Business Development Manager

Dentons; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dentons is seeking a Business Development Manager to join our Corporate team, working closely with Senior BD Manager and Corporate partners to drive BD priorities. The role covers pitches, proposals, profile raising, events, and client opportunities across the firm’s global network.

You will manage a junior team member and coordinate BD activity, reporting on performance and market developments while aligning with practice priorities across geographies.

Qualifications

• Solid BD/Marketing experience in professional services, ideally in the legal sector.
• Previous experience of pitches and RFPs is essential.
• Ability to build strong networks internally and externally to benefit the firm and team.
• Proactive, collaborative and hands-on approach, with the flexibility to manage a varied workload.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate Corporate pitches, proposals and RFPs, providing strategic and commercial input.
• Support the identification, tracking and progression of Corporate opportunities, working with partners and the wider BD team to drive follow-up and convert opportunities into new work.
• Act as an ambassador for bid best practice to ensure understanding and compliance of bid process.
• Ensure Corporate credentials, experience and other BD content are effectively captured and maintained.
• Oversee and drive Corporate BD activity and global, regional and local initiatives across pitching and client development.

Skills

BD/Marketing in professional services

Pitches & RFPs

Networking

Project management

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Client & stakeholder management

Education

Degree level education

Tools

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

InterAction

BI systems

Job description

Department/Division: Clients and Markets

Duration: Permanent

Location: Any UK Office

Reports to: Senior BD Manager - Corporate

Type of Role: Hybrid

Ref no: 10588

The Role

We are looking for a Business Development Manager to join our Corporate team, working closely with the Senior Business Development Manager and Corporate partners to drive the practice's business development priorities.

The role will have a broad remit across pitches and proposals, profile raising and practice communications, events, business planning, client and opportunity development. It will involve identifying and developing opportunities across Dentons' global network and wider practice areas, using market and client insight to support growth and strengthen the Corporate practice's market position.

The role will also provide an opportunity to manage and develop a junior member of the Corporate BD team.

Required experience, skills, and attributes

Technical Skills

• Solid BD/Marketing experience in professional services, ideally gained in the legal sector.
• Previous experience of pitches and RFPs is essential.
• Ability to build strong networks internally and externally to benefit the firm and team.
• Proactive, collaborative and hands-on approach, with the flexibility to manage a varied workload.
• Able to work in a team environment and with partners and fee earners.
• Experience of running complex projects involving a range of stakeholders across practice areas and geographies.
• Conscientious, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong IT skills, proficient in the use of PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to juggle a number of deadlines.
• Experience of using InterAction and BI systems helpful but not essential.
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent).

Winning Work

• Lead and coordinate Corporate pitches, proposals and RFPs, providing strategic and commercial input, developing compelling propositions and ensuring an efficient and effective response process.
• Support the identification, tracking and progression of Corporate opportunities, working with partners and the wider BD team to drive appropriate follow-up and convert opportunities into new work.
• Act as an ambassador for bid best practice to ensure understanding and compliance of bid process.
• Ensure Corporate credentials, experience and other BD content are effectively captured and maintained.

Business Planning

• Oversee and drive Corporate BD activity and global, regional and local initiatives, ensuring relevant practice objectives are supported across pitching, client development, communications, events and profile raising.
• Drive activity through regular Corporate practice and BD team meetings as appropriate.
• Lead and coordinate regular Corporate practice communications, keeping partners and fee earners informed of relevant BD activity, opportunities, market developments and practice priorities, and ensuring clear follow-up and ownership of agreed actions.

Client Development

• Work with partners to identify and develop priority clients and targets, using client, market and relationship intelligence to identify opportunities and support targeted engagement.
• Providing support to key corporate clients, identifying and channelling opportunities through to the right people and helping the client relationship partner cross-sell to other practice groups and offices.
• Support Corporate involvement in key client programmes and cross-practice client initiatives, identifying opportunities to broaden relationships across practices and geographies.
• Support relevant firmwide and cross-practice campaigns, working with partners and the wider Clients & Markets team to identify opportunities for the Corporate practice to engage and contribute.
• Develop client engagement opportunities, including events, roundtables and client meetings.
• Monitor and report on the practice's performance across relevant league tables and directories, ensuring Corporate transactions are captured and reported appropriately.
• Lead Corporate legal directory and award submissions and assess other profile-raising opportunities.
• Work with the Digital Marketing and Communications team to develop the firm's Corporate profile across digital and social media channels, ensuring activity is brand compliant and consistent with the firm's visual identity.

Team Management

• Opportunity to manage and develop a junior member of the Corporate BD team, including providing day-to-day direction, coaching and feedback.
• Work collaboratively across the wider Clients & Markets team, ensuring work is allocated effectively and opportunities to share best practice and resources are identified.

Best Practice

• Adhere to and / or develop best practice to improve efficiency and transparency to fee earners.
• Apply a sophisticated approach to the use of data, web, analytics, business analysis, client targeting and the development of content to generate leads for pursuit.
• Encourage adherence to procedures and best practice with firm systems.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to interact effectively with partners, fee earners and business services colleagues at all levels and work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to work to short deadlines and in a non-directive environment.
• Able to interact effectively at all levels and a good team player.
• A willingness to learn, be adaptable and comfortable with change.
• Ability to project professionalism and enthusiasm at all times.