Director of External Communications

Jackson Lewis P.C.•West Harrison, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Jackson Lewis P.C. is a preeminent workplace law firm focused on employment and labor law since 1958. With over 1,000 attorneys nationwide, the firm helps employers develop proactive strategies and business-oriented solutions to cultivate high-functioning workforces. The firm is seeking a senior communications leader to shape, protect, and strengthen its public profile. Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, the Director of External Communications will provide strategic leadership for the firm’s external communications, including public relations, crisis communications, social media, awards, employer brand, and external partnerships. The role involves managing team members and collaborating across departments. The ideal candidate is a strategic, collaborative, and hands-on leader with strong judgment, excellent writing skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a professional services environment, comfortable advising senior stakeholders and building trusted relationships.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or a related field.
10+ years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, media relations, or reputation management, preferably within a law firm, professional services firm or similarly complex organization.
Experience managing, coaching, and developing communications professionals, including setting priorities, providing feedback, and ensuring accountability for high-quality execution.
Collaborative, hands-on leadership style, with the ability to build strong cross-functional relationships, foster a positive team environment and contribute directly to execution when needed.
Strong experience in media relations, executive messaging, crisis communications, and issues management.
Ability to quickly develop deep fluency in legal, business, and reputational issues and translate complex topics into clear, credible communications.
Strong judgment, discretion, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving, highly confidential environment.
Excellent writing, editing, and messaging skills, with the ability to tailor communications for multiple external audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a law firm, legal organization, or similarly complex, reputation-driven professional services environment strongly preferred.
Experience overseeing awards and recognition programs, community engagement, corporate social responsibility, or external partnership communications.
J.D. or other meaningful legal industry experience is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and develop team members responsible for public relations, social media, and awards and recognition programs.
Provide coaching, feedback, and guidance to strengthen team performance, judgment, and professional growth.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented team culture.
Develop and lead an integrated external communications strategy to strengthen the firm’s visibility, credibility, and market position.
Lead the firm’s public relations and media relations strategy, including media outreach, story development, spokesperson positioning, and reporter relationships.
Partner with firm leadership and subject matter experts to identify and elevate timely, high-value stories.
Oversee development of press materials, media messaging, reactive statements, and other external communications assets.
Serve as a senior communications lead for external issues management and crisis response planning.
Develop messaging frameworks, holding statements, and response plans during high-risk situations.
Oversee the firm’s social media strategy, ensuring channels support firm visibility, thought leadership, brand consistency, and audience engagement.
Guide social content that elevates firm news, thought leadership, people, culture, community engagement, and market strengths.
Partner with the Talent team to strengthen the firm’s employer brand and support recruiting priorities.
Help shape external perception of Jackson Lewis as a workplace, including oversight of platforms such as Glassdoor.
Oversee the firm’s awards and recognition strategy, ensuring submissions align with business priorities, brand positioning, and visibility goals.
Lead the team responsible for award submissions, including prioritization, messaging, quality control, and deadline management.
Partner with stakeholders to support communications strategy for key external partnerships and signature initiatives.
Identify ways to leverage partnership efforts to increase visibility, reinforce firm values, and deepen reputational impact.
Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure initiatives are communicated effectively and authentically.