts follow best practice
• Provide hands-on support, including guidance and the editing of written materials

Crisis communications

• Proactively support the firm’s leadership in response to any business continuity or reputationally damaging situation
• Engage and advise external support as required, including identifying and managing crisis communications suppor
• Ensure relevant members of the firm’s leadership team are media trained and educated in crisis communications

General

• Help manage the communication team’s external suppliers and ensure that the firm is getting value for money
• Manage a Senior Communications Executive
• Be a trusted advocate, and custodian, of the firm’s brand

Attributes/Skills Required

• Senior-level public relations/corporate communications experience or professional services communications team experience
• Mature, confident, enthusiastic and professional attitude, with excellent judgment and an ability to advise and influence senior decision makers
• Outstanding media relations skills and relationships, with experience engaging journalists on a regular basis to generate positive coverage and on challenging issues.
• Ability to grasp technical topics quickly and have a solid understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Stephenson Harwood and the legal industry will be beneficial.
• Ability to work independently as needed, think ahead, engage proactively and take initiative, while also working collaboratively as a team player
• Ability to communicate information effectively and accurately, verbally or in writing, across multiple disciplines
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to quickly transition from strategy to implementation, working on both simultaneously as needed
• Effective collaborator and networker, able to build relationships internally at all levels and externally with a strong network of media contacts

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

About the Firm

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our Values

Individuality - We encourage creativity and devlop talent.

Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard.

Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships.

Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say.

Our Vision into 2026

To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.

This version is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character - the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: energy transition; life sciences and healthcare; private capital and funds; technology; transportation and trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.