Business Development Manager

Reed Smith LLP.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed Smith LLP is seeking a highly motivated Business Development Manager to lead the FIG BD function in the EMEA, driving revenue growth and elevating the group's profile across the region and globally.

The role requires a commercial outlook, hands-on delivery of strategic BD initiatives, and close collaboration with partners and the global BD team. You will manage two BD colleagues and work across marketing, events and client materials to win new business.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or related field required.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of business development experience in a law firm and/or professional services environment.
• Experience of and genuine interest in financial services is essential.
• Skills: Demonstrate sound professional judgment and a high degree of poise and professionalism when interacting with internal and external contacts.
• Strong organizational, project management and problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative, resourceful, proactive and creative; able to work independently as well as part of a team and be flexible in approach.
• Excellent communication skills - oral and written.
• Natural internal networker who uncovers opportunities through engaging informally with partners and colleagues, as well as externally with clients.
• Detail oriented, proactive and self-directed with ability to independently manage and appropriately prioritize multiple projects and competing priorities under tight deadlines.
• Ability to have a customer-focused mindset and deliver high-quality service or solutions to internal or external stakeholders.
• Flexibility and adaptability to navigate changes, unexpected challenges, and evolving priorities.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; technologically savvy and able to quickly learn new database systems.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of FIG's business and clients, applying that knowledge to drive meaningful BD activities across the group to drive new business.
• Monitor financial industry trends and advise on strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Regularly interact with Industry Group Leaders and other key partners and lawyers on FIG BD activities.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with lawyers across the group, and in other groups
• Collaborate closely with other members of the BD team globally to ensure that connections are made when needed, and others skills from across our global markering & business development team are fully leveraged.
• Prepare tailored, compelling, best-in-class pitches and responses for new business opportunities, including project management and collaborating with colleagues from across the marketing team.
• Oversee the development of practice-related pitch materials, such as profiles, experience lists, and case studies; ensuring these are being kept up to date as significant new deals and matters close.
• Drive brand positioning efforts, including managing strategic conference sponsorships, client presentations, seminars, and webinars.
• Develop and execute cross-selling efforts, BD, and profile-raising initiatives in line with the firm's strategic objectives.
• Execute and support the implementation of Business Development plans for the practice and key sub-areas
• Oversee the day-to-day management of the BD team and activity for FIG EMEA
• Seek and provide opportunities for junior team members to learn, develop their knowledge, and BD capabilities
• Collaborate with internal resources to find synergies and assist attorneys in lead generation and pursuits.
• Facilitate the integration of lateral partners and leverage the firm's capabilities for new client opportunities.
• Track and report on the return on investment for major BD expenditures.
• Maintain contributions and input related to attorney experience and client information into business development systems including CRM and Foundation.
• Oversee/manage submissions for major awards and legal directories.
• Ensure all marketing communications channels convey consistent messages about the group and its experience.
• Work with communications and media staff to identify and pursue PR opportunities in key legal trade and industry publications and industry surveys.
• Coordinate and plan practice profile-raising activities, including conferences, seminars, and sponsorships.
• Ensure budget adherence and ROI analysis for these activities.
• Assist with other marketing initiatives and responsibilities as required

Skills

Business Development

Marketing Strategy

Relationship Management

Project Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or related field

Tools

CRM systems

MS Office

Job description

Position summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Business Development Manager to join our dynamic team and take a leading role in supporting the FIG partners in the EMEA. This role is critical in relentlessly driving marketing and BD initiatives forward, proactively bringing new business ideas to the partners and working across FIG to drive revenue growth. The ideal candidate will be a highly driven self-starter with a commercial outlook, working closely with partners to develop and execute strategic business development initiatives. The primary focus will be on revenue growth and raising the profile of the group across the region and, by extension, globally. The successful candidate will manage two members of the team, and work very closely with the other members of the FIG BD team based in the U.S. Experience of working in a financial services focused role is required.

Job duties and responsibilities

Business and Industry Insight

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of FIG's business and clients, applying that knowledge to drive meaningful BD activities across the group to drive new business.


• Monitor financial industry trends and advise on strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Interaction and Relationship Building

• Regularly interact with Industry Group Leaders and other key partners and lawyers on FIG BD activities.


• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with lawyers across the group, and in other groups


• Collaborate closely with other members of the BD team globally to ensure that connections are made when needed, and others skills from across our global markering & business development team are fully leveraged.

Pitch and Client Marketing Materials

• Prepare tailored, compelling, best-in-class pitches and responses for new business opportunities, including project management and collaborating with colleagues from across the marketing team.


• Oversee the development of practice-related pitch materials, such as profiles, experience lists, and case studies; ensuring these are being kept up to date as significant new deals and matters close.

Brand Positioning and Strategy

• Drive brand positioning efforts, including managing strategic conference sponsorships, client presentations, seminars, and webinars.


• Develop and execute cross-selling efforts, BD, and profile-raising initiatives in line with the firm's strategic objectives.


• Execute and support the implementation of Business Development plans for the practice and key sub-areas


• Oversee the day-to-day management of the BD team and activity for FIG EMEA


• Seek and provide opportunities for junior team members to learn, develop their knowledge, and BD capabilities

Collaboration and Lead Generation

• Collaborate with internal resources to find synergies and assist attorneys in lead generation and pursuits.


• Facilitate the integration of lateral partners and leverage the firm's capabilities for new client opportunities.

Tracking and Reporting

• Track and report on the return on investment for major BD expenditures.


• Maintain contributions and input related to attorney experience and client information into business development systems including CRM and Foundation.

Marketing and Communications

• Oversee/manage submissions for major awards and legal directories.


• Ensure all marketing communications channels convey consistent messages about the group and its experience.


• Work with communications and media staff to identify and pursue PR opportunities in key legal trade and industry publications and industry surveys.

Event Coordination

• Coordinate and plan practice profile-raising activities, including conferences, seminars, and sponsorships.


• Ensure budget adherence and ROI analysis for these activities.

Ad Hoc Responsibilities

• Assist with other marketing initiatives and responsibilities as required

Requirements

Education: Bachelors degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or related field required.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of business development experience in a law firm and/or professional services environment.

Experience of and genuine interest in financial services is essential.

Skills: Demonstrate sound professional judgment and a high degree of poise and professionalism when interacting with internal and external contacts.

Strong organizational, project management and problem-solving skills.

Collaborative, resourceful, proactive and creative; able to work independently as well as part of a team and be flexible in approach.

Excellent communication skills - oral and written.

Natural internal networker who uncovers opportunities through engaging informally with partners and colleagues, as well as externally with clients.

Detail oriented, proactive and self-directed with ability to independently manage and appropriately prioritize multiple projects and competing priorities under tight deadlines.

Ability to have a customer-focused mindset and deliver high-quality service or solutions to internal or external stakeholders.

Flexibility and adaptability to navigate changes, unexpected challenges, and evolving priorities.

Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; technologically savvy and able to quickly learn new database systems.