Senior Business Development Manager

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 201,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and vision plans

Dental plan

Commuter benefits

Retirement contribution

Paid volunteer days

Job summary

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to drive BD strategy across TCPS and Healthcare practices in a multi-office, hybrid setting. You will partner with partners and practice chairs to shape growth, develop client-focused strategies, and lead high-profile pitches and proposals.

The role requires strong leadership, exceptional writing and communication skills, and a deep understanding of the business of law.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA, JD, or other advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years of experience in business development or related field.
• Ability to lead complex requests for proposals and client initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Leads and executes pitches and proposals from intake through submission and follow-up.
• Advises partners and chairs on priority clients and relationship strategy.
• Develops and executes annual business development plans with measurable targets.
• Coordinates with Marketing, Practice Management and other teams to advance client relationships.
• Drives strategy for client teams and events aligned with practice groups.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Client development

Pitches & proposals

Cross-functional collaboration

Data storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or JD a plus

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to work for one of the top law firms in the U.S.! Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is looking for a Senior Business Development Manager to join our team in our Seattle, Los Angeles, New York or Washington D.C. offices.

We offer a hybrid work engagement with two days of remote work, and three days in-office.

The Senior Business Development Manager leads and executes business development priorities and initiatives for the firm’s Technology, Communications, Privacy & Security (TCPS) and Healthcare Practice Groups, serving as a strategic advisor to Practice Group Chairs and partners. This individual develops and implements client-development strategies, produces and coordinates related work product, and collaborates with lawyers, business development colleagues, marketing teams, and other business professionals to advance group priorities.

The role requires the ability to perform substantive and tactical work with little oversight, while effectively delegating and overseeing discrete assignments when appropriate resources are available. The position requires sound judgment, financial and business acumen, strong analytical, organizational, project leadership, and communication skills, as well as the ability to use firmwide data and technology, manage competing time-sensitive assignments, and deliver accurate, client-focused work.

At Davis Wright Tremaine, you will find challenging assignments, opportunities for professional growth and community involvement, and a culture of inclusion. DWT fosters inclusiveness and authenticity. Regardless of position, everyone here has a voice and the support is unparalleled.

On a typical day you will:

• Practice Group Strategy & Leadership: Serves as a trusted advisor to the Practice Group Chairs, partners, and client team leads of TCPS and Healthcare, as well as other firm leaders. Develops and executes annual business development plans, establishes priorities and success measures, advises on resource allocation, and coordinates with Business Development, Marketing, Practice Management, and other business professionals to advance client relationships, growth opportunities, and firmwide strategic
• Firm & Market Knowledge: Maintains a sophisticated understanding of the firm’s services, clients, competitors, markets, and strategic priorities; connects client teams and practice groups across the firm; identifies and prioritizes client relationships, market opportunities, and cross-selling potential; and builds accountability for coordinated follow-up and results.
• Research & Client Intelligence: Conducts client, prospect, company, market, industry, and competitive research and analysis and, when resources are available, delegates discrete research assignments. Evaluates and synthesizes findings into actionable insights, target lists, growth plans, briefing materials, coordinated outreach, and recommendations for practice and firm leadership.
• Pitches & Proposals: Leads and executes pitches and proposals, including high-value, complex, and multi-practice opportunities, from intake through submission and follow-up. Shapes win strategy and client-specific messaging; drafts, edits, and assembles persuasive content and presentations; coordinates contributors, timelines, quality control, and approvals; delegates discrete components when appropriate; and conducts post-submission debriefs and analysis to improve outcomes.
• Client Development & Relationship Strategy: Advises partners and Practice Group Chairs on priority clients, targets, and relationship strategy; leads development and execution of key-client and pursuit plans; prepares lawyers for client meetings; facilitates follow-up and accountability; and uses relationship, financial, and market data to identify, prioritize, and advance growth and cross-selling opportunities.
• Client Teams: Drives strategy for relevant firm-identified Client Teams aligned with assigned Practice Groups.
• Events & Sponsorships: Sets business development strategy and investment priorities for events, webinars, seminars, conferences, and sponsorships; establishes objectives and target audiences; partners with the Events Team on execution; drives lawyer engagement and follow-up; and evaluates results and return on investment.
• Marketing Content & Communications: Develops, writes, edits, and manages assigned practice and client-facing marketing content and communications. Sets priorities and partners with Marketing colleagues to produce campaigns, thought leadership, external collateral, website content, and capabilities materials aligned with business development objectives; delegates components when appropriate resources are available; and ensures accuracy, consistency, differentiation, and measurable impact.
• Awards: Leads the development and coordination of awards and rankings submissions, shapes compelling content, advises on supporting experience, and manages contributions from lawyers and business professionals, interview preparation, and reference management.
• Firmwide Systems & Experience Management: Leads the collection and management of matter experience and oversees the accurate capture and use of client, activity, pitch, and financial information; champions the effective use of CRM, financial systems, and other firmwide technology to strengthen client intelligence, relationship and matter tracking, reporting, collaboration, and business development execution.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Serves as a senior member of the team, providing leadership through expertise, collaboration, and project ownership. Delegates and reviews work when appropriate, mentors colleagues, and contributes to team planning, capability building, and continuous improvement.
• Additional Support: Supports changing client team, practice group, and broader Business Development priorities; coordinates assigned projects, workplans, deliverables, and status updates; and performs other duties as assigned.

