Senior Business Development Specialist, Core Services

New York, NY

Summary

This position reports directly to the firm’s Senior Business Development Manager of the Core Services Team.  The Senior Business Development Specialist will be responsible for producing clear and effective customized responses to cross-practice formal proposals (i.e. RFPs, RFIs), drafting, editing and maintaining targeted pitch and other marketing collateral. This centralized and high-profile role will require frequent collaboration with our other business development team members in the US and internationally, internal and external communications group, and other administration personnel on a regular basis.  As a key member of the core services function, the Senior Business Development Specialist is expected to develop a strong understanding of the firm’s business operations and strategic objectives and to mentor and help develop junior members of the team.

In addition, the Senior Business Development Specialist of Core Services will assist and drive the partners for select practice groups in generating revenue through strategic business development activities; raise the market profile of the partners, practice and office; and coordinate efforts with international colleagues and other marketing team members on global cross-selling efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the respective partners to develop and execute on business development strategies.
• Draft customized pitches and RFPs and track and report success rates in the client relationship management database; collaborating with BD team in advocating best practices.
• Partner with various practice and industry Business Development Managers to manage and coordinate all aspects of process surrounding strategic pitches and proposals, including project plans, schedules, outlines and deliverables.
• Conduct extensive writing, editing, and proofreading of various topics ranging from simple to complex.
• Lead post-pitch processes, including tracking pitch data and driving the partners and work with them to gather client feedback after pitches; use that data to further improve our approach to client pitches.
• Prepare relevant directory submissions and awards submissions for select practice; scheduling interview calls; preparing specific talking points; identifying and tracking practice specific awards / submissions
• Organize and attend regular meetings to ensure and support regular and effective communication on issues and opportunities relating to practice and business development, and team management and financial performance.
• Conduct research and financial analyses, and provide other marketing support as requested for supporting targeted business development opportunities.
• Draft, update, organize and maintain marketing collateral and experience on the external and internal websites and/or various databases as required.
• Identify and assist in the coordination of profile-raising opportunities, including conferences, external speaking engagements, sponsorships, client alerts and article-placements.
• Partner with various subject matter experts to develop content.
• Work with marketing and business development colleagues around the world to develop business development best practices and to carry out cross-border, cross-practice business development initiatives.
• Ad hoc requests to support special projects, practices, initiatives and presentations.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional writing and editing skills and first-rate proofreading skills.
• Ability to develop and deliver executive-level presentations.
• Leading and managing the content strategies for an organization’s (preferably in professional services) staff intranet.
• Strong interviewing skills.
• Broad Business development and/or communications experience in a large professional services firm, preferably a global/international firm.
• Competence in working on data analysis, branding development, communications plans and service line plans, crafting strategic recommendations, and implementing plans.
• Very strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills and prioritizes work effectively.
• Ability to identify and implement solutions to business and people issues.
• Exceptional and creative problem-solving skills; superior analytical skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and demonstrable ability to establish alignment between the expectations and strategies of different stakeholder groups.
• Superior ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects.
• Ability to develop and deliver executive-level presentations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Confident, flexible and resilient team player.
• Manages risk effectively.
• Communicates complex ideas effectively.
• Adapts style to build relationships across all levels.
• Works effectively under the pressure of deadlines with little supervision
• Flexibility to work outside standard business hours as needed. 

Education & Experience

• At least 5 years of writing and editing in a legal or professional services environment.
• Equivalent of 4 year college degree required.
• Relevant graduate degree a plus.
• Significant experience managing pitches and the full range of legal marketing and business development services.
• Experience working in an international firm across time zones.
• Good knowledge of global financial markets, corporate business market, legal market and industry trends.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, InterAction; familiarity in working with any desktop publishing software would be a plus.