External Relations Manager - Marketing & Sales Practice

Job Description

Who You'll Work With

You will work in either our New York or Chicago office as part of our Marketing & Sales (M&S) Practice.

The Marketing & Sales (M&S) Practice is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic functional practices at McKinsey . M&S brings together four well-established global service lines: Marketing, Sales & Channel, Pricing & Margin Management, and Product & Customer Experience and operates as a truly integrated global group with approximately 120 Partners in North America. In this role, you will work closely with our North America M&S Leadership team as well as each of our Service Line Practice Managers and the Global Growth Content Manager. You will be a collaborative part of the close-knit Global M&S Reach & Relevance Team and will also be embedded into the firm’s Communications function.

What You'll Do

You will be the go-to person for Marketing & Sales Reach & Relevance (R&R) / external relations program, responsible for crafting and implementing a comprehensive strategic communications program to build the reputation of M&S to become known as the leading authority on growth among its core constituency – senior executives in the world’s leading private sector organizations.

You will build and implement a comprehensive overall Marketing & Sales reputation building program, designed to strategically help advance our global priorities in North America, working with Practice Leadership and Service Lines Leaders to tailor elements of the strategic plan.

In addition, you will provide first-class media relations, public relations, and targeted dissemination of papers and publications. Building and maintaining a robust list of strategic media contacts and a plan to develop dialogues with each. Secure media coverage in top publications and relevant trade press.

You will also support the practice’s publishing efforts and content marketing strategy in close collaboration with the Senior Manager of Editorial & Digital Communications for M&S and increase high touch dissemination of M&S content to clients and clientele and create a leading-edge digital content marketing strategy.

It is also your responsibility to create overarching social media strategy and launch individual programs for our spokespeople. You will drive ongoing collaboration with firm and Digital McKinsey social media teams to identify opportunities for cross-pollination of content and followers. Liaising with vendors managing social media profiles, providing input, guidance, and approvals for content on an ongoing basis.

You will manage relationships with external partner organizations, academic networks (e.g. ANA, Kellogg Marketing Leadership Summit) and communication advisors (e.g. PR agencies, freelance writers), as appropriate. You will also manage M&S’ presence at blockbuster/flagship events (e.g., keynote speeches, panels, meetings/events with senior executives, client dinners and press engagement) and Senior Executive Alumni events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, post-graduate degree preferred; excellent academic record
• Substantial, credible experience in a communications-related field (e.g., journalism, PR, public affairs) or in a communications role in a professional services or other B2B environment
• Experience in creating and driving multi channel external communications programs (digital, social media, CRM, press, events)
• Experience in reputation risk management
• Working knowledge of Marketing & Sales or the ability to come up this learning curve quickly and gain credibility
• Strong external network providing access to key players and decision makers in Marketing & Sales
• Working relationships with editors and journalists at top publications, especially in the US
• Proven ability to cultivate relationships with external parties
• Outstanding communication skills to be able to tailor and craft messages to any audience
• Ability to achieve creative, innovative communications and reputation building strategies and deliverables that meet the unique needs of a rapidly growing group within a complex and established global organization
• Self-motivation and entrepreneurship, with an appetite for working in a low-structure environment
• High comfort level with uncertainty and creativity balanced with impeccable judgement and intuition in dealing with use of confidential information and the McKinsey brand
• Confidence and credibility to serve as a thought partner with senior leaders; considered a trusted advisor
• Experience developing appropriate messages and supporting reach and relevance plans to target clients(ele) and other stakeholders
• Superior project management skills; proven ability to plan and execute complex projects from start to finish, delivering distinctive results on time and within budget