Business Development Driver Senior Specialist

Cooley; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooley, a global law firm, seeks a Business Development Driver Senior Specialist to join the Marketing and Client Development team in a hybrid Chicago office. You will support account growth, coordinate campaigns, prepare client briefing materials, and ensure follow-up action plans are executed across BD, Marketing, and pursuit teams.

The role requires 4+ years in marketing or BD, strong CRM experience (Salesforce), and the ability to work independently with a client-focused, detail-oriented

Qualifications

• 4+ years directly applicable experience (e.g., marketing or business development).
• Business development skills (e.g. pipeline management, campaign execution).
• Strong working knowledge of enterprise CRM ecosystems (e.g. Salesforce).
• Analytical and critical thinking with high level of responsibility and autonomy.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership and mentor others.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and firm applications like iManage.
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours.

Responsibilities

• Support account growth priorities and shape opportunity strategies through internal coordination.
• Partner with Marketing to track campaigns and manage lead flow.
• Develop briefing materials and meeting prep kits for client interactions.
• Translate client discussions into clear, documented action plans with follow-ups.
• Act as a tactical bridge between BD, Marketing, and pursuit teams.
• Maintain pipeline data and provide reporting-ready updates for leadership.

Skills

4+ years directly applicable exp.

Business development skills

CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce)

Analytical thinking

Independent ownership

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

iManage

Job description

Business Development Driver Senior Specialist Cooley is seeking a Business Development Driver Senior Specialist to join the Marketing and Client Development team.

About Cooley

Cooley is a global law firm with an expansive practice and more than 3,000 employees and partners worldwide. We value and celebrate diverse perspectives and strive to create a workplace where every individual can thrive. At the core of Cooley’s success is the exceptional talent and unwavering spirit of our people. We embrace individuality while fostering a ‘one-firm’ culture where collaboration and creativity thrive. Our people are the foundation of our success and the driving force behind everything we do.

Hybrid Schedule Philosophy

As part of the Cooley culture, we recognize and appreciate the value of being together, in person, to build comradery with others in the office and to be a contributing member of the Cooley office. However, we also appreciate the benefits and flexibility that come from remote working. As such, the default assumption for employees and partners is a hybrid schedule: some in-office presence and some work from home days absent certain essential in-office roles that require five (5) days/week in-office.

Position summary

This role is part of the Business Development Drivers Team, which provides strategic and operational business development support that helps drive coordinated BD and Marketing activity and turn priorities into action. Responsible for supporting efforts to strengthen campaign execution, account planning, opportunity development, meeting preparation, follow-up, and pipeline discipline, so BD efforts are more focused and consistently executed.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Account & Opportunity Support: Execute research and planning tasks to support account growth priorities, helping to shape opportunity strategies through detailed internal coordination.
• Integrated Campaign Execution: Partner with Marketing to track campaign follow-up and manage lead flow, ensuring all outreach activities are converted into actionable business development steps.
• Client Engagement Preparation: Develop comprehensive briefing materials and meeting prep kits to ensure BD teams and partners are fully equipped for client interactions and market activity.
• Post-Meeting Action Planning: Translate client discussions and internal meetings into clear, documented action plans, ensuring all follow-up items are assigned and tracked.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Serve as a tactical bridge between BD, Marketing, and pursuit teams, facilitating seamless handoffs and ensuring internal alignment on key initiatives.
• Opportunity Momentum: Maintain the steady movement of opportunities through the pipeline by providing consistent follow-up support and administrative coordination.
• Pipeline Data & Discipline: Track activity, opportunity status, and account actions within firm systems to ensure data integrity and support accurate reporting for leadership reviews.
• Progress Visibility: Support internal checkpoints and reviews by maintaining a clear, updated view of team priorities and the status of ongoing business development progress.
• Standardized BD Support: Contribute to a more consistent approach to BD support by following established workflows and helping to refine team-wide execution standards.

Skills and experience

Required

• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
• Ability to travel, as required
• 4+ years directly applicable experience (e.g., marketing or business development)
• Business development skills (e.g. pipeline management, campaign execution)
• Strong working knowledge of enterprise CRM ecosystems (e.g., Salesforce)
• Demonstrated ability to exhibit analytical and critical thinking in day-to-day tasks along with the proven ability to operate at an elevated level in terms of scope of responsibility, judgement and autonomy
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate escalating ownership and mastery of assigned area, exhibit strength in the areas below, become a resource and mentor to others and more as they progress in different roles within the department

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree
• Prior legal industry or professional services experience

Competencies

• Entrepreneurial by nature
• Excellent attention to detail
• Approaches tasks through a lens of quality and consistency
• Approaches tasks through a digital first lens
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities
• Takes a consultative approach to set goals, drive projects, and achieve outcomes
• Strong judgment
• Team-player with collaborative spirit
• Unwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects, client data
• High level of professionalism at all times

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE. The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $103,000 - $135,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate.

Benefits

• medical
• health savings account (with applicable medical plan)
• dental
• vision
• health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts
• pre-tax commuter benefits
• life insurance
• AD&D
• long-term care coverage
• backup care for children and/or adults
• other parental support benefits
• firm-paid life insurance
• AD&D
• LTD
• short term medical benefits
• 21 days of Paid Time Off ("PTO")
• 10 paid holidays each year
• generous parental leave and fertility benefits

New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.