Director, Client Engagement Strategy

Goodwin; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Retirement & Savings Plan

Paid vacation, sick time off, andholid

Professional development opportunities

Employee wellness programs

Employee discounts

Job summary

Goodwin is seeking a Director of Client Engagement Strategy & Sponsorships to lead the Client Engagements Center of Excellence, aligning the function to firm growth priorities, Industry Group strategies, client plans, and brand objectives.

The role involves governance, measurement, and a pod-based global team, delivering strategic value across the engagement lifecycle and partnering with Business Development, Digital & Technology, and Marketing.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in client development, engagement, events, or growth strategy within professional services or B2B environments.
• Experience designing and leading scalable operating models and governance structures.
• Proven ability to manage global portfolios, budgets, investments, and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Set vision and operating model for the Client Engagements Center of Excellence (CoE) aligned to growth priorities.
• Lead a scalable, commercially focused capability across the firm’s engagements.
• Establish governance for the full client engagement lifecycle from intake to post-engagement activation.
• Manage the global portfolio of client engagements, events, and sponsorships with coordinated investments.
• Create tiered engagement models matching audiences, investments, and outcomes.
• Advise on market-leading engagements and relationship-building strategies, beyond event-led approaches.
• Partner with Business Development to embed client engagement in plans, campaigns, and go-to-market initiatives.
• Define performance measures and executive reporting for relationship progression and pipeline influence.
• Develop firm-wide standards, playbooks, and enablement tools for quality and efficiency.

Skills

Client engagement

Events management

Growth strategy

Operating models

Job description

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do.

Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer.

This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers.

The Director of Client Engagement Strategy & Sponsorships leadsGoodwin’sClient Engagements function,shaping how the firmuses strategic engagements, sponsorships, and client experiences tostrengthenpriority relationships, create growth opportunities, anddifferentiatethefirm in the market.

This leader setsthe strategy, operating model, governance, investmentapproach, and measurementframeworkforthe function, while leading apod-basedglobal teamaligned to Industry Groups.The role requires a strategicoperational leader who can translate firm and client priorities into distinctive experienceswithmeasurable business impactand outcomesacross the full engagement lifecycle.

What You Will Do:

• Set the vision, strategy, and operating model fortheClient EngagementsCenter of Excellence(CoE), aligning the function to firm growth priorities, Industry Group strategies, client plans, and brand objectives.

• Lead and evolve thefunctioninto a scalable, commercially focused capability that brings discipline, consistency, and strategic value to engagements across the firm.

• Establish governance for the fullclientengagement lifecycle, including intake, prioritization, planning, resourcing, execution standards, measurement, and post-engagement activation.

• Manage the firm’s global portfolio of client engagements, events, and sponsorships, ensuring investments are coordinated, appropriately resourced, and focused on opportunities with the greatest strategic and commercial potential.

• Create tieredclientengagement models that matchtarget audience, investment, and expected outcomes to client value, growth opportunity, and strategic importance.

• Advisethefirm and Client Development leadership onmarket-leadingengagements, sponsorships,andrelationship-building strategies, bringing strategic judgment rather than event-led approaches.

• Partner with Business Development leaders and teams to embedclientengagement strategy into client plans, Industry Group priorities, campaigns, and broader go-to-market initiatives.

• Define performance measures and executive reporting that show relationship progression, pipeline influence, opportunity creation, client participation,and overallportfolio performance.

• Developfirmwidestandards, playbooks, and enablement tools that improve quality, efficiency, and consistency while allowing appropriate flexibility by market,industry,audience, and objective.

• Set the roadmap for engagement-related technology, data, automation, and process improvement, partnering withDigital&Technology, Marketing&Communications,and other stakeholders to improve planning, execution, measurement, and client experience.

• Lead change management for the Client Engagements model, building stakeholder understanding, adoption, capability, and accountability across Client Development and the broader firm.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, pod-based global team, creating an environment that combines business alignment, shared standards, advisory excellence, and continuous learning.

• Collaborate closely with other GO Team functions to ensure consistency in event planning and execution across the firm.

Who You Are:

• 15+ years of experience in client development, client engagement, events, growth strategy, or a related discipline, ideally within a professional services or similarly complex business-to-business organization.

• Demonstrated success building, transforming, or scaling a strategic enterprise capability.

• Proven ability to design and lead operating models, governance structures, prioritization frameworks, and scalable delivery approaches across a complex global organization.

• Experience managing significant global portfolios, budgets, investments, and cross-functional teams, with strong operational and financial discipline.

• Strong commercial judgment, with the ability to connect engagement strategy to relationship development, pipeline creation, opportunity progression, and revenue growth.

• Experience using data, analytics, client insights, and technology to inform strategy, improve decisions, measure impact, and optimize investment.

• Ability to operate as both a strategic advisor and an enterprise operator, moving effectively between long-term strategy, portfolio-level decisions, organizational change, and practical execution.

• Demonstrated success leading change, including navigating ambiguity, influencing stakeholders without direct authority, building adoption, and sustaining accountability.

• Exceptional executive presence and communication skills, with the judgment and credibility to advise firm leadership, senior partners, and other senior stakeholders.

• Proven leadership experience building, developing, and inspiring high-performing teams, with a commitment to developing strategicand advisory capabilities in others.

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Benefits and More

At Goodwin, you will discover your next career opportunity with a rewarding compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Life and disability insurance

• Retirement & Savings Plan

• Emergency back-up child and adult care

• Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays

• Professional development and career advancement opportunities

• Employee recognition and reward programs

• Employee wellness and assistance programs

• Employee discounts and perks

This position is eligible for overtime: No

The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience: $180,000.00 - $260,000.00