Associate Director External Communications – Legal & Regulatory

**About the role**  Wolters Kluwer is seeking an experienced external communications professional to lead media relations and external storytelling for its Legal & Regulatory (LR) division in Europe.  This role is responsible for **building and executing a proactive external communications and media strategy**, strengthening the visibility of the division, and connecting divisional narratives to the broader Wolters Kluwer brand.  The position sits within the central External Communications function and operates in a **matrix environment**, partnering closely with divisional leadership, communications, marketing, and external agency teams.  **Important context:**  * The role is **focused on Europe initially**, with potential to evolve in scope over time  * It combines **strategic ownership and hands-on execution**  * It is a **newly defined role**, requiring someone comfortable building structure, influencing stakeholders, and driving change  **Core mission**  * Shift external communications from primarily reactive press-led activity to a **proactive, integrated media engagement strategy**  * Build and strengthen **divisional narrative, thought leadership, and executive visibility**  * Drive **meaningful media engagement** across business, technology, and legal industry publications  * Act as a **subject matter expert in media relations**, shaping how the organisation engages with journalists and external audiences  **Key responsibilities**  **1\. Strategy & narrative development**  * Develop and own the **external communications and media relations strategy** for the LR division in Europe  * Translate business priorities into **clear external communications priorities and narratives**  * Ensure alignment between **divisional messaging and enterprise brand positioning**  **2\. Media relations & thought leadership**  * Design and execute **proactive media engagement programmes**, moving beyond press releases to:   * thought leadership campaigns  * executive visibility opportunities  * strategic media partnerships  * Build and maintain relationships with **target media across legal tech, business, and technology domains**  * Identify story opportunities based on **industry trends, business developments, and competitive positioning**  **3\. Stakeholder partnership & influence**  * Act as a **trusted advisor** to divisional and communications leadership by:   * providing expert guidance on media strategy  * constructively challenging non-strategic requests  * proposing alternative approaches that deliver greater impact  * Work closely with:   * divisional communications leadership  * marketing teams  * senior executives and spokespersons  * subject matter experts  **4\. Integration in a matrix organisation**  * Operate effectively within a **complex matrix structure**, balancing:   * divisional priorities  * enterprise communications strategy  * input from multiple senior stakeholders  * Foster stronger integration between **communications and marketing activities**  **5\. Execution & delivery**  * Create and oversee communications materials including:   * media pitches  * press releases  * executive briefings and messaging  * thought leadership content  * Lead **media and analyst engagement activity** around key launches, announcements, and events  * Support executive media readiness and external positioning  **6\. Agency & programme management**  * Manage and direct **external PR agencies** and partners  * Ensure consistent delivery of **high-quality media opportunities and reporting**  * Coordinate across **local and global agency partners where relevant**  **7\. Measurement & impact**  * Define and track **success metrics**, including:   * increase in proactive media placements  * quality and relevance of coverage  * expansion into target publications  * Drive **continuous improvement** in communications effectiveness  **8\. Risk & issues management**  * Contribute to **issues and crisis communications**, including:   * messaging development  * stakeholder alignment  * external response coordination  **What success looks like**  * Stronger, more **proactive media presence** for the LR division  * Clear and consistent **divisional narrative in the market**  * Increased **visibility in priority publications**  * Improved **integration between communications and marketing**  * Increased **executive engagement in external communications**  **Required experience**  * Significant experience in **external communications and media relations** (typically 10+ years)  * Proven track record of **building and executing media strategies** in complex environments  * Experience working in **B2B, technology, or highly regulated industries**  * Demonstrated ability to **influence senior stakeholders and operate in a matrix organisation**  * Strong experience in **media engagement, storytelling, and content development**  **Preferred experience**  * Experience in **legal, legal technology, or related industries** strongly preferred  * Experience working in or with **complex, matrix organisations**  * Experience managing or partnering with **PR agencies**  * Exposure to **integrated communications or campaign-based approaches**  **Skills & capabilities**  * Excellent written and verbal communication skills  * Strong **strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution ability**  * Ability to translate **complex topics into clear, compelling narratives**  * High level of **judgement, influence, and stakeholder management**  * Comfortable operating in a **fast-paced, evolving environment**  * Interest in applying **AI / GenAI tools in communications workflows**  **Language & location**  * **Fluency in English required**  * **Dutch strongly preferred**, particularly for media engagement in the Netherlands  * Netherlands-based candidates preferred; **exceptional European candidates may be considered**  **Working model**  * Hybrid role with expectation of regular presence in Alphen aan de Rijn  * Some travel required (primarily within Europe)  **Questions?** Please reach out to Silvie Roelans from Talent Acquisition on [email protected] Our Interview Practices ----------------------- _To maintain a fair and genuine hiring process, we kindly ask that all candidates participate in interviews without the assistance of AI tools or external prompts. Our interview process is designed to assess your individual skills, experiences, and communication style. We value authenticity and want to ensure we’re getting to know you—not a digital assistant. To help maintain this integrity, we ask to remove virtual backgrounds and include in-person interviews in our hiring process. Please note that use of AI-generated responses or third-party support during interviews will be grounds for disqualification from the recruitment process._ _Applicants may be required to appear onsite at a Wolters Kluwer office as part of the recruitment process._