Associate Director, External Communications – Legal & Regulatory (EU)

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 silvie.roelans@wolterskluwer.com

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.