Strategic External Communications Lead

Winston & Strawn LLP; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Winston Taylor seeks an accomplished Senior Manager of External Communications to lead America's external communications strategy, oversee media relations, and elevate the firm’s reputation. You will partner with practice leaders and business development to align messaging and campaigns.

You will manage high-profile opportunities, supervise agencies, mentor junior staff, and guide lawyer content development while coordinating with transatlantic teams to drive coordinated external messaging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field is required.
• 10+ years of proven experience in communications, media, and/or public relations, preferably within a legal, professional services, or financial services environment.
• Must live within a commutable distance to a firm office with the ability to come into the office 3-4 days a week.
• Demonstrated success developing and leading strategic communications and media relations programs.
• Established relationships with legal, business, and industry media and a proven record of securing high-impact earned media coverage.
• Experience advising senior executives on communications strategy and media engagement.
• Strong reputation management, issues management, and media relations expertise.
• Exceptional writing, editing, messaging, and verbal skills.
• Experience managing external agencies and driving accountability against strategic objectives.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring experience.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and build credibility across all levels of the organization.
• Strong business judgment, discretion, and decision-making skills in high-pressure situations.
• Willingness to manage urgent communications matters outside of standard hours.

Responsibilities

• Act as a key strategic business partner to stakeholders and design external marketing and PR strategy to support firm objectives.
• Develop and execute proactive media campaigns across legal, business, industry, and mainstream outlets.
• Independently manage high-profile media opportunities and crisis communications in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Manage external PR agencies and ensure budgeting, prioritization, and reporting.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers.
• Identify trends and opportunities to inform strategy and messaging.
• Collaborate with Europe-based teams for unified transatlantic strategy.
• Lead awards, rankings, and submissions to support reputation goals.
• Guide development and placement of lawyer-authored content and signature firm materials.
• Draft press materials and briefing docs; train lawyers and spokespeople for media interactions.
• Oversee media tracking, reporting, and measurement of initiatives.
• Manage, mentor, and empower direct reports to deliver quality results.

Skills

Media relations

Stakeholder management

Writing & messaging

Leadership

Budget management

Project management

Mentoring

Crisis communications

Media training

Strategic communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Job description

Winston Taylor seeks an accomplished Senior Manager of External Communications to lead America's external communications strategy, oversee media relations, and elevate the firm’s reputation. You will partner with practice leaders and business development to align messaging and campaigns.

You will manage high-profile opportunities, supervise agencies, mentor junior staff, and guide lawyer content development while coordinating with transatlantic teams to drive coordinated external messaging.