BD Lead - Private Funds & Asset Management

Ropes & Gray LLP; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 257,600; Full time

Job summary

Ropes & Gray LLP in New York seeks a Business Development Manager to serve as a trusted advisor to private funds and asset management leaders, delivering strategic, commercial support and integrated marketing plans. You will lead cross‑practice collaboration, manage pitches, and drive AI-enabled BD initiatives to grow revenue and client relationships.

The role requires a strong track record in professional services BD, leadership, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Superior client service skills.
• Able to quickly establish credibility with lead partners and key stakeholders.
• Work effectively and efficiently as a team player with an enthusiasm for developing relationships.
• A confident leader and self-starter in a dynamic environment.
• Commercially minded and solutions-oriented.
• Excellent organization, communication, and project management skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of the role and responsibilities.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with all levels of attorneys and business professionals.
• Experience writing in a professional services environment.
• Able to set clear goals and priorities, multitask, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Creative and flexible when managing individual as well as team workloads and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business development and marketing efforts designed to generate new business and improve market visibility for the private funds and sponsor solutions group.
• Collaborate with practice group partners and global teams to develop and implement business and client development plans for target clients, including budget planning, expense monitoring, and identifying joint initiatives to grow revenue and relationships.
• Drive AI adoption across the Business Development function by promoting proficiency in and consistent use of AI tools and technologies, helping teams integrate AI into day-to-day business development activities such as proposals and RFPs, prospecting, market and competitive intelligence, and event strategy to improve efficiency, responsiveness, and the quality of client-facing deliverables.
• Establish and maintain effective internal reporting and communication frameworks to track progress, share outcomes, and support management reporting across practice groups and affiliated teams.
• Manage and drive the development of existing client relationships and the pursuit of new engagements in collaboration with other relevant business support colleagues including: organizing meetings, developing agendas, capturing actions, and connecting to colleagues.
• Develop expertise in private equity, private funds and asset management industries, including by commissioning and conducting business research to stay updated on market intelligence.
• Project manage client, market and competitor research and tailor data for partner or client consumption; share insights across groups.
• Monitor and identify market opportunities and private-equity-driven trends for client engagement.
• Drive pitching and new business generation by managing pitches, proposals, and RFPs, writing parts of pitches, and coordinating fee arrangements.
• Maintain up-to-date pitch content, client information, and experience tracking; promote knowledge sharing across teams.
• Support BD training for attorneys and build networks with adjacent groups to convey value proposition.

Skills

Superior client service

Credibility with leaders

Team collaboration

Leadership and initiative

Commercial mindset

Organization and PM

Communication excellence

Professional writing experience

Goal setting and prioritization

Creativity and adaptability

Thrives in dynamic env

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or JD helpful

Job description

Ropes & Gray LLP in New York seeks a Business Development Manager to serve as a trusted advisor to private funds and asset management leaders, delivering strategic, commercial support and integrated marketing plans. You will lead cross‑practice collaboration, manage pitches, and drive AI-enabled BD initiatives to grow revenue and client relationships.

The role requires a strong track record in professional services BD, leadership, and excellent communication.