Communications Executive

Location: Cambridge
Discipline: Marketing
Contact name: Charlotte Jarman

Contact email: [email protected]
Contact phone: 01223 222272
Vacancy reference: 016192
Closing date: 23 August 2022
Startdate: 21 June 2022 - 21 June 2022

This role can be based in any of our Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester or Norwich offices

 

The role

This is a national role with responsibility for creating and driving communications both internally and externally. This is an exciting opportunity to join an award-winning team where you will have the autonomy to plan, produce and deliver engaging, results driven content and campaigns.  Mills & Reeve is moving towards a hybrid model of working so while there can be an element of working from home you will also be required to be based in our offices for at least half of your working week.  Travel to our other offices is also likely to be required at some stage.

 

The team

You will be the fourth member of an established comms team which is led by Rob Neal, Head of Communications. As part of the wider Marketing team, the role requires close liaison with many people and in particular the marketing technology and business development teams, knowledge learning and development team, our lawyers and their executive assistants, as well as external marketing and design agencies.

 

Main duties and responsibilities

Content creation

  • Co-ordinate and project manage content marketing campaigns
  • Liaise with relevant lawyers and business development and knowledge learning and development teams to create a broad range of content and campaigns, including reports, video, legal briefings, blogs, podcasts and email updates
  • Monitor the firm’s social media accounts and keep them up to date with fresh content
  • Create case studies and other content for campaigns
  • Write impactful award entries
  • Co-ordinate the regular and timely sending of marketing emails and feedback stats on open and click through rates to teams
  • Proofread materials for house style, accuracy, messaging and appropriateness for the channel
  • Liaise with teams to produce reports and other publications such as sector brochures and liaise with external agencies such as designers, printers and mailing houses
  • Write copy for a range of marketing materials, including hard copy publications, email newsletters, brochures, and reports
  • Assist with the legal directory submission process in terms of proof reading and liaising with the BD team to secure content
  • Support search engine optimisation activities through online PR and monitoring materials for appropriate inclusion of target keywords
  • Facilitate and support the management and regular updating of the content on the firm's website and other digital channels
  • Plan and produce video content with external agencies
  • Plan and produce podcasts with external agencies

PR

  • Liaise with relevant lawyers to write press releases and other editorial content such as feature articles
  • Add press releases and articles to the main Mills & Reeve website in a timely manner
  • Highlight press releases on Mills & Reeve’s social media channels
  • Ensure external PR agencies can access legal spokespeople
  • Set-up media training for lawyers when appropriate
  • Flag potential crisis/issues management scenarios in a timely manner

Brand

  • Monitor materials for adherence to the firm’s brand guidelines and house style
  • Ensure the firm’s brand is communicated effectively and consistently
  • Assist with the development of internal templates in line with brand guidelines

Design

  • Develop marketing collateral, including social media tiles, animated slides and branded documents, in house using a wide range of software from Canva to InDesign.
  • Advertising/advertorials
  • Advise on effectiveness of opportunities
  • Develop advertising/advertorial to ensure opportunities are utilised effectively and adhere to brand guidelines
  • Liaise with external design agencies to develop adverts, both print and online

 

Measures of success

  • Delivery of engaging content which will be demonstrated by a regular flow of a wide range of content, accurate, error-free content, content that is well read and reflects well on the firm, adherence to firm’s house style and writing guidelines, deadlines and budgets met, innovative use of all media, including social, content reviews to check materials still fit for purpose, understanding of competitors’ approach to content creation, understanding of best practice/best in class approach to content and positive feedback.
  • Effective communication of the firm’s image which will be demonstrated by helping to develop PR schedule by working with BDAs to source content and drafting press releases and other materials.
  • Enhance the firm’s social media presence which will be demonstrated by increased engagement, training and advice to others, regularly reviewing to check process and approach is still relevant and report statistics and performance back to relevant stakeholders.
  • Enhance content on the main firm website which will be demonstrated by weekly updates of key pages, maximise new content across the site, liaising with others to ensure web content is accurate and relevant and some SEO work.
  • Strong support to the Business Development team and other marketing teams which will be demonstrated by regular meetings with the BD team and other wider marketing team members and effective communications to ensure all are updated on progress of projects.

The person

You are expected to demonstrate strengths in terms of:

  • Previous experience in a similar role, ideally within professional services
  • Previous working knowledge of a website content management system
  • Previous working knowledge of an email marketing system
  • Previous working knowledge of using social media in a corporate environment
  • Experience of using Canva, InDesign or other similar design tools
  • Previous experience of producing podcasts and video content
  • Experience of managing external PR and design agencies
  • Experience in controlling brand guidelines across a business

The role requires:

  • Education to degree level or equivalent
  • Excellent level of written English and confident proofing others work
  • Proven experience of communicating at all levels
  • A great writer with an eye for detail
  • Able to bring creativity to campaigns
  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously
  • Highly confident with a strong work ethic
  • Confidence to communicate with lawyers and other senior members of staff face to face as well as by phone and email
  • Travel to our other offices as required

 

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to access your character and suitability.

 

The Mills & Reeve Business Services career structure

We have a firm wide Business Services career structure and a published career progression framework.  Within the firm wide career structure there are five career levels.  For the purposes of the framework, this role is at an Advisor level.  Further information on the firm’s Business Services career structure is available from the HR team.