Firm Summary
White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. Our long history as an international firm means we are perfectly placed to help our clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may be.
With lawyers operating from more than 40 locations, working in virtually every country of the world, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality full-service practice competing at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in the world’s key financial markets and our strengths in handling complex cross-border work.
It’s not just about our global network of offices; it’s the global interconnectedness of the Firm that our people, and our clients, value most. We work well together across geographic and practice boundaries. It’s one of the reasons we attract and retain cross-border work. And why we attract a diverse group of people.
Our lawyers are globally minded, enterprising, collaborative and committed to excellence. Diversity is a core value of our Firm and it has been recognized with numerous awards and top rankings around the world. Our people represent 90 nationalities and speak 80 languages.
Position Summary
The Director of Content Strategy leads the development of the Firm’s global content strategy and the creation of compelling, thought-provoking content that resonates with audiences of importance - including clients, potential clients, lateral partner prospects, job candidates, and media - while reinforcing the Firm’s brand and positioning throughout both the legal industry and the broader global business community. The Director of Content Strategy will lead the implementation of a “newsroom” approach and mindset to reporting on behalf of the Firm and programming its channels with compelling content delivered in modern and human ways.
The Director of Content Strategy will serve as a strategic advisor to our partners and senior leaders, helping them identify distinct themes, timely topics and in-depth perspectives that drive client acquisition and retention, promote the Firm’s brand and reputation, and raise the profile of our leaders and partners. This includes creating and delivering distinctive White & Case content through newly built franchises, aligned directly with the Firm’s brand, and leveraging all available formats and channels (e.g. audio, video, digital, social, newsletter).
A key metric of success will be collaboration across the Firm, both with embedded business development teams to mine content themes related to the Firm’s practice areas and/or global industry groups, and with other key areas of the marketing communications department (e.g. social media, integrated marketing, media relations) to develop targeted distribution of content efforts to relevant audiences.
Duties and Accountabilities1
Strategic Influence & Analytical Thinking
- Develop and execute a global content strategy for the Firm that supports both its long-term strategy and near-term business objectives
- Work closely with partners and Business Development leads to develop and execute holistic content strategies for the Firm’s key practice areas, industry groups and other relevant business areas
- Encourage a firm-first, newsroom mindset across the Business Development and Marketing function, to improve the timeliness, relevance, creativity, and coordination of content outputs
- Develop and bring to market dedicated White & Case content franchises (e.g. podcast series, ownable video series, newsletters) that reinforce the White & Case brand, resonate with our key audiences and set a new bar for legal industry content
- Work with the Global Head of Communications and other senior colleagues to initiate and develop integrated programs that leverage the full range of marketing resources, tools and knowledge
- Work closely with the Media Relations Director and the Internal Communications Director to ensure internal and external communications are aligned, particularly as to the Firm’s brand positioning
- Partner with other BDM colleagues to identify and manage and curate the content that is published on Firm-owned channels, including whitecase.com and social media channels
- Together with the Firm’s Creative Services team, supervise production of key Firm-driven marketing materials, including the Firm’s Annual Review, Corporate Citizenship Review and alumni newsletter
Execution & Operations
- Develop an annual budget for the Content Strategy department that aligns with BDM’s broader annual strategic plan and the Firm’s strategy and business objectives
- Create and maintain budgets for large projects and initiatives, including tracking and monitoring all production costs and reconciling projects on completion
- Evaluate existing tools and resources, including external agency partners, annually to ensure they are providing value for money
- Develop and maintain a protocol for commissioning content projects, which includes screening requests, assisting their strategic value and alignment with communications objectives, and sets clear expectations for delivery
- Develop and maintain a Firm-wide editorial calendar that provides transparency into on the various stages of content development
- Develop and maintain best practices, style guides and templates to ensure consistently high-quality work product
- In conjunction with other areas of the communications and business development teams, Identify and implement systems and processes to monitor and measure success and demonstrate value of the Firm’s content efforts
Team Management
- Supervise the members of the Content Strategy team and ensure close collaboration and coordination with colleagues across the other communications disciplines as well as Creative Services, Marketing Technology, Business Development and other key stakeholders across the Firm
- Oversee all content-related initiatives to ensure they are high quality and delivered within budget and on time
- Work with the Global Head of Communications to develop an engaged, high-performing team and cultivate the career development of all team members
- As needed, authorize the engagement with external vendors, agencies and freelancers
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations or equivalent
- Advanced degree (MA, JD, MBA) a plus
- At least 15 years’ experience in the communications field, including meaningful experience in a newsroom or leading content development in-house on the brand or publisher side
- Excellent writing and editing skills; a persuasive communicator to internal and external audiences
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a focus on storytelling, branded content and customer service
- Proven ability to develop marketing communications plans and strategies to support specific, actionable business objectives
- Strong organizational and time management skills, and the ability to juggle multiple projects
- Supervisory/management experience and strong teambuilding skills
- Fluency in the digital space and understanding of new and emerging trends in digital communications
- Creative and strategic mindset
- Ability to see the big picture
- Confident and credible professional presence with a high degree of comfort speaking to and advising internal clients including senior Firm leaders
- Strong problem-solving, relationship-building and interpersonal skills across a range of tasks and audiences
- Strategic thinker who excels at identifying communications obstacles and opportunities, and developing innovative solutions to address them
- Experience managing project and department budgets
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Client service orientation
Location and Reporting
- This role is base in our New York office.
- This role reports to the Global Head of Communications.
Equal Opportunities
White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.
Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact talent.acquisition@whitecase.com.
Benefits
White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.
The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.
1The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.
