Marketing & Communications Specialist

Help shape the future of intellectual property

Marks & Clerk is one of the world’s leading and largest firm of patent and trademark lawyers and agents with over 300 practitioners worldwide. We have 15 offices around the world including Canada (Toronto and Ottawa), UK (London, Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen), Europe (Luxembourg) and Asia (Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore). 

In Canada, our growing team of more than 25 lawyers and agents, offer a full spectrum of technical expertise on all aspects of intellectual property matters – including patents, trademarks, designs, and copyright. Our clients come from a diverse range of industries and include start-ups, small and medium sized businesses and large multi-national corporations that trust us to deliver high quality, seamless and cost-effective services, both locally and globally.

Role Purpose

The Marketing & Communications Specialist will play a key role in supporting the external positioning of the Marks & Clerk brand to build the market reputation of the firm with a focus on the Canadian offices, and its key practice areas and industry groups, as well as the individual professional brands of lawyers and agents located in Canada. 

Reporting to the Canadian National Director, Marketing & Business Development (MBD), and working closely with the Business Development Specialist for Canada, as well as the MBD team in the UK, this position can work from either our Toronto or Ottawa offices. 

In addition to working within the MBD team, the role also works closely with Canadian practice leaders, partners, associates, and firm administration colleagues in Canada, UK and elsewhere, to provide support across the full range of marketing and communications initiatives and in line with the firm’s strategic objectives, brand maintenance and client care goals. 

From the start, you will take ownership of many of the MBD team’s routine and recurring Marketing & Communications (MarComm) responsibilities. Over time, you will be empowered to take the lead on all Canadian MarComm initiatives and liaise on behalf of the Canadian MBD team with the UK’s equivalent. The ideal candidate is a confident, highly skilled and self-driven communications professional with the ability to work autonomously and as part of team, with the potential to take on higher level responsibilities on a fast-tracked basis.

Principal Responsibilities

Communications, Marketing Collateral and Digital Content

• Communications Strategy Support the National Director, MBD and the UK Communications Manager to develop messaging and execute comms activities included in the firm’s Communications Plans. This includes developing and creating convincing and appealing creative Canadian content for global and local communications campaigns, press releases and social media.
• Marketing Collateral Oversee the development of general marketing materials (client emails, Team Sheets, short brochures, published fee schedules, event invitations, presentation decks for speaking engagements, etc.) to support client care and other programs; provide ongoing review and revision of all collateral. Maintain an inventory of marketing materials available.
• Digital Content Writing and/or copy-editing Canadian content for website (practice areas, sector pages, thought leadership articles, news items, event announcements, lawyer and agent biographies, etc.), social media, and email content, ensuring appropriate tone of voice and accurate use of Canadian English spelling and grammar. Daily management of Canadian content for LinkedIn, www.marks-clerk.com and MailChimp.
  

Media, Public Relations and Thought Leadership

Working with the National Director, MBD, the Business Development Committee (BDC) and the UK Corporate Communications team):

• Identify hot topics for publication to support the brand in Canada and for campaigns that raise the profile of M&C internationally in key markets.
• Organize, coordinate and manage requests for commentary and thought leadership from Canadian partners and associates across all practice areas of the firm.
• Build relationships with key journalists and publications of interest or relevant IP & Legal industry groups and sites in Canada.
• Field and log any / all incoming Canadian media enquiries and manage with input from BDC and Canadian practice leaders.
• Provide guidance and coaching to lawyers and agents on best practices to leverage social media to build their professional profiles e.g., LinkedIn.
• Manage key metrics for website content, media coverage and social media performance that will inform regular reports to senior management for the Canadian firm.
• Track coverage of M&C in the media in Canada and promote across the relevant channels

Communications Support for MBD Initiatives, Activities and Programs 

Ensure all MarComm activities are highly integrated with our BD Growth plans, and provide communications support and oversight for the following activities:

• Pitches, Proposals and Presentations Update generic credential and information packages and other pitch and proposal materials. Work with the BD Specialist to customize responses to RFIs and RFPs. Ensure all communications are proofread and brand compliant.
• Directory and Award Submissions Provide communications support to assist in drafting content for submissions to Awards/Directories and in the preparation of suitable announcements for the website and social channels to promote results.
• Client / Market Events Work with the BDC and BD Specialist to plan and manage virtual, client-focused events e.g., webinars, virtual presentations on Teams.
• Email Marketing Contacts & CASL compliance Update and maintain the firm's marketing contacts and relationship databases (together with the Business Development Specialist). Ensure all external marketing communications are CASL compliant. 
• Communications Coaching: Provide marketing and communications coaching to Marks & Clerks Canadian Associates on how to develop their individual professional brand.
• Business Development Committee (BDC) In conjunction with the National Director, MBD, and on rotation with the BD Specialist, schedule monthly meetings, prepare and circulate the agenda; attend as an active participant; prepare minutes and action items arising for the BDC's review and approval.
• Branded items Make recommendations for creative and practical branded items to be used in context of business development activities (e.g. at conferences or as gifts for client trips and visits); source items and work with Office Managers to monitor inventory, distribution and usage.
• Vendors Own and manage relationships with MarCom vendors (e.g. printers, graphic designers and agencies, photographers, etc.); obtain quotes and approval for expenditures where required and provide Finance with the information required to process payments.
• Budgets and Expenses Prepare and obtain approval for marketing expenses included in the annual department budget; monitor actual expenses and provide explanation to National Director, MBD of variances on a quarterly basis. 
• Other related projects, from time to time.

Skills and Experience

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Positive, can-do attitude with good problem-solving skills.
• Client service orientated and able to take constructive feedback.
• Excellent attention to detail, time management and organization skills.
• Proven ability to work well both independently and in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple stakeholder demands with tact and diplomacy, especially when under time pressures.
• Tech savvy, with advanced level skills in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• A working knowledge of Canva or similar graphic design platform.
• Embraces continuous learning and has a growth mindset.
• French language skills are desirable, but not essential.

Professional Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will have a minimum of:

• 5 years’ experience in a marketing and communications or PR focused role,
• Undergraduate degree or post-grad equivalent in Marketing /Communications/Business Studies.
• Direct experience working within a professional services environment (law firm, accounting or consulting practice).

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter to HR@marks-clerk.ca.

Marks & Clerk Canada is an equal opportunity employer and will provide accommodations during the recruitment process upon request.

Currently, firm members enjoy a hybrid arrangement, working 2 days in the office and 2-3 days from home.

Marks & Clerk Canada requires all firm members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Any exemption request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and granted only where the request meets the requirements of applicable legislation.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.