Strategic Communications Manager — Media & PR

DLA Piper LLP; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

DLA Piper is seeking a Communications Manager to support external communications and public relations efforts across the firm. You will work with lawyers, Communications and Marketing, and Business Development to identify newsworthy opportunities, craft compelling messaging, and manage media initiatives from concept to execution.

This role involves developing story angles, building journalist relationships, and coordinating with internal teams to ensure messaging aligns with firm priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing, communication, journalism or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in marketing, PR or similar.
• Experience managing media relations and messaging for professional services.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes proactive media relations initiatives that raise the visibility of the firm’s lawyers and practices, including promoting thought leadership, client matters, legal and business developments, and other newsworthy activity.
• Identifies timely media opportunities and develops story angles and pitches that connect the firm’s lawyers and capabilities with relevant legal, business, regulatory, and industry developments.
• Builds and maintains relationships with journalists across legal, business, national, regional, and industry media and conducts targeted outreach on behalf of the firm and its lawyers.
• Drafts and edits media pitches, press releases, talking points, briefing materials, website news items, and other external communications, ensuring content is clear, compelling, accurate, and aligned with firm messaging.
• Works directly with lawyers to develop media opportunities and prepare for interviews, including developing key messages and briefing materials and supporting media training.
• Evaluates incoming media inquiries and coordinates responses, working with lawyers and Communications colleagues to identify appropriate spokespeople, gather relevant information, and help ensure timely and effective engagement.
• Monitors media coverage, legal and business developments, and emerging issues to identify opportunities relevant to the firm, its lawyers, and clients.
• Promotes significant deals, disputes, and other client matters, working with lawyers and internal stakeholders to identify opportunities and develop appropriate external communications.
• Works with external PR agencies on media outreach and communications initiatives, coordinating activities and helping ensure execution aligns with firm priorities.
• Collaborates with Communications, Marketing, Business Development, Digital, and other teams to support coordinated communications initiatives across practices, sectors, and markets.
• Manages multiple communications initiatives and deadlines simultaneously, maintaining strong attention to detail and coordinating with stakeholders throughout the process.
• Contributes to special projects and other communications initiatives as needed.

Skills

Media relations

Writing & editing

Storytelling

Editorial judgment

Relationship building

Project management

Verbal communication

Team collaboration

Law firm experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing, communication, journalism or related field

Job description

DLA Piper is seeking a Communications Manager to support external communications and public relations efforts across the firm. You will work with lawyers, Communications and Marketing, and Business Development to identify newsworthy opportunities, craft compelling messaging, and manage media initiatives from concept to execution.

This role involves developing story angles, building journalist relationships, and coordinating with internal teams to ensure messaging aligns with firm priorities.