Strategic External Communications Lead

Confidential; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A&O Shearman Belfast Office is seeking an External Communications Executive to support the firm’s external communications, media relations and campaigns within the Business Development, Marketing and Communications team. The role emphasizes prose, media briefings, and client activations in a professional services setting.

You will monitor media coverage, report on performance, and coordinate across multiple teams to ensure delivery of communications objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience in external communications, media relations, public relations, or corporate communications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience using media monitoring and reporting tools such as Meltwater or Signal.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and provide actionable insights.
• A proactive, collaborative approach with excellent stakeholder management skills.
• High levels of accuracy, attention to detail, and professionalism.
• Experience within a professional services, corporate, or legal environment would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning, delivery, and reporting of external communications activities across key areas of the business.
• Identify opportunities to raise the firm's profile through proactive media engagement.
• Manage media enquiries and coordinate responses with internal stakeholders.
• Draft press releases, media briefings, key messages, and media pitches.
• Coordinate press interviews and maintain media contact lists.
• Monitor, analyse, and report on media coverage and audience insights.
• Provide regular reporting on communications performance and competitor activity.
• Support the management of media monitoring and media relations platforms.
• Support the delivery of external communications campaigns and promotional initiatives.
• Coordinate client success activations and media-related projects.
• Assist with communications relating to partner onboarding and departures.
• Produce reporting and insights to measure the effectiveness of communications activity.
• Support budget tracking and administrative processes within the Communications team.
• Coordinate projects across multiple teams to ensure effective delivery of communications objectives.

Skills

External communications

Media relations

Public relations

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Data interpretation

Tools

Meltwater

Signal

Job description

A&O Shearman Belfast Office is seeking an External Communications Executive to support the firm’s external communications, media relations and campaigns within the Business Development, Marketing and Communications team. The role emphasizes prose, media briefings, and client activations in a professional services setting.

You will monitor media coverage, report on performance, and coordinate across multiple teams to ensure delivery of communications objectives.