Senior Manager of Business Development Training

Dcbar; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Arnold & Porter is seeking a Senior Manager, Business Development Training to design and execute a firmwide BD training program. The role creates a multi-tier curriculum, aligns with client strategy, and delivers both internal and external programs across offices.

The candidate partners with the Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer and other teams, overseeing curriculum development, onboarding for lateral hires, and performance measurement to drive growth and client origination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in business development, professional services marketing, or attorney professional development.
• Experience coaching attorneys or supporting individual business development plans.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, experience management tools, and AI productivity tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain a comprehensive, multi-level BD curriculum with tailored learning tracks.
• Own the annual BD training calendar and deliver programs across offices and formats.
• Define success metrics and provide regular reporting on program effectiveness.
• Collaborate with BD, PD, and other teams to integrate training into attorney development.
• Lead onboarding training for lateral partners and associates to align with BD culture.

Skills

Instructional design

Adult learning principles

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree

Tools

CRM systems

Experience management tools (Foundation)

AI productivity tools (ChatGPT, Copilot)

Job description

Arnold & Porter is an international law firm with offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. The firm provides sophisticated regulatory, litigation, and transactional services across a broad range of industries, including more than half of the Fortune 100.

Arnold & Porter is seeking a Senior Manager, Business Development Training to lead the design and execution of a firmwide business development training program. This is a newly created, high-impact role responsible for building a structured, multi-tiered curriculum that supports attorneys at every stage of their careers.

Serving as the firm’s in-house curriculum architect, this role partners closely with the Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer, Business Development Directors, Chief Talent Officer, and Professional Development team to define skill priorities, design learning frameworks, and deliver programming aligned with the firm’s client strategy and growth objectives.

The Senior Manager will deliver select training sessions and oversee a mix of internally and externally led programs, ensuring consistency, quality, and impact across all initiatives.

This role may be based in the New York or Washington, DC office.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Curriculum Design & Development

• Design and maintain a comprehensive, multi-level business development curriculum with tailored learning tracks for associates and partners
• Develop structured learning paths that progress from foundational skills (e.g., networking, relationship management) to advanced capabilities (e.g., client origination, cross-selling, and revenue growth strategies)
• Partner with Business Development Directors to create practice-specific content aligned with group priorities and individual attorney development plans
• Build and maintain a repository of best practices and case studies drawn from firm successes and client relationships
• Ensure all content reflects the firm’s brand, client development strategy, and market positioning
• Continuously refine curriculum based on feedback, performance data, and evolving firm priorities

Program Management & Delivery

• Own the annual BD training calendar, including scheduling, logistics, and delivery across offices and formats (virtual and in-person)
• Facilitate BD training sessions directly and coordinate programs delivered by BD and Professional Development professionals, attorneys, and external facilitators
• Collaborate with Professional Development, Diversity & Inclusion, and other teams to integrate BD training into broader attorney development initiatives
• Lead onboarding training for lateral partners and associates to align them with the firm’s BD culture and expectations

Measurement & Reporting

• Define success metrics for all training programs and track participation, engagement, and outcomes
• Analyze feedback and performance data to drive continuous improvement
• Provide regular reporting and insights to firm leadership on program effectiveness and attorney engagement

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with attorneys, BD and PD leadership, and firm stakeholders
• Act as a trusted advisor on business development skill-building and training strategy

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree a plus
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in business development, professional services marketing, or attorney professional development
• Experience coaching attorneys or supporting individual business development plans
• Familiarity with CRM systems, experience management tools (e.g., Foundation), and AI-enabled productivity tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot)
• Demonstrated expertise in instructional design and adult learning principles
• Prior experience designing or leading training programs in a professional services environment
• Strong understanding of business development within a law firm or professional services environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable frameworks
• Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously
• Collaborative, consultative approach with strong relationship-building skills across senior stakeholders
• High level of discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential information
• Ability to travel to firm offices as needed to deliver training and engage with attorneys
• Demonstrated leadership capability and ability to drive firmwide initiatives
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment
• High attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality work

The anticipated base salary for this position is $170,000 to $240,000. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

The firm may provide a discretionary bonus annually.