Senior Manager of Public Relations

New York City, NY (Hybrid)

$161K/yr – $258K/yrSenior Level

Posted 2 months ago

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Job Summary

Shape and lead the firm’s public narrative by advising leadership, guiding high-impact PR programs across growth practices, and mentoring the communications team to turn complex legal wins into news that drives visibility.

  • Growth and thought leadership: develop and execute campaigns that elevate Private Equity, M&A, Asset Management, Life Sciences, and Health Care practice profiles.
  • Media readiness and relationships: position attorneys as authoritative sources, brief executives for interviews, and maintain active relations with national and international outlets.
  • Crisis and content quality: provide rapid crisis guidance, manage sensitive issues, and translate sophisticated legal matters into clear, newsworthy content.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Act as a strategic, trusted communications advisor to firm leadership, practice group leaders, and partners, providing ongoing counsel on executive visibility, media positioning, and thought leadership strategy
  • Develop and implement comprehensive, high-impact public relations campaigns to build the firm's profile in key growth practices including Private Equity, M&A, Asset Management, Life Sciences, and Health Care
  • Write and edit press releases, briefing sheets, holding statements, and media pitches
  • Serve as a key point of contact for inbound media inquiries
  • Partner closely with the Director of Communications and Public Relations to manage complex, sensitive issues and provide rapid, clear-headed crisis communications guidance
  • Translate complex legal achievements, corporate transactional matters, and high-stakes litigation victories into clear, sophisticated, and newsworthy content for business, legal, and trade media
  • Cultivate and expand deep, long-standing relationships with key national, international, business, and legal trade journalists, influencers, and media outlets across print, broadcast, and digital platforms
  • Position firm attorneys as go-to authoritative sources and stay current on trending topics across multiple practice areas to identify timely opportunities for media engagement
  • Prepare, brief, and coach partners and senior leadership ahead of media interviews; provide proactive counsel on communications efforts and effective media strategies
  • Develop and deliver comprehensive media training workshops and messaging frameworks

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field required
  • Juris Doctor (JD) or advanced degree highly preferred
  • 10–15 years of progressive public relations experience, including at least five years with a PR agency, law firm, professional services organization, or media outlet
  • Extensive experience within an Am Law firm or specialized professional services environment strongly preferred
  • Demonstrated success leading PR initiatives for world-class organizations
  • Impeccable professional judgment and ability to handle highly sensitive, confidential information
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and research skills, with proficiency in synthesizing complex information into clear, compelling content for attorneys and senior executives
  • Strong project management abilities and proficiency with media databases, monitoring tools, and standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Established relationships with print, broadcast, and social media influencers
  • Experience working with C-level executives and senior partners
  • Proven track record in developing, mentoring, and managing junior colleagues, including the PR Manager and PR Specialist
  • Capacity to operate confidently and make sound decisions under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong collaboration skills, with ability to work across practices, functions, and seniority levels within a large global organization
  • Adaptability and intellectual curiosity regarding evolving technologies such as generative AI and their application to communications and marketing
  • Enthusiasm for identifying and telling new stories
  • Strong leadership and people management skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and develop direct reports

Nice to Have

  • Juris Doctor (JD) or advanced degree highly preferred
  • Experience working with C-level executives and senior partners
  • Proven track record in developing, mentoring, and managing junior colleagues, including the PR Manager and PR Specialist
  • Creativity in developing and executing strategic PR plans, securing media coverage, and leveraging social media channels
  • Adaptability and intellectual curiosity regarding evolving technologies such as generative AI and their application to communications and marketing
  • Strong leadership and people management skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and develop direct reports

Benefits

  • comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture.
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Ropes & Gray LLP

Ropes & Gray, a preeminent, global law firm, has been ranked in the top-three on The American Lawyer's prestigious "A-List" for eight consecutive years and listed on Law.com’s UK “A-List” for three years in a row. The firm has more than 1,500 lawyers and legal professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Washington, DC, London, Dublin, Hong Kong, Milan, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. The firm has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including asset management, private equity, M&A, finance, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, healthcare, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring. Content may include attorney advertising.

New York, New York, USA
3.5K employees (54 in marketing)