The Opportunity
A leading international law firm is seeking a Business Development and Marketing
Manager to support select practice areas across the Northern California market. This
hybrid role is based in Palo Alto, California, and offers the opportunity to drive strategic
business development initiatives within a high-performing professional services
environment.
The Business Development and Marketing Manager (BDMM) will report to the Assistant
Director (Palo Alto), collaborate with office, practice, and department leadership, and work
closely with a global business development and marketing team. The primary focus of this
role is to enhance client relationships, identify new business opportunities, and raise the
visibility of key practice areas.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development
- Design and execute structured business development strategies for designated
practice groups in Northern California, including client targeting efforts and pursuit
team coordination. - Develop tailored content for proposals, presentations, and marketing materials in
collaboration with practice leaders and supported by global functional teams. - Provide strategic guidance on lead generation, client engagement, and pitch follow-
up activities. - Manage the business development pipeline across assigned partners and practice
areas. - Craft customized, persuasive messaging that clearly communicates the firm’s
capabilities and differentiators. - Coordinate collection and documentation of practice experience for internal
databases. - Identify cross-functional and multi-regional opportunities and lead integrated
business development efforts across teams.
Strategic Planning & Analysis
- Partner with senior stakeholders to create and implement strategic growth plans.
- Utilize internal data platforms and tools to support analytics-driven decision-
making in client development.
Profile Raising & Thought Leadership
- Elevate the visibility of practice areas through curated marketing programs,
including sponsorships, events, PR efforts (in conjunction with communications
teams), and digital engagement. - Manage submissions for awards, directories, and rankings relevant to the region and
practices. - Evaluate potential sponsorship and speaking opportunities to ensure return on
investment. - Support the creation of thought leadership content and client communications in
coordination with attorneys and editorial teams.
Event Planning & Client Engagement
- Oversee planning and execution of key events and speaking engagements with
internal and external stakeholders. - Curate attendee strategies and develop custom materials to enhance engagement
and business outcomes. - Manage post-event follow-up and track client interactions within the firm’s CRM
system.
Operational Excellence & Communication
- Follow best practices to enhance operational efficiency and client service.
- Help define internal processes and ensure responsiveness to departmental needs.
- Exhibit strong interpersonal communication skills and contribute to a collaborative
work culture. - Maintain a regular presence in the office as needed to support team collaboration
and client service.
Qualifications
- Proficiency with relevant business development tools and software (e.g., InDesign,
InterAction, Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint and Excel); ability to adapt
to new systems quickly. - Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated project management capability with a proven ability to meet
deadlines in a fast-paced environment. - High level of attention to detail and quality control, particularly in written materials.
- Professional demeanor with emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and the
ability to engage effectively with diverse teams. - Strategic mindset with a continuous improvement approach to content, materials,
and systems. - Proven ability to work both independently and within hybrid or collaborative team
settings. - Discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive information.
- Flexibility to attend occasional events and adjust hours to meet business needs.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
- Minimum of 6 years of business development and marketing experience, preferably
within a law firm or professional services organization.
