Business Development Manager

About the Team

The Business Development & Marketing team is comprised of two teams – Business Development (Sectors and Practices) and Marketing Communications.

This job is with Lewis Silkin LLP, an inclusive employer and a member of my Gwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

The Business Development Manager will work collaboratively with the Chief Marketing Officer as well as other key stakeholders and colleagues across the firm to grow existing clients and develop new relationships. The role offers a balance of project ownership/autonomy with the opportunity to get involved in team initiatives. The role requires significant interaction with partners, lawyers and other business services teams and the Manager will be expected to develop a trusted advisor relationship with key stakeholders at all levels.

• BDM point of contact for our Digital, Commerce and Creative (DCC) LPG, as well as our Advertising and Marketing sector group.
• Strategy and planning – work with key groups and stakeholders to devise and execute BD and marketing plans in line with the firmwide strategy and objectives of the department.
• Client development - work with individual partners and teams to manage prospective client targeting and client development –provide analysis on client trends, fees, cross‑selling opportunities etc.
• Tenders and pitches – deliver winning pitches and responses to RFPs: assessing pitch opportunities and making recommendations on approach; helping the team to define and articulate their offering; drafting of the tender document; coaching pitch/tender teams; post‑pitch debrief and analysis (both internal and external) and feeding learnings into the process.
• Marketing communications – at Lewis Silkin our BD team operates with a campaign mindset. As BD Manager you will be responsible for managing the campaign‑focussed marketing communications ‘mix’, working closely with specialist colleagues to cover public relations, event management as well as internal communications to continually raise the profile of the groups you look after.
• Return on investment - work with the team and the fee earners to identify efficiencies in processes and ways of working and improve ROI.
• ‘Champion’ firm wide initiatives - ensure buy-in to firm-wide programmes such as effective use of CRM system (Engage – Microsoft Dynamics); web and digital presence and development; business development and marketing training and coaching.
• Market analysis and research - identify opportunities arising from new legislation and developments in our practice areas, trends in the market and changes in our clients’ businesses; industry sector research; supporting the CMO’s Development with growth/ marketing plans for the division.

You will have a professional manner, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and have previous experience working within an office. You’ll have a flexible nature and will enjoy working within a fast‑paced team, and will be highly organised. You’ll also possess strong numeracy and attention to detail skills, which will be key within this role. We are looking for someone who is passionate about being a team player, who is keen to support others.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent and/or Chartered Institute of Marketing.
• The successful candidate will ideally have three‑five years’ Business Development experience, preferably in a professional services environment (required), or law firm (desired), with experience operating at Manager level.
• Broad experience of managing and implementing a diverse set of marketing and business development programmes.
• Able to influence and persuade through demonstration of experience and knowledge.
• Ability to work to deadlines, juggle multiple projects and deliver under pressure.
• Self‑starter who can show initiative and get on with tasks without the need for significant supervision and direction.
• High attention to detail and strong client focus.
• Able to communicate with a broad population of contacts – both written and oral.
• Professional, proactive, creative, good humoured and…