Business Development Senior Specialist
About the role
The Business Development Senior Specialist is a key team member within the Marketing Department, serving as a liaison to assigned practice and/or industry groups. They work directly with BD and Marketing colleagues and partners across various offices to develop and execute clear strategies and business plans, and manage business development pursuits, marketing campaigns, client events, sponsorships, and key account activity.
The Senior Specialist takes an active role in learning about the service offerings, lawyers, and clients of the assigned groups and related practices. They help develop and lead initiatives to enhance the groups’ knowledge about clients, their business needs, and relevant capabilities to foster cross-selling.
Responsibilities
- Proposals and Pitches
- Serves as lead project manager for RFPs and pitches, both for the assigned groups and others, as needed.
- Spearheads briefing discussions to propose and/or understand opportunities.
- Writes new business proposals, conducts matter research, and produces targeted, tailored responses to RFIs/RFPs.
- Supports follow-up, debriefs activities post-pitch, and reports results.
- Practice and Client Development
- Supports practice/industry team leadership and other partners on development and coordination of marketing and client development plans.
- Attends and contributes to practice/industry group meetings and planning sessions.
- Develops and refines the groups’ business development “infrastructure” (e.g., written collateral, experience database/matter lists, contact lists, opportunity tracking), ensuring quality control for accuracy, consistency, and timeliness.
- Helps group leaders prepare and manage the group’s BD budget; tracks and analyzes initiatives, evaluating ROI to recommend future efforts.
- Coordinates with the Market Intelligence team to conduct industry, client, and competitive research.
- Facilitates the planning, implementation, and follow-up of new business or cross-marketing opportunities.
- Marketing and Profile-raising Activities
- Leads the drafting and submission of rankings, awards, surveys, league tables, and other recognitions for assigned groups.
- Works with Regional BD and Marketing team members to plan client programs and Sidley-sponsored events.
- Collaborates with the Communications and PR team to identify thought leadership topics and engage lawyers in media commentary, article publication, and podcasts.
- Recommends and facilitates the involvement of Firm lawyers in professional organizations to enhance visibility.
Requirements
- A Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
- A minimum of five (5) years of professional marketing, business development, or other relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Marketing, business development, or related experience in a law firm or other professional services organization.
- Working knowledge of customer relationship, pipeline, and experience management databases such as InterAction, Salesforce, and/or Foundation.
- Familiarity with relevant company/market research tools, as well as law firm rankings, awards, and league table publications.
Skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Good judgment and strong interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others.
- Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion.
- Able to work under pressure and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Outlook.
Pay
The target salary range for this role is $90,000 - $125,000 if located in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, or Chicago. Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including market conditions, skills, experience, and education. The compensation package also includes bonus eligibility.
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.