Business Development Manager, Corporate

Plona Partners; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Plona Partners seeks a strategic Business Development Manager for Corporate & Financial Institutions to drive plans across corporate, tax, and financial services groups. You will partner with practice leaders and the BD team to grow revenue and sharpen market presence.

You will shape initiatives, pitches, and proposals, coordinate with marketing, and support client development from concept through execution, including market analysis and event participation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field required or strongly preferred.
• MBA or JD is a plus.
• Minimum of three years of professional-services marketing and business development experience.
• Prior law firm experience is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate strategic business development plans for assigned practice and industry groups.
• Prepare client pitches, RFP responses, and marketing materials.
• Collaborate with attorneys to generate new business from existing and prospective clients.
• Monitor budgets and measure outcomes of business development initiatives.
• Provide timely intelligence on market developments and potential leads.
• Lead cross-practice initiatives and support relationship management programs.

Skills

Stakeholder collaboration

Strategic planning

Project management

Communication skills

Leadership

Market research

Relationship management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

MBA or JD a plus

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Position: Business Development Manager – Corporate & Financial Institutions

Department: Marketing / Business Development

Salary: $190,000 - $250,000, depending on experience

Onsite Logistics: Hybrid

Location: New York, NY | Washington, DC

Status: Exempt

Reports To: Assistant Director of Business Development, Corporate

Position Summary

Seeking a strategic, results-oriented Business Development Manager to drive strategy and identify and implement initiatives for the firm’s corporate, tax, and financial services groups.

The role is part of Firm’s global Marketing and Business Development team and works directly with practice group and industry group leaders, as well as the broader BD function, to support client development, marketing, and external communications efforts designed to grow revenue and strengthen the firm’s market profile. The Business Development Manager will serve as a primary point of contact for practice leadership and the broader partnership, helping shape and execute business development plans, client initiatives, pitches and proposals, market-facing programs, and cross-practice efforts.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Work with key attorney stakeholders to develop and coordinate strategic business development plans for assigned practice and industry groups.
• Develop fiscal-year plans, individual goal statements, and targeted business development initiatives.
• Manage the implementation and execution of business development plans and measure outcomes.
• Develop and monitor Marketing and Business Development budgets for assigned practice groups.

Business Development

• Act as a primary point of contact for practice group leadership and the broader partnership.
• Work directly with attorneys to implement business development initiatives focused on generating new business from both existing and prospective clients.
• Develop new projects and initiatives to support practice growth.
• Prepare client pitch materials and responses to RFPs.
• Conduct preparatory sessions with attorneys before client meetings.
• Track pitch and proposal win/loss activity.
• Leverage the firm’s Market Research team to analyze market opportunities and support preparation for client meetings.
• Attend regular practice group meetings with firm leadership and the Management Committee.
• Coordinate preparation for practice-group meetings with practice leadership.
• Report on business development activity and progress against strategic plans.
• Analyze monthly financial and activity data, including workloads, new matters, and lawyer activity.
• Actively manage and participate in relevant practice-group meetings.
• Monitor trade press and market developments to identify prospective client-development opportunities.
• Provide partners with timely intelligence regarding potential leads and market developments.
• Coordinate with other members of the Business Development team on cross-practice, regional, and industry initiatives.
• Work with the Relationship Manager program to maintain and expand relationships with targeted clients.
• Recommend thought-leadership and CLE opportunities for clients.
• Lead the integration of lateral attorneys within assigned practice groups.
• Counsel attorneys on individual business development goals and support implementation of their plans.
• Partner with the Public Relations team to identify and leverage media opportunities.

Marketing & Communications

• Partner with the Events team to organize and manage client-facing events from concept development through execution and follow-up.
• Support invitation development, onsite logistics, and post-event activity.
• Manage and draft targeted submissions for legal rankings and awards, including Chambers.
• Coordinate the tracking of practice experience and transactions for use in pitches, proposals, practice descriptions, attorney biographies, and website content.
• Assist with editing, layout, and production of firm and practice-group marketing materials.
• Develop and manage website content, brochures, and other external communications.
• Collaborate with the Digital Marketing team on targeted campaigns.
• Develop and maintain segmented client and prospect mailing lists.
• Identify and evaluate sponsorship and speaking opportunities at conferences and seminars.
• Coordinate participation in external programs and ensure appropriate follow-up.

Training & Team Development

• Share responsibility with the Assistant Director and other colleagues for the training and development of Business Development Specialists.
• Provide guidance and training in areas including pitch and proposal drafting, event planning and management, client alerts, content management, and client-development activity tracking.
• Provide training to practice groups and individual attorneys on business development best practices and related topics.
• Support the professional development of junior Business Development team members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field required or strongly preferred.
• MBA or JD is a plus.
• Minimum of three years of professional-services marketing and business development experience.
• Prior law firm experience is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated track record of success in marketing and business development.
• Strong understanding of practice-group and attorney business development within a professional-services environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, initiative, and proactive problem-solving ability.
• High-energy, creative, and value-added approach.
• High level of accountability for work product.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to perform effectively under tight deadlines while maintaining professionalism.
• Strong familiarity with technology and software used to support marketing and business development.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel required.
• Experience with Salesforce is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret business, client, and practice-group data.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills.
• Ability to build credibility and work effectively with partners, senior attorneys, practice leaders, and internal business professionals.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a global team environment.