Head of Marketing & Business Development

Key responsibilities

• Implementing and, over time, evolving the firm’s long-term BD and marketing strategy, as well as producing yearly BD and marketing plans and budgets.
• Leading the BD and marketing team in delivering strategically sound, targeted and well executed BD and marketing campaigns.
• Development of strong and effective relationships with partners and practice/sector group heads, based on deep understanding of the firm, the practices/sectors themselves, the competitive markets in which the firm operates.
• Identification of new/adjacent markets and services for the firm to exploit.
• Strengthening the business development capability of the firm’s lawyers and raising their awareness of the help and value the BD team can provide.
• Overseeing the design and delivery of the firm's marketing, digital media, PR, key client and profile-raising programmes
• Driving the engagement and development of partners and associates across the firm in marketing and BD activity
• Participating in and driving key stakeholder meetings such as weekly management meetings, ad hoc M&BD committee meetings, business group meetings and ad hoc partner meetings
• Responsibility for internal communications related to firm BD activity and strategy
• Managing and reporting regularly on M&BD budget expenditure
• Providing a coaching resource to partners and senior fee-earners, to help them focus on the right opportunities, develop their marketing and selling skills, and play an integral role in the execution of the firm’s BD strategy.
• Developing and managing a client care programme that is tailored to the firm and its client base.
• Enhancing the reputation of the BD and marketing team within the firm for its professionalism and for the strategic and distinctive value it provides.
• Working closely with the firm’s M&BD partner, the Joint Managing Partners and CFO to align the firm’s BD and marketing activities with the firm’s overall strategy.
• Providing oversight and direction to all M&BD team members using coaching, mentoring and other development techniques.
• Proactively managing the team to ensure that the firm’s M&BD strategy and priorities are well understood and that long term projects are progressed alongside more urgent day-to-day demands from the business.
• Empowering team members to take responsibility for achieving their goals. Delegating tasks at the appropriate level and providing regular feedback.
• Maintaining transparent communication with all team members using departmental and team meetings, as well as regular one-to-ones. Taking the initiative to identify and tackle underperformance or other issues using the appropriate informal/formal channels.

Skills & experience

• Experience of professional services and/or partnership structures.
• Knowledge of the legal markets in which the firm operates.
• An interest in and understanding of one or more of the firm’s key sectors and the associated opportunities and challenges.
• A naturally confident leader and strategic thinker able to assess the firm's future needs, align business development and marketing initiatives accordingly and come forward with creative ideas and approaches.
• Able to persuade and influence across all levels of the business.
• A strong track record of client development in previous roles.
• A strong track record in developing and coaching more junior colleagues.
• Strong project management and execution skills
• Able to think long-term and see the “bigger picture”, while meeting short-term demands.
• Willing to question and challenge constructively.
• Effective at building relationships with all relevant stakeholders - collaborating, networking, and sharing skills and knowledge.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Able to be at ease in a relaxed, friendly and non-hierarchical organisation, while maintaining a rigorously professional approach to work.