Associate Director Business Development

We are Buchanan; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client seeks a Senior Business Development Associate Director for Energy & Infrastructure, based in the U.S. offices. This role partners with sector leaders to shape go-to-market strategy, build client relationships, and convert market opportunities into high-value mandates.

You will lead BD priorities, drive revenue growth, oversee tailored proposals, and champion thought leadership across the firm. Strong leadership, communication, and strategic thinking are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years of marketing experience in business development and marketing for the E&I sector.
• Deep understanding of technology clients' needs at all stages of development.
• Strong client service approach with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional communication skills for crafting and delivering stories.
• Exceptional project management skills with attention to detail.
• Discretion with sensitive material; strategic thinker who anticipates needs.
• Growth mindset with adaptability and flexible thinking.
• Commitment to achieving extraordinary results and reducing organizational politics.

Responsibilities

• Set BD priorities and plans; lead strategy development and execution.
• Drive revenue through client targeting, pipeline management, and key accounts.
• Oversee tailored proposals and pitches for energy-sector matters; collaborate across practices.
• Lead external positioning with Communications and PR; align thought leadership with strategy.
• Manage events and sponsorships; evaluate ROI and follow up to convert connections.
• Partner with Market Intelligence to identify trends and translate insights into BD priorities.
• Provide strategic direction on rankings, awards, and directory submissions.
• Build and manage a high-performing BD team; coach partners on visibility.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Client relationship management

Market intelligence

Pitch development

Leadership

Project management

Excellent communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Business development

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

Job description

About the job

Our client currently has an excellent opportunity for a Business Development Associate Director, Energy & Infrastructure, based in any of its U.S. offices.

The Objective

The Business Development Associate Director - Energy & Infrastructure is a senior strategic leader who drives revenue growth across the firm's Energy & Infrastructure sector. This role functions as a strategic partner to sector leaders and partners, shaping go-to-market strategy, building client relationships, and converting market opportunities into high-value mandates.

What will I do?

Working in close partnership with senior leadership, partners, the fellow E&I Associate Director, and the broader BD team, the Associate Director translates deep sector knowledge into high-value client opportunities. The role requires a commercially minded professional who can anticipate market shifts, develop differentiated positioning, and mobilize resources to convert opportunities into revenue.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Client Cultivation

• Work with practice leaders and the fellow E&I Associate Director to set BD priorities and plans; lead strategy development and execution; use market intelligence and competitive analysis to pursue high-value opportunities.

Client Development & Revenue Growth

• Drive revenue generation through client targeting, pipeline management, and key account programs, in collaboration with the Client Development team; grow the E&I sector client base through relationship building and cross-selling across practices and offices.

Proposals & Pitch Excellence

• Oversee tailored proposals and pitches for energy-sector matters, working closely with the Pitch team; collaborate across practices to bring the best of the firm to each opportunity; champion pitch best practices and consistency in positioning.

Positioning Practices & Partners

• Lead thought leadership and external positioning in partnership with Communications and PR; showcase the firm's E&I sector expertise and strengthen partner reputations; align thought leadership, rankings, and events with firm strategy.

Events, Sponsorships & Industry Engagement

• Oversee a targeted events and sponsorship strategy, working closely with the Events team; evaluate ROI; prepare lawyers for engagements; lead post-event follow-up to convert connections into opportunities.

Market Intelligence & Competitive Analysis

• Partner with the Market Intelligence team to identify emerging trends and evaluate new business opportunities, translating insights into actionable BD strategies and priorities.

Rankings, Awards & Directories

• Provide strategic direction on how the firm tells its story across rankings, league tables, awards, and directory submissions - ensuring content is compelling, differentiated, and focused on the areas where the firm is building market recognition.

Team Leadership & Contributor Capacity

• Build and manage a high-performing BD team; oversee performance, coach, and develop team members; lead major projects directly or through matrix leadership; participate in hiring and training; coach partners on visibility and BD; deliver impact regardless of span of control.

Performance & Impact

• Define and track KPIs to measure progress against the global sector strategy, including client growth, pitch success, and market positioning. Translate performance data into actionable insights for leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years of marketing experience in business development and marketing for the E&I sector.
• A passion and deep understanding of technology clients' needs at all stages of development.
• Strong client service approach with the ability to build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• A collaborative and team-oriented mindset, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, results-driven environment.
• Exceptional communication skills, with expertise in crafting and delivering distinctive and engaging stories.
• Exceptional project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with a high degree of detail and accuracy.
• Exercises sound judgment and professionalism. Handles sensitive, confidential material with discretion.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate needs, identify opportunities, and drive initiatives to completion. Strong problem-solving skills.
• A passion for challenging the status quo, a hunger for greatness, and an unwavering commitment to achieving extraordinary results.
• A good listener with a growth mindset and proven ability to adapt quickly to change and exhibit a high degree of flexibility.
• Self-confident without being self-important, intellectually curious, thoughtful, considerate, and decent. A disdain for organizational politics, gamesmanship, and positioning.