Join us if you have:

• 7+ years of experience
• Bachelor's Degree required, emphasis in Marketing, Business Administration, or similar field preferred; MBA, JD, or other relevant advanced degree a plus
• Demonstrated ability to:
• handle multiple projects simultaneously
• provide direction and guidance in business plan development efforts – at the individual, practice group and office levels
• lead complex request for proposal responses
• develop professional working relationships and create a consultative, advisory-type level of trust with lawyers
• coach and develop business development skills, both among staff and lawyers
• A demonstrated understanding of the business of law, including finance, sales and marketing, staffing models and industry trends
• Demonstrated understanding of alternative fee arrangements in the service industry (understanding of law firm pricing models a plus) is required
• Ability to pay close attention to detail and be highly organized and accurate is required
• Ability to work in a professional and collegial manner with lawyers, paralegals, and staff
• Previous supervisory experience is preferred
• Excellent writing skills and excellent grammar, spelling and proofreading skills are required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate verbally and in writing in a professional, courteous manner with clients, firm members, and other business contacts are required
• Experience negotiating sponsorship contracts is required
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Products required, i.e. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel; CRM technology a plus

Who We Are

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with 9 offices nationwide. We are relentlessly committed to client service and look for candidates who share that commitment. At DWT, client service means having empathy for each client’s and each lawyer’s work and personal pressures, business objectives, and legal needs; anticipating their needs; and having the capabilities and commitment to deliver what matters most to them.

What’s in it For You?

• Choice of health and vision insurance plans
• 2 paid volunteer days for qualifying community service work
• Dental plan
• Fertility and adoption benefit
• Paid sabbatical after 13 years of service
• Tuition reimbursement
• Commuter benefits
• Retirement contribution

This job description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities.

Washington State

The annualized salary range for this position in Washington is $180,000 to $209,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s education, training, experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, telemedicine and virtual short term solution based counseling services, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, subsidized backup care and caregiving resources, 401(k), vacation, sick time, 11 paid holidays each year and an employee assistance program. For full-time employees, the initial vacation benefit is 15 days per year and 11 days of sick leave per year, accrued bi-weekly. Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs are also available.

California

The annualized salary range for this position in Los Angeles is $179,000 to $207,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, telemedicine and virtual short term solution based counseling services, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, subsidized backup care and caregiving resources, 401(k), vacation, sick time, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs are also available.

New York

The annualized salary range for this position in New York City is $201,000 to $223,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, short term disability, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, telemedicine and virtual short term solution based counseling services, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, subsidized backup care and caregiving resources, 401(k), vacation, sick time, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs are also available.

District of Columbia

The annualized salary range for this position in Washington D.C. is $180,000 to $203,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, short term disability, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, telemedicine and virtual short term solution based counseling services, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, subsidized backup care and caregiving resources, 401(k), vacation, sick time, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs are also available.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP seeks to hire, develop and grow lawyers and business professionals who combine deep legal expertise, technological fluency, business acumen, and emotional intelligence—creating an excellent, inclusive, adaptive workforce that fuels exceptional client outcomes.

At Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, every employee has the right to work in an environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws.

Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email [e-mail].