Business Development Manager (Lobbying and Public Policy)

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a leading international law firm, seeks a Business Development Manager for the Marketing department in Washington, DC, with hybrid work. This role supports the Lobbying & Public Policy practice and collaborates with attorneys, advisors and staff to deliver BD results.

The position requires 5+ years of relevant BD/marketing experience, strong communication and leadership, and capability to manage multiple projects in a law firm setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years of people or project management responsibility and at least two years of related business development or marketing experience required, preferably in a law or lobbying firm.
• Experience working on Capitol Hill, the executive branch or a lobbying role is preferred.
• Demonstrated professionalism, with excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong writing and editing skills.
• Strong work ethic, service orientation, and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, peers, office and firm management, and outside business partners.
• Strong leadership skills and willingness to function as a role model within the department and office.
• Ability to read, comprehend and follow instructions.
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload, work independently and complete tasks under time pressure when necessary.
• Commitment to professional growth and development.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the implementation of practice group business and action plans by coordinating and tracking the group's efforts.
• Monitor and track plan implementation to ensure that deadlines are met and commitments are kept.
• Identify, assess and coordinate conferences, seminars, forums, sponsorships, speaking and writing opportunities to ensure they aligned with the goals of the practice.
• Work with the marketing and communications team to develop, prepare and distribute brochures, advertisements, newsletters, and client mailings at the practice level, and promote exposure of the practice and individual attorneys, as appropriate.
• Coordinate and implement internal and external practice events, with support from the marketing and communications team.
• Assist with practice- and industry-related sponsorships, events and memberships to facilitate the development of the practices. Specific tasks include coordinating the invitation and RSVP list, assist in preparing any invitation-related or event collateral, acting as on-site host and coordinating registration or tradeshow exhibit.
• Oversee and facilitate communication among and between the practices.
• Request and disseminate research to teams on trends in the industry or area of law.
• Track and maintain wins for practice group for proposals etc.
• Assist with the preparation of business development presentations, briefings, new business proposals and RFP responses. Maintain library of collateral materials and marketing information about the practices.
• Update and redesign of all marketing materials based on current practice focus areas.
• Management of all client development pitches, including development of presentations, participation in presentations, and writing presentations.
• Identify opportunities to offer new services or enhance existing services in order to attract high-value work and enhance value provided to clients.
• Assist with the development and execution of marketing/business development strategies, plans and projects, including identifying and evaluating new business opportunities and targets, facilitating cross-selling initiatives and participating on client-specific target teams.
• Facilitate internal communication about successes and opportunities within and among the practice groups, utilizing communication vehicles such as AG Newswire, the portal, press clips, etc.
• Work with the marketing and communications team to develop marketing messages, seminar ideas, media lists and opportunities, advertising and other marketing tools.
• Analytic review of current client base by practice area. Maintain current and accurate experience lists, matter descriptions, case studies and client lists for use in marketing and business development efforts.
• Maintain an accurate database of clients and other contacts to enable external communication.
• Management of client development docket for group, encompassing all client development efforts by all partners.

Skills

People management

Project management

Business development

Marketing experience

Communication skills

Leadership

Lobbying experience

Time management

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

InterAction

Job description

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Business Development Manager in our Marketing department, reporting directly to the Director of Business Development.

The role will reside in the Washington, DC office with hybrid work capabilities and will support the Lobbying & Public Policy practice. The Business Development Manager is responsible for meeting the practice and business development needs of the Lobbying & Public Policy practice. The Business Development Manager is expected to perform all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm’s attorneys, advisors and staff, and maintaining an atmosphere of team work and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities of this position include:

• Assist in the implementation of practice group business and action plans by coordinating and tracking the group's efforts.
• Monitor and track plan implementation to ensure that deadlines are met and commitments are kept.
• Identify, assess and coordinate conferences, seminars, forums, sponsorships, speaking and writing opportunities to ensure they aligned with the goals of the practice.
• Work with the marketing and communications team to develop, prepare and distribute brochures, advertisements, newsletters, and client mailings at the practice level, and promote exposure of the practice and individual attorneys, as appropriate.
• Coordinate and implement internal and external practice events, with support from the marketing and communications team.
• Assist with practice- and industry-related sponsorships, events and memberships to facilitate the development of the practices. Specific tasks include coordinating the invitation and RSVP list, assist in preparing any invitation-related or event collateral, acting as on-site host and coordinating registration or tradeshow exhibit.
• Oversee and facilitate communication among and between the practices.
• Request and disseminate research to teams on trends in the industry or area of law.
• Track and maintain wins for practice group for proposals etc.
• Assist with the preparation of business development presentations, briefings, new business proposals and RFP responses. Maintain library of collateral materials and marketing information about the practices.
• Update and redesign of all marketing materials based on current practice focus areas.
• Management of all client development pitches, including development of presentations, participation in presentations, and writing presentations.
• Identify opportunities to offer new services or enhance existing services in order to attract high-value work and enhance value provided to clients.
• Assist with the development and execution of marketing/business development strategies, plans and projects, including identifying and evaluating new business opportunities and targets, facilitating cross-selling initiatives and participating on client-specific target teams.
• Facilitate internal communication about successes and opportunities within and among the practice groups, utilizing communication vehicles such as AG Newswire, the portal, press clips, etc.
• Work with the marketing and communications team to develop marketing messages, seminar ideas, media lists and opportunities, advertising and other marketing tools.
• Analytic review of current client base by practice area. Maintain current and accurate experience lists, matter descriptions, case studies and client lists for use in marketing and business development efforts.
• Maintain an accurate database of clients and other contacts to enable external communication.
• Management of client development docket for group, encompassing all client development efforts by all partners.

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years of people or project management responsibility and at least two years of related business development or marketing experience required, preferably in a law or lobbying firm.
• Experience working on Capitol Hill, the executive branch or a lobbying role is preferred.
• Demonstrated professionalism, with excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong writing and editing skills.
• Strong work ethic, service orientation, and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, peers, office and firm management, and outside business partners.
• Strong leadership skills and willingness to function as a role model within the department and office.
• Ability to read, comprehend and follow instructions.
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload, work independently and complete tasks under time pressure when necessary.
• Poise, tact and professionalism when interacting with internal and external contacts.
• Strong computer skills including advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint are essential; experience with InterAction is preferred.
• Commitment to professional growth and development.