Head of Communications in Manchester

We’re looking for an experienced and ambitious Head of Communications to lead our Corporate Communications team and help shape how our firm is seen, heard and understood. In this role, you’ll be responsible for delivering our internal and external communications strategies, aligned to our three-year plan, at a time of significant growth and change. As the legal services market continues to evolve at pace, this is a standout opportunity to work closely with senior leadership and colleagues across the firm to drive meaningful change for our clients, our people and the communities we serve.

Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer, you’ll lead and develop a high performing communications team, manage a network of external agencies and work with a wide range of stakeholders in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. We’re looking for a confident, energetic and solutions-focused leader who thrives on collaboration and brings ideas, momentum and clarity to everything they do. This is an exciting time to join a close knit, highly driven marketing team and play a pivotal role in a rapidly growing, independent and purpose-led law firm.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute internal and external communications strategies.
• Manage two colleagues in the communications team and oversee their work and development.
• Manage a roster of four communications agencies — overseeing True North, a network of over 500 like-minded organisations committed to supporting the future of the North, and media relations activity that aligns with the firm’s mission and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with the senior marketing team on alignment and integrated communications (including brand, digital content, social media and events).
• Work closely with our legal experts and enabling teams, such as business development, people and IT, to ensure alignment on goals and activity for our target audiences.
• Advise senior leadership on internal communications and engagement, including shaping, managing and coordinating regular in-person internal touchpoints such as our annual colleague conference (with the events team), regular colleague updates and sessions across our four offices.
• Manage all internal communications content channels and output including our weekly newsletter and regular HubSpot e shots.
• Oversee our awards programme and directory submissions including Legal 500 and Chambers.
• Oversee our social impact programmes’ external and internal communications strategies.
• Review and manage the communications budget in‑line with ROI.
• Advise on crisis and issues management.

Benefits

Our successful candidate will have an incredible opportunity to develop a rewarding and successful career with an award-winning law firm in a flexible and agile working environment. We provide a competitive salary and benefits package, including 25 days’ holiday (increasing to 32 days through our loyalty recognition programme) plus the option to purchase an extra five days each year. We also offer a pension scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection insurance, as well as plenty of opportunities to get involved in our colleague committees to make a real impact in the local community.

About Brabners

Brabners is purpose‑led independent law firm. A certified B Corp with award‑winning environmental credentials, we seek to demonstrate that business can bring about positive change by being innovative, diverse and sustainable. With over 200 years of history, we’re proudly anchored in the North but serve businesses and individuals across England and Wales. We have won awards for being innovative at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards and diverse as Manchester Law Society’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions. We are also recognised as one of the 25 best large companies to work for in the UK and have won The Legal 500 Future Lawyers awards for job satisfaction, quality of work, social life and work/life balance. We have a number of colleague‑led affinity groups including for LGBTQ+, REACH, physical and mental health and social mobility, as well as a sustainability, environmental and green group. It’s all part of how we make the difference.