Chicago - Senior Manager, External Communications

Responsibilities

• Act as a key strategic business partner to stakeholders. Responsible for designing and implementing external marketing communication programs and PR strategy to support firmwide objectives and align with Business Development priorities and events. Serve as a trusted advisor to partners and firm leadership on media engagement, reputation management, and communications opportunities.
• Develop and execute proactive media campaigns that generate impactful earned media coverage across legal, business, industry, and mainstream media outlets.
• Independently manage high-profile media opportunities, sensitive communications matters, and complex stakeholder situations, including managing press outreach as needed. Escalate as appropriate to director of strategic marketing, communications, and brand and managing director of business development and marketing for collaborative approach to crisis communications.
• Manage external PR agencies. Ensure seamless information sharing, proactive enablement and prioritization, evaluation of opportunities, reporting, and budget management.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key journalists, editors, producers, and industry influencers.
• Identify emerging trends, market developments, and competitive opportunities to inform communications strategy and messaging.
• Collaborate with the Europe-based external communications team for unified transatlantic external strategy.
• Lead strategic aspects of awards, rankings, and survey submissions in partnership with relevant internal teams, helping identify opportunities that support broader reputation and business goals.
• Provide strategic guidance on the development, positioning, and placement of lawyer-authored articles, commentary, reports, and signature firm content.
• Draft and oversee the creation of press releases, media materials, messaging documents, executive talking points, and briefing materials. Lead media preparation and training efforts for lawyers and firm spokespersons participating in/staffing interviews, panels, and other external engagements.

Requirements

• 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, financial services, or other complex business environment required.
• 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, partners, or other professional stakeholders 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, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, budget and stakeholders simultaneously.

Benefits

• Winston offers comprehensive benefits that provide a full spectrum of coverage and support for our full-time employees and their families. Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here .