Marketing Senior Manager - Life Sciences

Cooley; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Health savings account (HSA)

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Cooley’s Life Sciences marketing team seeks a Marketing Senior Manager to drive strategy, messaging, and programs across directories, GTM, and sponsorships. You’ll partner with practice leadership to translate objectives into campaigns and materials, shaping pipeline and differentiating the firm in a competitive market.

This role requires leadership, deep industry knowledge in life sciences, and a track record of delivering integrated marketing programs that convert insights into growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years applicable experience in marketing or business development, with 2+ years in management.
• Life sciences experience is required.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Direct the narrative strategy for legal directories and rankings.
• Lead market and competitive intelligence to inform strategic planning.
• Define GTM program content for industry-specific leadership.
• Collaborate on RFP responses and pitches to articulate competitive advantages.
• Oversee development of marketing materials aligned with engagement pipelines.
• Evaluate sponsorship opportunities for strategic fit and ROI.
• Coordinate with client development to convert events into opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

iManage

Job description

Marketing Senior Manager - Life Sciences Cooley is seeking a Marketing Senior Manager - Life Sciences to join the Marketing and Business Development team.

Position summary

This role is part of the Business Unit Marketing Team, which acts as the strategic consultant to, and primary bridge between, practice group leadership and the broader Marketing & Client Development organization. This team translates commercial objectives and competitive insight into marketing and client development plans. They work across Marketing & Client Development to activate these plans, offering the appropriate level of strategic and tactical support tailored to the needs of each business unit.

Position responsibilities

• Legal Directory & Chambers Strategy: Direct the narrative strategy and submission process for legal directories and rankings, ensuring the practice’s expertise is represented with high fidelity.
• Market & Competitive Intelligence: Lead the research and documentation of baseline market perceptions and competitor practice activities to inform partner-level strategic planning.
• GTM Program Definition: Define the content requirements and objectives for practice-led programs (e.g., industry-specific thought leadership) for the Campaign Strategy team to leverage and Content team to execute.
• High-Impact Pitch Strategy: Liaise with the Pursuits and Proposals team on the strategy and messaging for complex RFP responses and pitches, ensuring the firm’s competitive advantages are clearly articulated.
• “Always Ready” Material Strategy: Oversee the development of practice-specific marketing and sales materials, ensuring engagement lists and matter experience are high-quality and strategically aligned.
• Sponsorship ROI Assessment: Evaluate industry sponsorship opportunities for strategic fit, providing recommendations to BU leadership based on measurable outcome potential.
• Post-Engagement Strategy: Coordinate with Client development and enabling teams to ensure engagement from events and sponsorships is converted into actionable pipeline opportunities.
• Liaison with Content & Creative: Partner with Content and Brand enablers to ensure that practice-specific thought leadership is leveraged as a central element of all journeys.
• People Leader: Serve as direct supervisor and mentor to direct reports Provide day-to-day supervision of direct reports, ensure compliance with assigned work hours and monitor for compliance with all firm and department policies. Manage staffing coverage, review and process time logs/time off requests Support business professional development and continued educational opportunities In collaboration with immediate supervisor and central HR, participate in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination and other employee lifecycle events All other duties as assigned or required.

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 7+ years applicable experience in the field (e.g., marketing or business development), with 2+ years of exempt/management experience in relevant roles 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 Prior professional services industry experience and/or B2B marketing experience For life science roles, must have demonstrated industry experience in life sciences.

Preferred: Bachelor’s degree Supervisory experience Prior legal industry 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
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with ability to facilitate and solve problems
• Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines
• 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
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and develop talent
• Proactive, analytical mindset
• Effective presentation skills

Compensation & benefits

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 $170,000 - $240,000. We offer a full range of elective benefits including 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 and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 21 days of Paid Time Off (“PTO”) and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.