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 eight consecutive years and #1 on Law.com's UK A-List twice in the past three years - rankings that honor the "best of the best" law 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, Milan, New York, Paris, 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
The Senior Manager of Public Relations is responsible for developing and executing integrated external communications plans that promote the firm’s attorneys, practices, pro bono activities, and special initiatives. This role oversees daily PR operations, manages proactive and reactive public relations efforts, and leads a team that includes a PR Manager and PR Specialist to ensure high performance and achievement of strategic objectives in a collaborative, results-driven environment. Acting as a strategic communications advisor to firm leadership, practice chairs, and partners, the Senior Manager provides counsel on executive visibility, media positioning, and thought leadership strategy. The position utilizes AI-enabled media monitoring, media databases, and predictive analytics tools to generate insights and drive measurable impact across communications initiatives, drawing on extensive experience in an Am Law firm or specialized professional services environment to translate complex legal achievements and high-stakes matters into clear, sophisticated, and newsworthy content for business, legal, and trade media.
Responsibilities
- Act as a strategic, trusted communications advisor to firm leadership, practice group leaders, and partners, providing ongoing counsel on executive visibility, media positioning, and thought leadership strategy
- Develop and implement comprehensive, high-impact public relations campaigns to build the firm's profile in key growth practices including Private Equity, M&A, Asset Management, Life Sciences, and Health Care
- Write and edit press releases, briefing sheets, holding statements, and media pitches
- Serve as a key point of contact for inbound media inquiries
- Partner closely with the Director of Communications and Public Relations to manage complex, sensitive issues and provide rapid, clear-headed crisis communications guidance
- Translate complex legal achievements, corporate transactional matters, and high-stakes litigation victories into clear, sophisticated, and newsworthy content for business, legal, and trade media
- Cultivate and expand deep, long-standing relationships with key national, international, business, and legal trade journalists, influencers, and media outlets across print, broadcast, and digital platforms
- Position firm attorneys as go-to authoritative sources and stay current on trending topics across multiple practice areas to identify timely opportunities for media engagement
- Prepare, brief, and coach partners and senior leadership ahead of media interviews; provide proactive counsel on communications efforts and effective media strategies
- Develop and deliver comprehensive media training workshops and messaging frameworks
- Secure speaking engagements and other thought leadership opportunities for firm attorneys
- Source and place partner-authored bylined articles and legal alerts
- Lead, mentor, and develop communications colleagues, including direct management of the PR Manager and PR Specialist. Provide ongoing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to ensure team members are engaged, productive, and aligned with department goals. Foster a collaborative team culture and actively support the growth and success of direct reports.
- Collaborate with external PR agencies and consultants, oversee budgets and contracts, identify new technology and software, set clear KPIs to evaluate performance and maximize ROI
- Collaborate across Marketing & Business Development department to create integrated communications strategies that leverage PR and digital platforms
- Ensure consistency of brand voice, messaging, and tone across all PR efforts in alignment with the firm's brand guidelines and objectives
- Establish performance reporting frameworks utilizing AI-enabled media monitoring, media databases, and predictive analytics tools
- Track the effectiveness of PR campaigns, measure and analyze media coverage, and prepare detailed quarterly reports providing actionable insights, trends, campaign performance metrics, and overall PR impact to executive leadership
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field required; Juris Doctor (JD) or advanced degree highly preferred
- 10–15 years of progressive public relations experience, including at least five years with a PR agency, law firm, professional services organization, or media outlet
- Extensive experience within an Am Law firm or specialized professional services environment strongly preferred
- Demonstrated success leading PR initiatives for world-class organizations
- Impeccable professional judgment and ability to handle highly sensitive, confidential information
- Exceptional writing, editing, and research skills, with proficiency in synthesizing complex information into clear, compelling content for attorneys and senior executives
- Strong project management abilities and proficiency with media databases, monitoring tools, and standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Established relationships with print, broadcast, and social media influencers
- Experience working with C-level executives and senior partners
- Proven track record in developing, mentoring, and managing junior colleagues, including the PR Manager and PR Specialist
- Creativity in developing and executing strategic PR plans, securing media coverage, and leveraging social media channels
- Ability to align communications initiatives to firmwide business objectives
- High degree of professionalism, discretion, and proactive problem-solving
- Capacity to operate confidently and make sound decisions under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong collaboration skills, with ability to work across practices, functions, and seniority levels within a large global organization
- Adaptability and intellectual curiosity regarding evolving technologies such as generative AI and their application to communications and marketing
- Enthusiasm for identifying and telling new stories
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and develop direct reports
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 listed below and represents 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.
New York: $161,000 - $257,600
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.
