Senior Manager, Client Development

Dechert LLP; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Dechert LLP seeks a Senior Client Development Manager to lead business development strategies for its financial restructuring and capital solutions lawyers, coordinating cross-practice marketing and branding efforts. The role builds client relationships, advises practice leaders, and drives client retention and expansion.

Reporting to the Global Director, Marketing and Client Development, Transactions, the position collaborates with Marketing, Research Services, Pricing, and Lateral Recruiting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 10+ years of professional services marketing and business development experience.
• Very strong written, oral communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Strong leadership skills with ability to influence partners and drive execution.

Responsibilities

• Build and sustain trusted client development relationships with practice group chairs and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with chairs to develop strategic marketing and business development plans with ROI tracking.
• Provide business development guidance based on client bases, markets, and competition.
• Develop client-facing pitch strategies and support RFPs, coordinating with Proposal team.
• Lead client development staff and coach them for performance and growth.
• Leverage AI tools and data analytics to enhance marketing outputs.

Skills

Leadership

Client development

Data analytics

Pitching

Research

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

AI tools

Data analytics tools

Job description

The Senior Client Development Manager works with the firm’s financial restructuring and capital solutions lawyers along with cross-practice, industry-focused working groups as assigned. The Senior Manager leads business development strategy and initiatives, drives and coordinates branding and internal and external marketing efforts, and assists with day-to-day business development activities. The Senior Manager will serve as a business advisor to practice group leaders, partners and other attorneys in their assigned practice groups to support client retention and expansion and brand awareness.

This position reports to the Global Director, Marketing and Client Development, Transactions and will also work collaboratively with other members of the Marketing team, as well as Practice Management, Research Services, Pricing, Finance, Lateral Recruiting, Innovation, and Diversity and Inclusion teams to execute on practice group and firm priorities.

Planning

• Build and sustain trusted client development and marketing adviser relationships with practice group chairs, product line leaders and other key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with practice group chairs to develop strategic marketing and business development plans and budget with ongoing tracking of return on investment.
• Provide business development advice and guidance that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the group’s experience, business, client base, market forces, and competitive landscape in particular sectors.

Marketing and Business Development Initiatives

• Bring new ideas and proven approaches to brand elevation and business expansion opportunities, including driving cross-practice synergies and internal and external marketing activities.
• Lead the onboarding and integration of key laterals and their client base.
• Understand our clients’ key business issues and goals, market dynamics and competitive strategies to develop effective internal and external messaging and go-to-market strategies.
• Develop compelling marketing collateral, website descriptions, experience lists, and other client facing material; ensure materials are up to date by supporting knowledge management efforts.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop client-facing pitch strategies and provide all necessary research and other relevant preparation, including coaching. Also work with the Proposal team on larger proposals and RFPs, and track pitch/RFP efforts, including client feedback.
• Help develop and manage client-centric and data-driven integrated marketing and business development campaigns that deliver results against strategic priorities.
• Identify opportunities and develop content for proactive media outreach in targeted legal, industry, and business publications and other marketing channels to strengthen the group's profile and market presence.
• Evaluate, plan, organize, manage and host relevant practice-related events and other client engagement activities, in collaboration with the events team. Responsibilities include concept, budget and agenda development, creating target lists, drafting invitation language, as well as measuring ROI and client feedback.
• Identify and oversee conference/sponsorship opportunities that involve successful follow-through and positive ROI.
• Drive an effective submission strategy and process for awards and directories for practice recognition that reflects the group’s capabilities and successes on behalf of clients.

Management and Operations

• Lead and manage client development staff, as assigned, including coaching and professional development. Responsible for establishing goals and providing performance feedback.
• Leverage AI tools, data analytics, and emerging technologies to enhance business development outputs, such as market research, client intelligence, pitch preparation, client engagement activities, and marketing content.
• Contribute to department-wide initiatives to improve the overall marketing function.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 10+ years of professional services marketing and business development experience, preferably a law firm.
• Very strong written, oral communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships across all levels of an organization and work effectively both independently and in a collaborative manner to accomplish position functions and team efforts.
• Strong leadership skills with ability to influence and advise partners on direction with strong execution and follow-through.
• Strong commercial sense and understanding of attorney and client needs and expectations, as well as how the marketing and business development function can facilitate and drive revenue generation and brand profile in the market.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic business environment and maintain a productive and committed work effort, meeting deadlines and managing workload.
• Sound judgment with respect to confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience mentoring and investing in the professional development of others.
• Strong knowledge of and familiarity with legal and business environments.

Dechert LLP is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination. The Firm prohibits unlawful discrimination in any term or condition of employment against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, membership or service in the armed forces, or any other characteristic protected by law.