Chicago - Senior Manager, External Communications

At Winston Taylor, we set the standard, together. Winston Taylor is a transatlantic law firm built for the businesses, people, and markets driving capital and innovation. Here, you're in the room. In the action. Sleeves rolled up.

You'll work with leading clients. Disruptors. Fast-growth companies. And help them to stay one step ahead of the moment and make critical decisions that shape their future. We're present in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, combining the scale and speed that clients demand.

You'll be trusted with real responsibility from the outset and build experience through hands-on work. We take your progression personally. We provide the platform. You shape the work around your goals and aspirations.

Step into the moments that matter. Join Winston Taylor.

The Senior Manager, External Communications oversees external communications strategy. The role directs the firm’s America’s-based public relations resources, including the awards and recognition program, and is responsible for enhancing and protecting the firm's reputation, advancing business development priorities, and elevating the visibility of the firm's lawyers, practices, and thought leadership through external communications. Serving as a senior-level communications advisor to practice and business stakeholders, this role develops and executes integrated media relations and reputation-building strategies, manages complex and high-profile communications opportunities, and provides leadership and guidance to direct reports.

This position has ownership for planning and executing communications programs, managing media relationships, and is on the team of communication advisors for internal stakeholders. This role serves as a key partner to practice leaders and business development teams while collaborating closely with the director, strategic marketing, communications, and brand, to align external communications efforts with broader firm objectives.

• 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.
• Oversee media tracking, reporting, and measurement processes to evaluate the effectiveness of communications initiatives.
• Manage, train, and mentor direct reports. Delegate and oversee assigned projects while maintaining accountability for quality, deadlines, and outcomes.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field is…