Head of Marketing Communications

Harper James is a growing and ambitious commercial law firm like no other. Forget any misconceptions you may have about the legal industry, we’re not stuffy or inhibited by traditions.

Founded in 2014, our purpose is as strong now as it was then – to enable growth-oriented businesses to succeed through delivering top-quality and accessible legal services by acting as partners in our clients’ journeys while our people enjoy a true work-life balance.

Harper James continues to grow at c40%+ year on year. This year, more than 120 people will support 2,500+ businesses and we expect to double our turnover over the next three years.

Our marketing team plays a pivotal role in this exciting journey and to help us achieve our ambitious growth plans, we’re looking for a highly experienced, creative and motivated Head of Marketing Communications to lead our marketing communication strategy.

This is an exciting new role, which offers the opportunity for someone to play a vital role in helping deliver on our growth strategy and elevating our brand recognition with our key target audiences and marketplace.

Established in 2014 by Toby Harper, our founder and CEO, Harper James is a new breed of commercial law firm. We work nationally with start-ups through to unicorns and long-running established businesses that may now be looking to scale or exit.

The Harper James model of highly experienced remote-working lawyers, clever use of technology coupled with unique subscription plans and fixed fee products, enables us to provide cost effective business legal services without compromising on quality.

Like many of our clients, we are ambitious, and we have high aspirations for the future. Our vision is of a world where all viable businesses thrive and contribute to a healthy economy through access to excellent legal services that are delivered by firms whose people enjoy a true work-life balance.

We are very proud of our unique culture, which is underpinned by seven core values. This is lived through everyone in the business in how we work with each other and our clients each day.

You could play a key role in helping us reach our ambitious growth targets and deliver on our vision.

Our marketing team works remotely with the possibility of working from our offices in Birmingham and Sheffield if preferred. We are ambitious, hardworking and collaborate effectively through daily touchpoints via Teams and great project management tools and systems. We also meet up for in-person team and training days in Birmingham on a quarterly basis.

If all of this excites you, we would love to hear from you.

• The opportunity to play a key role in a fast-growth business that is leading innovation in the legal service sector.
• Become an integral part of a highly supportive, collaborative and high performing marketing team who are delivering great results and that are at the cutting edge of marketing developments.
• Accelerated professional development and personal growth opportunities.
• A full-time role in a flexible and remote working environment.
• A competitive salary and benefits – including private health cover and life insurance scheme, salary sacrifice pension, 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), and Vitality membership.

In this key role within the marketing team and in collaboration with stakeholders across Harper James and externally, y our main responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development and execution of our marketing communications strategy, including planning and reporting regularly on an annual marketing plan.
• Establishing and reporting on relevant KPIs and metrics to track performance, analyse campaign effectiveness and optimise return on investment – instilling a true data-driven culture that seeks to enhance the success of our marketing communications initiatives.
• Providing strategic guidance to the wider marketing team, helping to foster best practice, creativity and innovation in our marketing initiatives and campaigns.
• Monitoring our competitive landscape and undertaking target market research and audience segmentation to identify opportunities for growth that inform our marketing communications strategy.
• Developing and delivering on a PR plan which is aligned with our vision – working closely with our PR & Communications Executive, the wider marketing team and internal stakeholders to develop/maintain key target media relationships and secure impactful media placements.
• Leading the strategy on thought leadership campaigns and activities that combine PR, social channels, advertising, events, design and digital elements.
• Contributing to our client listening activities and acting as the strategic lead on our client feedback programme and in the production of client stories and video testimonials.
• Developing effective internal communications and CSR strategies and overseeing the implementation with stakeholders across the business.
• Leading our employer branding strategy and tactics to support the growth of our business through attracting and retaining exceptional people.
• Overseeing and leading on our firmwide events programme, e.g., webinars, partnership and community events.
• Building a bank of credentials and leading the coordination and drafting of responses to pitch and tender opportunities for new business.
• Managing the marketing communications budget and relationships with relevant third-party content writers, partners, suppliers and agencies.
• Line managing a number of marketing managers and executives and helping lead and develop the wider team of marketing professionals.
• Playing a key role in our marketing team by making valuable contributions and giving timely and constructive feedback to encourage personal and career development of other members of the team.

If you have a strong track record of leading the marketing communications strategy and achieving great results within a B2B legal and/or professional services environment, and you’re someone who is looking to flourish and grow in your next role, we would love to explore how you could achieve great things with us here at Harper James.

You’ll ideally have:

• 10+ years’ experience in developing and delivering effective multi-channel marketing communications strategies within a B2B legal and/or professional services environment.
• A professional marketing qualification at degree or post graduate level.
• Excellent written (editorial level) and verbal communication skills – and a real passion for creating and leading on content that engages both internal and external audiences.
• A track record in leading on PR, social media and internal communication strategies which deliver results.
• Substantial experience managing and mentoring a team of marketing professionals.
• A team player mentality with a proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues, cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
• Proven project management skills and experience in stakeholder management and delivery on a variety of projects whilst working to tight deadlines.
• A strong commercial awareness and interest in current affairs and legal issues that impact businesses.
• Previous experience of working in an environment where marketing efforts are measured and for which you’re held accountable.
• An entrepreneurial spirit with a self-starter mindset and the strategic ability to anticipate and respond to market trends, developing effective solutions that guide marketing decisions and achieve business objectives.
• Awareness of your own and your colleagues’ strengths and development needs and a track record of building on these.

If you are ready to apply this role, please complete the application form using the link below.