PR Manager - up to 12-month maternity cover

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 500 lawyers and legal professionals based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do.  RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

Responsible for development of the strategy and delivery of all Birketts PR and external communications.

Strategy and Delivery

• Development of a PR strategy to support Birketts brand in market, any strategic focus areas and team-specific objectives to drive business awareness and growth.
• Writing and distributing press releases. Ability to pro-actively seek out stories, build relationships with journalists and respond to the news agenda.
• Develop and implement campaigns to generate national press coverage and thought-leadership opportunities within national press titles and media; ensuring all Birketts participants are briefed and coached through the process.
• Responsible for Crisis communications management and drafting responses when required.
• Responsible for overseeing Birketts owned thought leadership content, including legal updates for website and external facing newsletter. Overseeing the creation of owned collateral (inc. brochures and website copy) as developed by the team to ensure continuity of brand and tone of voice.
• Responsible for delivering annual firm-wide reports to communicate firm’s financials and outcomes.
• Be a consultant for firm spokespeople, stakeholders and legal teams to devise communications plans and proposals to achieve desired objectives.
• Ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within budget and to a high quality (in line with the firm’s brand and editorial guidelines).

People

• Training and onboarding of any PR team members to ensure we have a consistent approach in all our external communications; specifically in regards to TOV and positioning.
• Managing the PR function in relation to workload, quality and outputs demonstrating leadership qualities.  

Measurement

• Managing, monitoring and reporting the effectiveness and ROI of PR activity via monthly update/ post-campaign reports, and monthly reports to the Management Board.

Budget  

• Coordination and reconciliation of  expenditure in relation to PR activities and paid for inclusions.

Brand implementation

• Working closely with Head of Digital, PR & Comms to ensure all our external communications are consistent in TOV and represent Birketts as a high quality law firm with regional, national and international expertise.

• Proven PR background with experience preferably within a professional services environment.
• Sound copywriting skills and editorial skills for internal and external articles (including press releases).
• Experience in developing PR strategies desirable.
• Demonstrable experience in delivery of multiple work. streams/ management of competing priorities.
• Experience of managing and running a press office function
• Experience of managing a team and working closely with other marketing functions to deliver results
• Experience of working with and managing external agencies desirable.
• CIPR or equivalent desirable.
• IT Literate (Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel).
• Working knowledge of Cision and/or another media monitoring and database tool.

• Strong analytical, administrative and organisational skill.
• A high level of attention to detail.
• Initiative, enthusiasm and creative flair.
• Effective communicator.
• Good relationship building skills across marketing and practice area teams.
• Ability to multi-task, work well under pressure and to tight deadlines.

We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Core Benefits

One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we are appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare - BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Season Ticket Loan
• Gym Flex membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy
• Agile Working Policy.