Director, Strategic Communications

Kilpatrick, an AmLaw 100, international law firm, is seeking a Director of Strategic Communications in our Atlanta office to lead the Firm's communications strategy and help elevate the Firm's brand internally and externally. Working as part of the Firm's Marketing & Business Development (MBD) Department, this executive leadership role is responsible for shaping and amplifying Kilpatrick's market narrative, strengthening its reputation among clients, prospects, recruits, media, and referral sources, and advancing the Firm's strategic priorities through integrated, data-driven communications.

This individual works closely with Firm leadership, partners, department chiefs, and MBD colleagues to develop and execute integrated communications programs across media relations, internal communications, social media, website content, recognition, and thought leadership. This hands-on leader manages the Communications team, external public relations agencies, drives strategy, timelines, and accountability; ensures consistent messaging, and visual identity; and handles crisis communications. This role and the Communications team reporting to them will use CRM and other evolving technology and data analytics tools to leverage client intelligence, emerging technologies, and AI-enabled platforms to deliver measurable business impact and gain efficiencies across the department.

The Director of Communications reports to the Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer.

Essential Job Functions

Strategy and Management

• Develop and implement a communications strategy, plan, and budget aligned with Firm objectives and market priorities.
• Lead the Communications team, including campaign management, public relations, editorial, recognition, social media, internal communications, digital media, and website content.
• Collaborate closely with Firm leadership, practice leaders, department chiefs, and colleagues across the Marketing team, including business development, events, and related functions.
• Work closely with the Firm's Senior Communications & Brand Manager to ensure consistency of voice, messaging, visual identity, and positioning across all channels, audiences, and jurisdictions.
• Oversee integrated, multi-channel campaigns from strategy through execution, ensuring strong planning, effective collaboration, efficient processes, and measurable results.
• Oversee any public relations firms, writers, digital partners, and other communications resources, including development of RFPs and procurement steps.
• Drive data-informed decision-making by using analytics, audience insights, and performance metrics to improve engagement, strengthen content effectiveness, and enhance operational performance.

• Establish KPIs measuring business impact, including share of voice, executive visibility, media sentiment, audience engagement, campaign performance, and competitive benchmarking.

Communications and Technology

• Lead media relations by cultivating relationships with target publications, securing placements in top-tier business, legal, and trade outlets, and managing internal resources and any external public relations agencies.
• Manage crisis and issues communications, including the preparation of statements, Q&As, briefing materials, stakeholder messaging, and rapid response protocols.
• Oversee content creation across channels, including thought leadership articles, newsletters, social media campaigns, video, podcasts, web content, internal communications, and executive messaging.
• Oversee the Firm's social media strategy across relevant platforms, ensuring that social channels support brand visibility, thought leadership, recruiting, client engagement, and Firm culture.
• Establish platform-specific content strategies, governance standards, approval processes, and measurement practices to increase reach, engagement, and consistency.
• Help oversee the Firm's website as a core brand and business development platform, ensuring that it effectively showcases the Firm's people, practices, experience, insights, and culture. Partner with Marketing, technology, and external vendors to improve user experience, content quality, search optimization, accessibility, analytics, and ongoing site performance.
• Manage recognition efforts by partnering with practice and industry leaders to showcase the Firm's experience and drive award submissions, survey responses, and work closely with Marketing on coordinating directory rankings.
• Direct internal communications, including firmwide announcements, leader and talent communications, intranet content, and all-hands presentations to enhance employee engagement and alignment.
• Direct the Firm's annual AmLaw survey and interview process, overseeing internal submission preparation and executive interview readiness while serving as the primary external liaison to AmLaw.
• Manage media relations protocols, including communications guidelines and attribution parameters (on the record, background, off the record) when engaging with reporters, and proactively shape story framing and headline positioning to advance the firm's narrative in resulting coverage.

Knowledge/Skills Required

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in marketing communications in a law firm, consulting firm, or other professional services environment. Law firm experience is required.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience managing a marketing communications team.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing social media strategies for a sophisticated professional services brand, including content planning, channel governance, executive visibility, performance reporting, and audience engagement.
• Demonstrated experience managing website strategy, content governance, search optimization, analytics, and user experience in partnership with internal stakeholders and external vendors.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to influence, build trust, and persuade across all levels of the organization.
• Deep and accessible network with media and PR outlets and agencies.
• Strong media relations, relationship management, brand, editorial, and digital communications judgment.
• Strong skills in strategy development, CRM-driven communications, audience segmentation, digital analytics, AI-enabled communications technologies, and modern media platforms, project management, problem solving, and change management.
• Experience successfully building, coaching, and motivating a high-performing team.
• Professional and positive approach, with a self-motivated and collaborative working style.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly and succinctly present recommendations related to complex issues; Strong writing skills personal but also from a brand perspective.
• Experience with business-related programs and platforms, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, project management software, website content management systems, social media management tools, analytics platforms, and AI-enabled tools.

This is a full-time, regular position with a multi-faceted health benefit package including medical, dental, and vision. The firm also offers life insurance, short term disability plans and retirement plans in addition to holidays and paid time off. The firm offers hybrid work schedules combining in office work days as well as remote work days. The pay range for this position in Atlanta only is $250,000 to $275,000 per year.

Selected applicants will be contacted. Kilpatrick is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information about our firm, please visit our website at www.ktslaw.com.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP is committed to equal employment opportunity for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex or gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities