Head of Marketing Communications

Fieldfisher is a European law firm with market leading practices in many of the world's most dynamic sectors. We are an exciting, forward-thinking organisation with a particular focus on technology, finance & financial services, energy & natural resources, life sciences and media.

Our growing European network of offices supports an international client base alongside our Silicon Valley and China colleagues. We also work in a number of other jurisdictions through dedicated country teams.

Among our clients we count social media sites and high street coffee chains as well as pharmaceutical, life sciences and medical devices companies, energy suppliers, banks and technology leaders.

Clients choose to work with us because we deliver commercial, pragmatic and innovative solutions through our exceptional legal expertise and experience, on time and on budget.

Our network has more than 1,550 people working across 25 offices providing highly commercial advice based on an in-depth understanding of our clients' needs.

We operate across our offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Belfast, Birmingham, Bologna, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Manchester, Munich, Milan, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Turin, Venice and Silicon Valley.

In June 2019, Fieldfisher was awarded a 5 star ranking for client service by The Legal 500.  It was one of only five firms in the top 25 list of UK-headquartered firms to receive 5 stars based on client feedback.

2018 saw Fieldfisher named Law Firm of the year at the Legal Business Awards. In 2017, we were named Law Firm of the Year in Western Germany at the Juve Awards, and Law firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards.

The firm was ranked in the list of top 20 most innovative law firms in Europe in the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2018.

Fieldfisher's Condor Alternative Legal Solutions won the award for ‘New Business and Service Delivery Models’ at the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2017.  We also won Personal Injury Team of the Year at the Solicitors Journal Awards 2017.

As the Head of Marketing Communications, you will have responsibility for delivering a strategy which encompasses all aspects of the marketing communications spectrum. This includes: PR and media relations, digital marketing and social media; branding and design and internal communications. The objectives of this senior management position include:

• To deliver a marketing communications strategy aligned to the firm's vision;
• To enhance the firm's reputation as a first-class provider of legal services;
• To manage and develop a team of marketing communications specialists;
• To oversee the internal communications and engagement function.

The role reports into the BD & Marketing Director and would suit an energetic, ambitious, driven individual, ideally with a background in professional services marketing.  The Head of Marketing needs to be able to lead and inspire a team to deliver against targets, as well as influence and collaborate with the leaders of the business areas across the firm.

The scope of the role includes management responsibility for approx. 10 team members and close working relationships with team members across Europe.

External Communications

• Develop the firm's brand through integrated Thought Leadership campaigns.
• Work closely with the business development professionals to maximise all content.
• Work with the marcomms and digital teams to further develop our digital presence, particularly through a co-ordinated effort in relation to our social media channels.
• Oversee the preparation of submissions for the legal directories and industry awards.
• Work with business managers and CRM team to improve the readership of our e-communications

Internal Communications

• Work with the Internal Communications & Engagement Manager to co-ordinate and execute an internal communications programme.
• Oversee the staff engagement initiatives across the firm.

Brand Development and Messaging

• Work centrally with the practice areas to ensure the key brand messages are incorporated into all business development programmes, materials and media-related activities.
• Work with HR to develop the employer brand to ensure that the messaging and corporate values are incorporated into all recruitment activities and assist with plans to promote the firm to the recruitment market.
• Manage a programme to achieve a consistent set of central information about the business which is easily accessible to all colleagues and which is consistent with the brand.

Public Relations

• Work with the Head of PR to develop and implement a firm-wide PR strategy both centrally and for the firm's practice and sector areas.
• Work with the business leaders to identify emerging trends and legal issues for us to capitalise on.
• Measure and report on PR activity to determine how the firm's reputation is reaching target audiences.
• Develop and sustain good relationships with key trade, national, international and legal journalists.
• Coach lawyers on media communications and best practice.

Digital Management

• Work with the digital team on the development of the firm's website and social media channels.
• Execute the digital marketing strategy to cover aspects of digital marketing relevant to law firms (SEO, social media, e-communications and use of digital ads).

Team Management

• Provide day-to-day management and guidance to the marcomms team ensuring that activities are in line with the overall strategy and best practice.
• Motivate, inspire and nurture a team of professionals to deliver an excellent service to internal and external clients.
• Ensure that all team-related administration (appraisals, weekly team meetings, one-to-one sessions, leave requests etc) is managed efficiently.

Person specification:

Work based competencies

• Educated to degree level
• Experience of a similar role in a professional services environment
• An understanding of the legal environment and experience of dealing with the legal press is desirable
• A structured, process driven approach coupled with Project management skills
• An ability to work sensitively with different cultures – French and/or German language skills an advantage.

Behavioural competencies

• A dynamic, commercial and determined individual who makes things happen
• Strong team leader who has the ability to motivate and set clear objectives
• Professional and able to work under pressure
• Self motivated with a high level of initiative and persistence
• The discipline to focus on a number of different projects and ensure that all deadlines are met
• The ability to work at both a strategic level as well as “get stuck in to the detail” where necessary