External Communications Manager

External Communications Manager

McDermott Will & Schulte

McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,750 lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, and Vault, among others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work.

• A firm where everyone belongs:
  Our award‑winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
• Enthusiasm for all perspectives:
  We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
• Support to feel your best and do your best:
  Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work‑life balance.
• Real rewards for real work:
  We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.

The External Communications Manager supports the firm’s proactive and reactive public relations strategy by identifying, pitching and placing opportunities that align with firm, practice, industry, and individual profile‑raising priorities. This position is fully embedded in an integrated and global marketing, communications and business development team and partners with firm stakeholders to successfully implement strategic communication programs.

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with priority media outlets and key industry influencers
• Develop strong relationships with firm stakeholders, including leadership, lawyers and lateral hires; collaborate with the wider brand and communications teams, business development, events and practice/industry marketing teams to implement strategic communication programs that align with business objectives and plans
• Monitor ongoing industry trends, editorial calendars and competitor activity; provide trend analysis
• Identify media opportunities; actively lead topic generation efforts and collaborate across practices and markets
• Pitch and place profile‑raising coverage
• Craft media messages, including research and writing of press releases, drafting of deal announcements and other client‑related communications as well as copy for the firm website
• Serve as a firm contact for media requests; coordinate information and interview preparation
• Collaborate with external agencies as directed by communications leaders
• Proficiency of Salesforce to track PR activity and use data to report to stakeholders and inform public relations plans
• Leverage the firm’s news distribution and media monitoring tools
• Track and report on KPIs and media metrics; maintain working knowledge of firm technologies and other resources
• Track and report coverage using internal announcements, newsletters and .com, among others
• Align and help implement firmwide processes related to media relations
• Provide back‑up support to the global communications team

• Bachelor’s Degree
• At least five (5) years of related work experience
• Ability to build strong media relationships within key sectors
• Knowledge of news distribution, media monitoring and tracking software
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
  
  Ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize responsibilities
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment
• Ability to work independently and under own direction and initiative
• Ability to travel as needed

Target Hiring Range: $138,000 - $203,000. Salary ranges are not guarantees and may vary based on market location, experience, and geography. Base pay is one part of the total rewards with discretionary bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear.
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds.

Typical indoor office environment.