Client Relationship Manager

Reed Smith LLP; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 137,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Reed Smith LLP is seeking a Client Relationship Manager to support strategic client engagements across life sciences and healthcare on a global scale. You will partner with CRLs, PG/IGLs, and client teams to drive growth, coordinate cross‑practice opportunities, and deliver actionable client insights.

The role emphasizes client service, collaboration, and a commercially oriented mindset with demanding deadlines and travel, in a multi‑time‑zone environment. Dallas area preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5–8 years' demonstrated experience in business development, account management, marketing, or a related growth-focused role.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and drive strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of client growth plans.
• Coordinate with CRLs, PG/IGLs, and client teams.
• Prepare client meetings with messaging that emphasizes value.
• Synthesize client insights into strategic recommendations for leadership.
• Collaborate with Marketing/BD to share best practices across the firm.

Skills

Client service mindset

Multi-tasking

Analytical skills

Excellent communication

Relationship building

Cross-functional collaboration

Time management

Independent judgment

Diplomacy

Virtual collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Position Summary

The Client Relationship Manager is a client‑facing role supporting the development and advancement of the firm's strategically important client relationships. The role partners closely with Client Relationship Leaders (CRLs), Practice/Industry Group Leaders (PG/IGLs), and client teams to help drive a coordinated, informed, and commercially focused approach to client engagement. Reporting to the Global Senior Director, Client Focus Programs, this position requires a strong client relationship manager who combines sound judgment, collaboration skills, and commercial awareness to support partners and client teams.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

Key Client Support

• Manage a select portfolio of life sciences and healthcare clients, partnering with CRLs, PG/IGLs, and client teams.
• Lead and influence the development and execution of client growth plans aligned to client priorities.
• Plan and execute strategies to strengthen client relationships and expand work across practices, industries and geographies, in partnership with the CRL and client teams.
• Lead client prep meetings with lawyer team, including presenting relevant research points and working with the lawyers on messaging that emphasises our value‑add.
• Develop and analyse external and internal client relationship reports, leveraging key internal functions from the Design to the Client Value team.
• Lead on strategic positioning and work collaboratively with the Strategic Pursuits Team for panel appointments, re‑panel processes, and pitch preparation; follow up with client contacts/lawyers post‑pursuit to obtain feedback on outcome, and analyse post‑pursuit feedback to inform future relationship and business development strategies.
• Drive strategic client team meetings, oversee relationship mapping initiatives, and assist partners in maintaining key client connections.
• Monitor and evaluate progress against client plans and metrics on key clients to support reports for leadership.

Client Insight and Analysis

• Partner with the Strategic Intelligence Team to build knowledge of assigned clients, including business performance, industry dynamics, and competitive positioning.
• Synthesize client insights and feedback into clear, actionable, and strategic recommendations for CRLs and client teams, exercising independent judgment in evaluating business opportunities, relationship risks, and client development strategies.
• Lead and advise on strategic client initiatives such as events, thought leadership, secondments, and feedback programs.
• Lead the collection and interpretation of client feedback, advising partners and client teams on relationship strategies, service improvements, and opportunities to strengthen client engagement.

Collaboration and Team Contribution

• Collaborate with Marketing and Business Development colleagues and Learning and Development colleagues to provide client development best practices and CRL/lawyer coaching across the firm.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Marketing and Business Development Department to support client activity. Contribute to knowledge‑sharing and best practices across the Client Relationship Team.
• Act as a trusted strategic adviser to partners, and collaborate with teams across the firm to properly leverage skillsets and drive efficiencies.

Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree required

Experience

5-8 years' demonstrated experience in business development, account management, marketing, or a position focused on growing business, ideally in a professional services environment.

Skills

• Client service mindset
• Ability to multi‑task and manage multiple deadlines
• Ability to deliver impactful and timely service with little supervision
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong networking skills – ability to think about how, when and where to connect the right people to specific opportunities
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to build strong relationships with all levels of lawyers, with the confidence to challenge and coach them on client development best practices
• Highly proactive, self‑motivated, organized and resourceful
• Dependable, courteous and a strong team player
• Strong critical thinker – one who can think fast and act with precision
• Strong diplomacy, listening and influencing skills
• High degree of poise and professionalism
• Ability to work successfully in virtual teams and manage workload across different time zones
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion and adapt to changing work situations
• Ability to create and maintain a respectful, inclusive and supportive team environment across functional and geographic boundaries
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Additional Information

Supervisory responsibilities: None, but may provide informal guidance or mentoring as appropriate through work with junior team members.

Equipment used: Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, copier, scanner, etc.

Essential Job Functions

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and perform tasks requiring prolonged and/or extensive computer use.
• Ability to use computers, telecommunications, and digital collaboration tools to perform core job responsibilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to maintain attention to detail while analysing complex information, managing multiple priorities, and applying sound judgment to strategic decisions.
• Travel for meetings and training as required.
• Ability to work extended hours as required to meet project, client, or business needs.
• Flexibility to adjust working hours, including early start times occasionally, to support collaboration with international stakeholders in EMEA.

Working conditions

You will be required to work in the office at minimum 4 days per week. Occasionally called upon to work hours in excess of your normal daily schedule. The details of your weekly schedule will be discussed further with your direct supervisor.

Pay ranges

• Pittsburgh/Dallas/Houston/Denver/Atlanta: $137,000 - $160,000
• Chicago/Philadelphia: $146,000 - $170,000
• Boston: $156,000 - $180,000
• San Francisco: $171,000 - $200,000

Employee Benefits Overview

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Virtual Health Services
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Coverage
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Lyra Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Family Leave (for eligible Exempt and Non-Exempt staff)
• Transportation Benefit
• Back‑up Child Care Services
• College Coach Program
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Sick Time (for Exempt staff)
• Paid Time Off (available to all full‑time, non‑temporary employees)

Reed Smith offers a challenging work environment, business casual dress code and a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, flexible benefits program, tuition assistance, and generous 401(k) plan.

Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Core Values of Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork & Respect, Innovation, and Impact. Reed Smith also provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with law, including in the application and interview process.

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.