External Communications Sr. Associate

Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd., one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. We’ve never been a typical professional services firm. We put people first, and that is what sets us apart.

As one of the fastest-growing professional services firms in the world, Grant Thornton LLP is continuously seeking top talent. Discover a place where you’ll work with a team of professionals, dedicated to providing bold leadership and distinctive client service. Spend each day engaged in meaningful and challenging work. Be supported in your professional growth and recognized for your contributions.

https://www.grantthornton.com/

Position Details

External Communications Sr. Associate
Job
Full-time
2/26/2021
Chicago Illinois
Chicago, IL

As the External Communications Senior Associate, the position will assist in furthering Grant Thornton LLP’s reputation as a leading accounting and consulting firm – in line with the firm’s brand strategy and calling on a range of public relations skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Play an integral role in executing Grant Thornton’s external-communications strategy 
  • Draft and review media materials including press releases, alerts, subject-matter-expert biographies, pitches, talking points, press kits, award submissions, byline articles and social media content 
  • Collaborate with the firm’s internal and external constituents to develop and execute strategies that position the firm and its leadership. These constituents include marketing-team members, legal, finance, HR, public policy and key internal clients 
  • Steer social media programs for key members of Grant Thornton’s Senior Leadership Team. The goal: Ensure that our highest-profile leaders have a distinct voice in the marketplace among clients, prospects, communities, influencers, recruits and regulators/policymakers 
  • Develop a social-media content strategy; develop an optimal posting schedule (consistent with Grant Thornton’s overall content strategy); craft posts/content to sustain readers’ curiosity and create buzz; grow and enhance personal online contact networks for members of Senior Leadership Team 
  • Collaborate with and supervise PR agencies and vendors to develop and execute communication strategies that align with the firm’s brand strategy 
  • Develop and execute communication strategies for firmwide and local-market announcements 
  • Support, develop and execute communication strategies for service lines and industries.
  • Strategize, develop and leverage the firm’s national thought leadership and intellectual property – positioning subject-matter experts with the media to demonstrate firm’s in-depth knowledge and expertise 
  • Develop and enhance media relationships with relevant trade, local and national media 
  • Coordinate daily media inquiries, submissions and response 
  • Prepare subject-matter experts for interview opportunities in line with firm’s media and interview guidelines; provide relevant media background and talking points; coordinate and monitor interviews 
  • Collaborate with legal and draft responses to crisis communications and issues-management activities 
  • Ensure consistent messaging, themes that align with the firm’s brand strategy 
  • Develop and execute office opening/relocation communications strategy from start to finish 
  • Provide media metrics for firmwide thought leadership, crisis communications and firm leadership announcements 
  • Manage “Newsroom” and other communications-related pages on firm’s external website 
  • Conduct daily media monitoring and daily clips distribution 
  • Develop, manage and maintain firm’s media databases and lead in maintenance of media tracking and reporting 
  • Support and provide guidance on media inquiries and other PR-related tasks, including new hire leadership announcements to local-office marketers 
  • Research and execute recommendations for media inquiries and opportunities on both a national and local level 
  • Lead charge in developing and submitting media surveys 
  • Perform other related communications duties as assigned
  • Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications or English 
  • 5-7 years of experience working in public relations, communications, public affairs or media relations – with PR-agency experience preferred 
  • Strong media-relations skills 
  • Demonstrate strong ability to write, edit and proof content in a smart and compelling way.
  • Ability to translate complex business/financial materials into content that resonates with a general audience. 
  • Strong knowledge of AP style 
  • High proficiency using social media as a tool for engagement 
  • Strong interpersonal communication and networking skills: professional judgment, high ethical standards, willingness to learn and innovate, tact, confidentiality and diplomacy in handling various matters 
  • Strong organizational skills 
  • Solid analytical and research skills 
  • Sound skill with Microsoft applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

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