Director of Global Communications and Public Relations

About Ropes & Gray

Ropes & Gray is a preeminent, global law firm. The firm has been ranked in the top-three on The American Lawyer's prestigious "A-List" for seven years and is ranked #1 on Law.com International's "A-List" in the U.K.—rankings that honor the "Best of the Best" firms.

The firm has approximately 2,500 lawyers and professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.

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, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring.

Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer.

Overview

Reporting to the Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, the Director of Global Communications and Public Relations leads Ropes & Gray’s internal and external communications and media relations function. The director will define and execute internal and external communications strategy to advance topline initiatives, aid internal transparency, increase the firm’s external visibility, enhance its prestige, communicate its achievements to clients, and protect the firm’s reputation. The director will collaborate with partners, firm leadership and marketing and business development colleagues to develop, implement, and measure the success of the firm’s strategic communications and public relations initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute internal and external communications plans that identify firm-wide messages, channels, and champions to generate visibility and momentum for key initiatives; shape and oversee executive communications; assist in the development of tailored internal communications plans for discrete areas of the firm; and manage the firm’s in-house public relations team and outside communications/crisis response agencies.
• Recommend appropriate communications strategy, messaging, tactics, and channels to best fit the stated objectives – function as thought partner to firm leadership and colleagues.
• Maintain holistic and up-to-date internal and external communications plans and calendars aligned to strategic objectives and themes. Build and manage cohesive and successful communications operations, ensuring messaging and brand consistency.
• Drive ongoing conversations with partners and support teams regarding status and outcomes of communications plans to optimize impact.
• Grow brand visibility through earned media, rankings, directories, speaking opportunities, and awards; lead the firm’s rankings & awards strategy; partner with marketing colleagues to promote the firm’s credentials and drive brand recognition.
• Align team design and workflows to the needs of internal clients, stated objectives, quality assurance, and measurable outcomes.
• Fully utilize technology and standardize processes to increase knowledge sharing, efficiency, data quality, and department impact across all operations, tools, and systems.
• Maintain strong relationships across broadcast, business media and trade publications and build relationships between press and the firm’s spokespeople.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• 15-20 years of leading a communications and PR function at a global firm
• Legal industry experience strongly preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communications
• Superior leadership, stakeholder management, and operations skills
• Ability to quickly establish credibility with partners and firm leadership
• Ability to build and manage global talent for internal and external communications function
• Attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task, set priorities and meet multiple deadlines in a demanding environment
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities
  
  

Compensation And Total Rewards Package

Ropes & Gray is proud to offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our business support team members. The firm also offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is noted below and r epresents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the starting salary range at the time of posting. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.

Boston & Washington, D.C.: $229,000 - $362,000

New York: $240,000 - $380,000

Working Conditions

This position requires hybrid on-site presence as an essential function of the role. Consistent and predictable on-site presence is required for ongoing business continuity, professional development and effective collaboration with colleagues and management.