Business Development Manager - Property

Totum Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Totum Partners is seeking a Business Development Manager to shape the commercial direction of a major Property practice within a leading international law firm. You will work with senior leadership to identify opportunities, inform strategy, and drive market visibility across jurisdictions.

The role emphasizes originating ideas, challenging assumptions, and delivering high-value external activity, with the BD team providing support and execution.

Qualifications

• Substantial business development experience in a professional services firm or similar Property/ Built Environment context.
• Proven ability to shape strategy and influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Set and translate BD priorities with Property leadership into targeted activities.
• Use client and market insights to guide investment and focus.
• Deepen client relationships and connect Property with other client needs.
• Help partners position opportunities with clear messaging and client understanding.
• Develop initiatives aligned with market trends to boost visibility.
• Shape how the practice presents expertise through content, events and client engagement.
• Build cross-practice relationships to support coordinated client development.
• Provide direction to the BD team and foster commercial judgment and initiative.
• Review BD activity and feed insights into future priorities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Business development

Commercial awareness

Mentoring

Communication

Job description

An excellent Business Development Manager opportunity for someone who wants to shape direction, not simply delivery activity.

My client is a leading international law firm with a substantial global Property practice. The group is one of the firm's most strategically important practice areas, advising clients across sectors and jurisdictions on complex, high-value matters.

The firm is looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to help shape the commercial direction of the Property Group. Working closely with senior practice and business development leadership, the successful candidate will identify opportunities, contribute to strategic discussions and bring a clear external perspective to the group’s priorities.

Senior stakeholders want someone who will originate ideas rather than wait for direction. The Business Development Manager will use market intelligence, competitor insight and an understanding of client priorities to inform decisions, challenge thinking constructively and focus activity where it can deliver the greatest commercial value.

The role is supported by an established and capable business development team. This provides the incoming Business Development Manager with the scope to concentrate on strategic direction, senior stakeholder engagement and the quality of the group’s market activity, while continuing to lead and develop the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with Property leadership to set clear business development priorities and turn them into focused activity.
• Use client intelligence and wider market insight to advise where the group should concentrate its time and investment.
• Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships, develop new business and connect Property expertise with wider client needs.
• Help partners approach priority opportunities with clear positioning, relevant messages and a strong understanding of the client.
• Develop targeted initiatives that respond to commercial trends and strengthen the group’s visibility in the market.
• Shape how the practice presents its expertise through relevant content, events and engagement with clients and intermediaries.
• Build effective relationships across practices, sectors and locations to support coordinated client development.
• Give the Property business development team clear direction, supporting their development and encouraging commercial judgement and initiative.
• Review the value of business development activity and use the findings to inform future priorities.

The Successful Candidate

You will bring substantial business development experience from a law firm, professional services partnership or relevant Property or Built Environment organisation.

You are also likely to demonstrate:

• Experience contributing to business development strategy rather than solely implementing agreed activity.
• The credibility and judgement to advise, influence and constructively challenge partners and senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to turn market and client insight into practical recommendations.
• Experience supporting client development, priority opportunities and market-facing initiatives.
• Evidence of generating ideas and helping senior stakeholders reach clear decisions about business development priorities.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively across a complex stakeholder group.
• Experience leading, mentoring or developing business development professionals.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the confidence to present and support an informed point of view.
• Experience of Property, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Construction or the wider Built Environment would be useful but is not essential. The priority is strategic capability, commercial judgement and the confidence to operate as a credible adviser to senior leadership.

This is an opportunity to support one of the firm’s most significant practice groups and work directly with senior leaders who want meaningful business development input. The successful candidate will have the remit to contribute ideas, influence priorities and help shape how the Property Group approaches clients, commercial opportunities and its external profile.

The role will suit an established Business Development Manager looking for greater strategic responsibility. It could also provide progression for a high-performing Senior Business Development Executive who can demonstrate the commercial judgement, stakeholder credibility and leadership capability required to operate at Manager level.

As a responsible business, it is important that we represent the diversity of our people, our clients and our communities. We believe that the firms that thrive are those with the most diverse team; that's why we work so hard to source the best talent from the broadest pool possible. As an equal opportunities employer we strive to accommodate anyone who may have specific needs. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the selection process, please talk to a member of the recruitment team so that any required adjustments can be made in advance.