Director of Client Development

Blue Legal; London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dynamic Director of Client Development to lead client relationship management and strategic bids teams in a vibrant London office. This pivotal role emphasizes client focus and sustainable growth, driving a culture of collaboration and innovation among a team of 16 specialists. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional leadership skills, a strong commercial acumen, and the ability to influence decision-makers within a fast-paced, multinational environment. If you are passionate about fostering client excellence and leading teams to success, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to influence senior decision-makers in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing and motivating teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the commercial strategy for high-potential clients.
• Lead and motivate client relationship managers and bids managers.
• Own the client feedback process to improve relationship management.

Skills

Influencing senior decision-makers

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Commercial negotiation

Collaboration

Job description

Location: London
Salary: Market Rate
Salary band: Dependant upon experience
Contract type: Permanent
Date posted: 7th March 2025

Blue Legal has partnered with a global law firm who are recruiting for a Director of Client Development to lead the client relationship management and strategic bids teams within Europe, the Middle East and Asia (EMEA) to join their London office. The role is centred on being fiercely client focused and driving profitable and sustainable growth, creating an energised, growth mind-set for client teams, as well as leading a team of 16 specialists. The ideal candidate will be innovative, commercial, and value the work that they do.

The Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the management team to oversee the commercial strategy for high-potential clients, fostering a growth mind-set and addressing barriers to client development success.
• Lead and motivate client relationship managers and bids managers, providing proactive, commercial, and creative support while building relationships with client contacts.
• Work with the client team to organise and improve the regional client program, and collaborate with peers in other regions on global cross-selling opportunities.
• Serve as an ambassador for client excellence, earning trust from client relationship partners and driving high-value client opportunities.
• Support and motivate a community of BD professionals with bidding and client relationship responsibilities, even if they are not part of the core team.
• Own the client feedback process, ensuring it is integral to relationship management, shaping projects, and informing firm priorities.
• Strengthen relationships by leveraging client feedback to drive improvements and align with clients’ evolving needs.
• Foster collaboration and maintain a strong focus on delivering exceptional client experiences across the organisation.

The Candidate:

• Proven ability to influence senior decision-makers and support commercial decision-making in a fast-paced, multinational business, ideally in the legal sector.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing and motivating teams within a non-hierarchical, matrixed structure, with a focus on client relationships and commercial negotiation.
• Strong intellectual and analytical skills, with the ability to simplify complex ideas and drive impactful results through strategic and pragmatic approaches.
• Effective at building networks, fostering collaboration, and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships to drive change within the business.