Media Relations Senior Specialist

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; New York (NY); On-site; USD 105,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York seeks a Media Relations Senior Specialist to elevate the firm's profile through strategic media outreach and messaging across industries. The role reports to the Media Relations Manager and collaborates with the Communications and Business Development teams, as well as lawyers worldwide.

You will develop compelling external communications, advise partners on media opportunities and messaging, pursue thought leadership opportunities, and support crisis

Qualifications

• Three to five years of experience in media relations, marketing or PR in a law firm, financial institution, or professional services firm.
• Established relationships with business, legal and trade media.
• Experience working with senior executives/partners.
• Bachelor's degree required; JD, MBA or other applicable graduate degree is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with in-house PR to drive media strategy and high-impact PR programs.
• Advise partners on media opportunities, messaging and positioning.
• Build relationships with key media and manage inquiries.
• Develop press releases, pitches, announcements and other external materials.
• Prepare lawyers for media engagements with talking points and coaching.
• Translate thought leadership into media opportunities and bylined content.

Skills

Media relations

Strategic communications

Crisis communications

Relationship management

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

JD or MBA or graduate degree (plus)

Job description

SUMMARY

Sullivan & Cromwell is seeking a Media Relations Senior Specialist to join our global Communications team, which strives to generate visibility for and maintain the industry-leading standing of our Firm and lawyers.

The Media Relations Senior Specialist will be responsible for helping to raise the Firm’s profile utilizing all our media and message channels. This strategic position reports to the Media Relations Manager and works closely with members of the Communications and Business Development teams, as well as lawyers worldwide.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Work collaboratively with in-house PR team to drive media strategy and high-impact PR pro-grams that strengthen the visibility and reputation of the Firm, its practices and lawyers and support broader business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted media adviser to partners and senior leaders, providing strategic counsel on media opportunities, messaging and positioning.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key business, legal and trade media, proactively identifying opportunities and managing and vetting incoming inquiries.
• Develop compelling external communications, including press releases, media pitches, deal and matter announcements, website content, statements and other materials.
• Prepare lawyers for media engagements, researching and synthesizing complex topics, devel-oping talking points and briefing materials, and providing interview coaching.
• Turn the Firm’s thought leadership into media opportunities, repurposing client memos, articles, presentations and other content for pitches, commentary, social media and external publication. Assist with byline placement and tracking.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to showcase lawyers as leading voices in their fields, including media commentary, bylined articles and timely responses to breaking news.
• Support issues and crisis communications, monitoring the news environment for emerging opportunities and reputational risks and helping coordinate timely responses.
• Partner across Communications, Business Development and law firm practice areas to develop creative, integrated campaigns that advance practice and Firm priorities.
• Measure and strengthen the impact of media programs, using media monitoring, CRM data and reporting metrics, while overseeing coordinators and outside writers as appropriate.

In addition, responsibilities related to maintaining Firm and client information are to be adhered to by all employees. This includes complying with the Firm’s information security policies, protecting Firm assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference, and reporting security events or potential events or other security risks to management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven track record in delivering proactive, high-level, results-oriented public relations programs.
• An interest in and understanding of legal industry is preferred.
• Client service oriented; able to build productive working relationships with colleagues.
• Ability to work with and influence multiple constituencies and deal with changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• The ability to work and collaborate as a part of a global team is essential.
• Excellent written communication skills; able to convey complex concepts in simple terms.
• Confident, credible and persuasive; able to act as an adviser to senior leadership.
• Excellent organizational skills, with a very high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to problem-solve, handle multiple priorities simultaneously, communicate matters of concern effectively and meet deadlines consistently.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a demanding professional environment to demonstrate good judgment, handle time-sensitive requests from multiple lawyers, across time zones, and to generate quality work product in a fast-paced environment.
• A commitment to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism that are the hallmarks of Sullivan & Cromwell’s legal practice.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Three to five years of experience in a media relations, marketing or PR capacity in a law Firm, financial institution, or other professional services Firm, or with a PR agency specializing in professional services clients.
• Established relationships with business, legal and trade media.
• Experience working with senior executives/partners.
• Bachelor's degree required; JD, MBA or other applicable graduate degree is a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment is highly collegial and collaborative, and represents a great opportunity to work with smart, interesting people. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPENSATION

The base salary range offered for this role will be between $105,000 and $135,000. When determining a candidate’s compensation offer, elements unique to each person are taken into consideration including but not limited to skill set, experience level, performance, professional certifications, degrees and location, as well as the needs of the Firm.

The total compensation package for this position may include overtime pay, discretionary bonuses and other benefits. For a more comprehensive list of employee benefits, please visit Professional Staff I Careers | Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.