Brodies LLP
Head of Communications
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Head of Communications
Based in Edinburgh or Glasgow office
REPORTING TO
Business Development and Marketing Director
JOB PURPOSE
The Head of Communications is responsible for leading Brodies' communications function and developing strategies that enhance the firm's reputation, strengthen its brand, support business growth, and engage colleagues.
Reporting to the BD & Marketing Director, the Head of Communications works as a key member of the BD&M leadership team, collaborating with the Heads of Business Development, Marketing, and Clients Sectors & International (CSI) to ensure a joined-up approach to growth, brand, and client engagement. Together, the leadership team develops and delivers integrated strategies that align communications, business development, marketing campaigns, client insight, and relationship activities with the firm's strategic objectives.
The Head of Communications provides specialist leadership and direction on reputation, media relations, internal communications, content, and stakeholder engagement, working with colleagues across the firm to ensure consistent messaging, effective use of client and market insight, and the successful delivery of initiatives that strengthen Brodies' market position, support client acquisition and retention, and enhance colleague engagement and employer brand. This collaborative approach ensures that communications activity is fully integrated with business development and marketing priorities, maximizing impact for the firm and its clients.
The role also provides strategic communications counsel to the firm’s boards, partners, and business services directors and leads internal and external communications, media relations, reputation management, content strategy, and integrated campaigns, ensuring a consistent and compelling voice across all audiences and channels.
CORE TASKS
Strategic communications
- Develop and deliver the firm's communications strategy.
- Translate business strategy into compelling narratives and communications programmes.
- Provide strategic communications counsel to the firm’s boards, partners, and senior leaders.
- Ensure messaging is aligned, consistent, and supports the firm's strategic ambitions.
Reputation management and crisis communications
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- Protect and enhance Brodies' reputation.
- Lead horizon scanning to identify emerging reputational, regulatory, political, and market risks and opportunities, enabling the firm to anticipate potential issues, provide timely strategic advice to leadership, and take proactive action to protect and enhance Brodies' reputation before issues escalate.
- Manage communications relating to potential sensitive issues, crises, and reputational matters.
- Participate in business continuity exercises.
- Ensure senior leaders are appropriately briefed and media trained.
Press and media relations
- Develop and maintain relationships with journalists, industry commentators, and external agencies.
- Lead media relations activities across Scotland, the UK, and relevant international markets.
- Identify and secure profiling opportunities for partners, subject matter experts, and sector specialists.
Internal communications and engagement
- Lead internal communications strategy and planning.
- Support leadership communications, colleague engagement, and firmwide change initiatives.
- Work closely with People Engagement to reinforce culture and values.
- Ensure colleagues are informed, engaged, and connected to the firm's strategic direction.
Campaigns and content
- Lead strategic communications campaigns supporting firmwide, sector, and practice area objectives.
- Oversee the creation and distribution of content across digital, social, video, podcast, intranet, and traditional channels.
- Drive innovation in content formats, audience engagement, and storytelling.
- Ensure content reflects the firm's expertise, values, and brand standards.
Brand and positioning
- Support the continued development of the Brodies brand.
- Drive initiatives that position the firm as both a leading adviser and an employer of choice.
- Ensure external communications support market differentiation and business development objectives.
Directories, awards, and recognition
- Oversee the legal directories submission strategy and process.
- Prepare award submissions and market recognition programmes.
- Ensure submissions and supporting communications reinforce the firm's strategic positioning, brand value, and key messages.
Leadership and team management
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- Lead, coach, and develop the communications team.
- Set priorities, allocate resources, and build future capability within the function.
- Collaborate closely with People Engagement, Innovation and Technology, Business Assurance, Finance, and legal teams, as well as the broader Business Development and Marketing function.
Measurement and insight
- Establish KPIs and performance measures for communications activity.
- Monitor reputation, media coverage, audience engagement, and campaign effectiveness.
- Use data and insights to continuously improve communications performance and demonstrate value to the firm.
- Be aware of Brodies’ information security policies, and protect information assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, destruction, or interference at all times.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
- Significant senior-level communications experience, ideally within professional services or a partnership environment.
- Expertise in corporate communications, media relations, and reputation management.
- Experience of crisis and issues management.
- Experience advising senior executives and leadership teams.
- Strong strategic planning and project management capability.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Experience leading integrated communications campaigns across multiple channels.
- Proven leadership and people management experience.
- Strong understanding of digital communications, social media, and emerging communications technologies.
Desirable
- Experience within legal services or another regulated professional services sector.
- Knowledge of employer branding and colleague engagement strategies.
- Experience managing legal directories, rankings, and professional awards.
Success measures
- Enhanced reputation and brand perception.
- Increased visibility of Brodies' expertise in priority markets.
- Strong colleague engagement and understanding of firm strategy.
- Effective management of reputational issues and media opportunities.
- Delivery of measurable, high-impact communications campaigns.
- Development of a high-performing communications team.
- Clear demonstration of communications' contribution to Brodies' strategic objectives.
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