Business Development Manager - Corporate (14 month FTC)

About us

Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world's most innovative people and businesses. Deeply embedded within our sectors, we work closely together with our clients to crack complex problems, enabling ideas and aspirations to thrive. Together we challenge expectation and create extraordinary results. By shaping the conversation in our sectors, we enable our clients to unlock growth, protect innovation and accelerate ambition. 

With 1250+ lawyers, 350+ partners, 26 offices and 16 jurisdictions we are looking to expand our Business Development  team, with the addition of a Business Development Manager - Corporate (14 month FTC).

Position summary

This role is a maternity cover and will suit an established manager looking to build on their experience within Private Equity and the associated Corporate and ancillary practice areas. You'll work closely with the Senior BD Manager, Practice Group Leaders, partners and other lawyers to achieve revenue targets, proactive business development and origination, and client development and continue to deliver a structured approach to BD activities. 

The role requires strong commercial acumen, the ability to get to know the business quickly and develop a broad range of relationships, and a proactive, engaging and energetic style. We are looking for someone who will bring a strategic mindset and strong planning and advisory skills, along with a willingness to dive into the detail and take a hands-on approach to implementing the delivery of the groups' business plans.

You will be a part of a BD, Marketing and Comms team that is already well-established and respected within the firm by partners and other fee-earners for its high standard of service and the ideas and commitment it brings to business development. 

Position responsibilities

• Taking overall responsibility for the implementation of the  Private Equity BD and Marketing plans.
• Developing a strong understanding, and supporting where necessary, across all four corporate practice groups, with responsibility for driving private equity focused BD. 
• Leading on several key growth priorities across Private Equity. 
• Enabling pro-active cross-selling into and out of Private Equity and broader Corporate teams .
• Work with internal analyst team and knowledge lawyers to help identify origination opportunities for the practice, developing a strong pipeline with key actions for conversion.
• Work with partners, the Senior BD Manager and dedicated Corporate pitch support as required to pitch for new business opportunities, draft or co-ordinate the writing of pitch documents and credential statements. 
• Manage and support specific thought leadership campaigns, BD products, client communications and marketing initiatives, working with the wider BD, Marketing and Comms team.
• Collaborate with the Events and BD Operations teams on client events for your practices and take responsibility for running practice or sector-specific seminars and networking events. 
• Develop and maintain the information necessary to market the groups for which you and the team are responsible, supported by the BD Ops team in Liverpool. 
• Support internal communications to ensure that there is a good understanding of BD activities throughout the firm.
• Lead on the creation of directory/award submissions to increase market profile and perception of teams.
• Building trust with a broad range of stakeholders at all levels and promoting understanding and the reputation of the BD, Marketing and Comms team.
• Building strong working relationships with colleagues in international locations to strengthen collaboration and information exchange between all parts of the firm.

Experience, skills, and qualifications

This role is a busy and demanding position yet hugely satisfying and rewarding to work as part of a dynamic, ambitious practice department. We are looking for a candidate with the following knowledge, skills and experience:

• A high level of personal credibility, impact and influence with proven ability to work effectively and persuasively at all levels of the business.
• An ability to provide commercial and proactive advice on business development, marketing and communications issues – based on knowledge of legal services and the Private Equity sector. 
• Previous BD experience at manager level with practical experience of a variety of BD roles including pitches, account management, thought leadership and team management.
• A can-do attitude with a bias for action. The ability to take the initiative and ownership for projects, and the drive to get things done.
• A flexible mindset and an ability to work to deadlines, juggle multiple projects, work with ambiguity, and deliver under pressure. 
• Strong organisational skills and an excellent attention to detail. 
• A knowledge of CRM systems and a familiarity with generating meaningful data and reporting for business intelligence and targeting purposes. 
• Ambition, drive, likeability and a strong work ethic.