Business Development Director

WFB Perkins Coie LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 178,080 - 320,660; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Paid sabbaticals

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Accrued paid time off starting at 20 days annually

Job summary

WFB Perkins Coie LLP is looking for a Business Development Director (BDD) in Chicago, Illinois. This role involves driving new business opportunities and supporting lawyers in expanding client relationships. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience generating revenue, particularly with C-suite executives, and will demonstrate strong collaboration skills.

The position comes with a competitive compensation range between $178,080.00 and $320,660.00 annually, along with various benefits including health insurance and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of success in generating new revenue through existing and prospective clients.
• Proven track record assessing business development objectives.
• Experience in legal or other professional services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritize business opportunities with lawyers and marketing colleagues.
• Support efforts to elevate the firm’s profile and visibility.
• Collaborate on lead generation programs and campaigns.

Skills

Executive presence

Strong interpersonal skills

Problem-solving ability

Collaboration skills

Knowledge of business development strategies

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Advanced degree (MS, MA, MBA, JD)

Tools

CRM platforms

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Job description

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Business Development Director (BDD) drives new business opportunities for the firm through a proactive, market-facing approach. This role helps Perkins Coie lawyers, individually and collectively, expand relationships with clients and targeted prospects through lead generation aligned with assigned practices and industry sectors. The BDD identifies qualified revenue opportunities and is accountable to defined sales performance metrics. This role focuses sales efforts on firm priority industry sectors.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Partner with lawyers and marketing colleagues to identify, prioritize, and pursue high‑potential opportunities, including prospective clients, warm prospects, and new matters for existing clients, with a focus on assigned industry sectors.
• Support strategic efforts to elevate the firm’s profile and expand visibility across the central region through targeted business development and market‑facing initiatives.
• Collaborate with practice and sector marketing business professionals to develop and execute lead generation programs, including campaigns, events, and related initiatives, and build on existing programs, including public chatter leads.
• Partner with marketing and competitive intelligence business professionals to conduct primary and secondary research and uncover new business opportunities.
• Use existing networks and build new connections to facilitate introductions between the firm’s key lawyers and select business, community, and industry leaders.
• Work with marketing department business professionals to increase visibility among decision‑makers in priority market segments and industry sectors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Maintain regular attendance during scheduled working hours and as needed in the position, consistent with the firm’s attendance expectations.

SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED

• Executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to build credibility and relationships with varied constituencies.
• Ability to influence action and achieve results in a collaborative, matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and understand current and future business and legal needs of clients and prospective clients.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including professionalism, tact, and discretion.
• Ability to quickly build knowledge of the firm’s capabilities, structure, and client base.
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively without direct authority.
• Self‑starter mindset, strong problem‑solving ability, and a team‑oriented approach.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and technical skills.
• Proficiency in business applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word.
• Experience using CRM platforms to record, maintain, update, and retrieve sales data.

SPECIFIC SKILLS PREFERRED

• Demonstrated knowledge of business development strategies and techniques in a professional services environment.
• Experience in the technology and/or financial services sectors.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum of 15 years of success generating new revenue by engaging existing and prospective clients, particularly C‑suite executives and, ideally, in‑house legal counsel. Portable relationships and contacts strongly preferred. Proven track record of assessing business development objectives accurately and creating opportunities through key business relationships. Experience in legal or other professional services preferred. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required; advanced degree, such as an MS, MA, MBA, JD, or other relevant graduate degree, strongly preferred.

BENEFITS

• Health insurance, tuition reimbursement, and paid sabbaticals.
• Annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Accrued paid time off plan starting at 20 days annually, personal medical and parental leave, up to 10 paid holidays, and family care benefits.

COMPENSATION

Illinois compensation range: $178,080.00 to $320,660.00 annually. Actual compensation may vary depending on experience, skills, market conditions, and internal equity.

LEGAL NOTICE

Perkins Coie is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other category prohibited by local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, social and recreational activities and termination.