Senior PR Manager - Global

The Role:

This role requires an experienced and dynamic Senior Public Relations (PR) Manager to join our Marketing & Communications team. This is a pivotal role in shaping, enhancing and protecting the firm’s reputation globally, ensuring our brand is consistently and effectively communicated to key audiences. The successful candidate will lead the development and execution of strategic PR initiatives, working closely with senior stakeholders to align communications with the firm’s business plan.

The M&Bd Team

Uniting the firm’s expertise to meet clients’ global needs…

The Marketing and Business Development (M&BD) team at Simmons & Simmons is a diverse group of professionals, including value-adders, digital innovators, and relationship builders. We're seeking talented individuals with ambition and passion to join our high-performing team, known for its commitment to learning, growth, and excellence.

Our team benefits from the expertise of seasoned professionals from leading firms and industries, under the leadership of Owen Williams, a non-lawyer who became a partner in 2022. We invest in our talent at all levels, offering extensive training programs like the 'Future Leaders' program to nurture the next generation of leaders.

Our team is redefining the M&BD function by incorporating roles such as pricing and sales experts, horizon scanners, and specialists in Emerging Technology and ESG.

Our innovative efforts, including the award-winning “supercharge” client program and Cross-Border Group teams, have significantly contributed to the firm's global collaboration and success in attracting top-tier clients.

The Marcomms team plays a crucial role in enhancing the firm's reputation through impactful experiences and media coverage.

We prioritize continuous improvement and operational excellence, adopting best practices to maintain our competitive edge and align with our vision of a Next Generation law firm.

Our global M&BD team operates as 'One Team,' valuing contributions from members worldwide and fostering a culture of connection and fun. Joining us means making a definitive impact in a role that values and leverages your contributions.

What Will You Do:

• Develop and implement a global PR strategy that supports the firm’s business objectives, enhances brand visibility, and positions Simmons & Simmons as a thought leader in the legal industry.
• Conduct market research and peer analysis to identify market trends, opportunities, and risks, ensuring PR strategies remain relevant and impactful.
• Collaborate with practice, sector, and regional leaders to create tailored PR programmes that engage key audiences, drive growth, and elevate the firm’s expertise.
• Adapt PR strategies to reflect socio-economic trends and the evolving global landscape.
• Establish and manage a proactive press office function to ensure timely and effective responses to media inquiries.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of internal and external communications collateral, including media policies, press kits, and spokesperson profiles.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key journalists and editors across national, trade, and legal press.
• Proactively identify and influence opportunities for media coverage across print, digital, and broadcast media.
• Position the firm’s leadership and experts as go-to commentators on industry trends and developments.
• Develop and promote thought leading content, including talking points/speeches for leadership, podcast scripts, and sector insights, to position the firm as a trusted advisor.
• Provide strategic counsel to senior stakeholders on reputational risks and mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, sector, and practice group heads to identify PR opportunities and ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels.
• Provide media training and thorough briefings for the firm’s spokespeople to ensure effective representation in the media.
• Confidently present PR strategies and results at boardroom level to gain buy-in and drive behavioural change.
• Lead integrated PR campaigns to promote key initiatives, including firmwide announcements, partner hires, awards, major client wins, and sector trend commentary.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of PR activities, providing regular reports and insights to senior stakeholders.
• Work in tandem with the Senior Internal Communications Lead to ensure an internal-first approach to communications plans.
• Collaborate with the wider Marketing and Business Development teams to integrate PR efforts with broader marketing campaigns and digital strategies.
• Manage relationships with external PR agencies across the global network, ensuring delivery of high-quality support aligned with the firm’s business plan.
• Inspire and challenge external partners to deliver innovative solutions that align with the firm’s strategic goals.

What We Are Looking For:

• Proven experience in a senior PR role within a professional services or legal environment.
• Strong understanding of the legal industry and its key audiences.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and adapt messaging for different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with media contacts and senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing crisis communications and navigating complex reputational issues.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical mindset, with experience using data to measure the impact of PR activities and inform decision-making.
• Collaborative and proactive approach, with the ability to work effectively as part of a global team.
• Confidence in influencing others to drive discussions and actions aligned with the firm’s strategy.
• Ability to ideate, challenge, and test new ways of working to solve challenges and create better outcomes.
• Experience managing external agencies and suppliers.
• Ability to inspire and teach others to meet shared goals.

Career Level:

The career level assigned to this role is level 5. The career level framework provides a formal structure for the business services functions at the firm. The framework, which ranges from level 1 to level 7, clearly defines the responsibilities, skills and competencies required at each level.

Here At Simmons & Simmons:

Simmons & Simmons is a place where dynamic minds thrive. Our culture is built on work that matters, you will work on inspirational and thought-provoking projects, using your influence to create positive impact for our clients, society and the planet. We also ensure that everyone’s voice is heard from day one, irrespective of job title, qualification, or background. You’ll be encouraged to have an enquiring mind and share ideas that can drive the firm forward. Through innovative learning and development opportunities, you will be provided with a platform to excel, enabling you to exceed your career ambitions and do things you never thought were possible.  

Some Key Information:

• We offer a competitive package including bonuses dependant on role/level, private medical insurance and pension contribution. 
• Our global skills academy provides our people, regardless of their role and location, with excellent learning opportunities (including live workshops, podcasts, short videos and practical learning experiences).  
• We have adopted a hybrid working approach with a requirement for a minimum of three days in the office with flexibility dependant on role/team/client demands.  
• We bring together the best legal advice from our established legal teams with non-traditional capabilities via Simmons & Simmons Solutions that enhance, expand and differentiate the Simmons offering.  
• We are proud to rank as a Stonewall Top Global Employer and a Top 75 Employer for Social Mobility.
• We have a range of social and sports committees, summer and winter parties and monthly get togethers.  
• We have a range of diversity networks to connect people and celebrate our differences which is integral to our inclusive culture.  
• All UK offices have their own artwork collections – including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin pieces in the London office. We have a long-standing history in supporting the art community especially up-and-coming artists.  
• We have recently introduced a Strategic Advisory Council which is a mix of associates and business services who will propose strategic initiatives that align with our firm's mission and support the delivery of our Business Plan, shaping the future of our next-generation law firm.

Equal Opportunities:

We are committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion within our firm and to ensuring equal employment opportunities. We believe that this commitment creates a vibrant and rewarding work environment. We are therefore committed to: 

• Upholding equal opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity, marital status, or pregnancy, including maternity and paternity. This commitment extends to addressing any instances of perceived or associative discrimination and harassment. We also ensure fair treatment during recruitment and selection processes for those who are serving or have served in the armed forces, along with their families. 
• Accommodating requests for flexible working arrangements whenever possible. We encourage you to discuss your needs with us if this is something you require. 
• Making our roles accessible to individuals with diverse abilities. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know so we can meet your needs. 
• We offer a range of employee networks to support our colleagues. More information about these networks can be found in the D&I Information booklet that candidates are sent when invited to interview.

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. We are looking for individuals who are passionate and eager to learn and grow with us. Your unique experiences and perspectives could be a great addition to our team.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this position, please contact the Recruitment Team . To apply for the role, click on the link at the bottom of the page or visit our career page for more details.