Business Development Executive - Tech, Consumer and Sport

at  Charles Russell Speechlys

The Business Development & Marketing team partners with the firm in the development of our business, builds relationships with existing and potential clients and also manages our market profile. In broad terms, the team:

• Manages our relationships with the media and seeks out the most appropriate opportunities;
• Drives the positioning of our brand through client service and thought leadership;
• Creates and manages the strategic business plans at a client, partner, sector and practice group level;
• Manages the firm’s key client relationship and client listening programmes;
• Creates and implements the firm’s digital strategy;
• Provides strategic advice and co-ordination on pitching opportunities and manages the rehearsals process;
• Works with our research team to produce and analyse companies, sectors and countries;
• Works with the knowledge team on submissions to the main legal directories/awards and advises practices on how best to promote their capabilities;
• Manages the production of bulletins and briefings from the conceptual stage through to distribution; and
• Delivers events that enhance our brand and provide opportunities to build relationships with clients, potential clients, intermediaries and the press.

There are c. 50 employees in the Business Development and Marketing team across London, Guildford, Cheltenham, Dubai, Hong Kong and Paris and it is divided into three key areas:

• Business Development and Relationships;
• Marketing; and
• Communications.

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Business Development Executive to join our Tech, Consumer and Sport (TCS) Team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building client and key intermediary relationships, raising the profile of our stake holders globally and promoting the firm’s tech, consumer and sport sectors to maximise revenue and growth.
Roles and Responsibilities

Business Development and targeting support.

• As a ‘go to’ person, providing day to day support to TCS in relation to:

Relationships

• Expected to develop strong and influential relationships with partners, fee earners, marketing and other colleagues in the UK and internationally in order to secure their engagement and support for the delivery of the TCS business development plans and to ensure collaboration across all facets of the business where appropriate

Planning and budgeting

• Working with the wider BDM team on plans and budgets, as well as leading on the activation of some plans and initiatives. Participating in relevant marketing & business development meetings and providing updates on activity including ‘Return on Investment’ reporting, event budgeting updates, marketing round-ups etc.
• Simple divisional budget reporting to Heads of Group upon request and project management budgeting.

Targeting and networking

• Support the BDM in the delivery of the TCS key intermediary programme, helping plan activities and meetings, and monitoring and reporting on intermediary referral activity to enhance the profile of the TCS group with key targets and increase referral reciprocity.
• Working with the BD team on financial analysis and relationship mapping for clients and intermediaries.
• Using Charles Russell Speechlys CRM tool, InterAction, to create, maintain and refine shared targets and other marketing lists. To record and report on BD activities with clients and intermediaries.
• Facilitate proactive cross-selling across TCS and with other relevant practice/sector groups within the firm (for example, with our Corporate, Real Estate and Private Client teams).
• Support the implementation of the business plans including the targeting process and go to market strategy. Support the BDM on developing, reviewing and updating planning and budgeting materials, participating in meetings, amending documents and regularly producing reports.

Pitches/capability statements

• Responsible for creating credentials statements, draft pitches and tender responses, both formal and informal, and leading where appropriate.
• Creating ad-hoc presentations for internal and external presentations.
• Support the BDM on the pitching and relationship building process, including pitch production, statements of experience, client quotes/testimonials, basic research, organising meetings, Partner and fee earner biographies and core factual/policy information. Develop and maintain the materials required to create these documents.
• Developing, populating (rankings, quotes, testimonials, deals etc.), collating and reporting on key information for your sectors/services and ensuring they are stored in the relevant repositories (e.g. Pitch database) and available quickly and easily for proposals, collateral etc.

Directory and award submissions

• Co-ordinate the legal directory and award submissions process, liaising with partners and the research teams ensuring that submissions are in the correct format and delivered on time.
• Work closely with our PR and MarComms team to produce timely press releases, social media announcements and internal communication regarding rankings and accolades.

Events

• Support the planning, delivery, analysis, reporting and follow up on a variety of targeted events such as seminars, webinars, workshops, receptions and other client hospitality.
• Proactively suggest ideas for events/initiatives to enhance networking opportunities for our stake holders.
• Where necessary help the events team to execute first-rate events through attendance, venue and speaker sourcing, production of event materials as required.
• Produce Return on Investment reports post each event to improve follow-up on new business leads and key clients and intermediaries’ relationship building.

PR/Profile raising

• Supporting the wider BDM team in helping identify and coordinate PR activity.
• Undertake ad hoc desk research on markets, sectors, industries, organisations and individuals of relevance to specific business development initiatives.
• Supporting the BDM to organise any necessary BD/Marketing training for partners/fee earners.
• Working with the digital, marketing and external teams to produce, distribute, report on digital thought leadership including, podcasts, newsletters and direct mailings. This includes their promotion externally e.g. on social media.
• Supporting the BDM and working with fee earners and the PR team on the coordination of PR activity for TCS, including the management of the TCS content plans across the focus groups within the division such as Financial Crime or International Arbitration.
• Maintain and regularly refresh all TCS marketing collateral including brochures, flyers, website content, bulletin/newsletters etc. These are regularly updated with new hires, new experience, case wins, so it is vital that these are kept up to date and relevant.

Digital

• Supporting the maintenance and updating of the firm’s website.
• Updating specific webpages on the firm’s internal website produced by BD&M team.
• Working with the BDM and marketing communications team to deliver social and other digital media campaigns.
• Creating and maintaining internet and intranet content for TCS.
• Support and work with the CRM team on the maintenance and development of InterAction, our contact management system (e.g. mailing list cleansing) and being a ‘champion’ within the rest of the firm,

Firm wide initiatives

• Involvement in and support for firm wide projects, initiatives or campaigns where appropriate and requested

Skills and experience

• 3-4 minimum years’ experience in legal marketing and/or an international law firm or other professional services environment. With minimum 18 months experience at Executive level.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and developing strong relationships quickly.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills – the role involves liaison with internal and external stakeholders at a senior level and internationally.
• Computer literate with a good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Some knowledge of marketing databases (preferably InterAction/Vuture) would be advantageous.

Person specification

• Positive, flexible, can-do attitude with a bias for action. The ability to take the initiative and ownership of projects, and the drive to get things done is very important. .
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, and a track record of building collaborative working relationships at all levels.
• The ability to deliver against competing priorities, demonstrating strong project management and organisational skills within an often-pressurised environment.
• Adaptability and resilience.
• A proactive, tenacious, and creative approach.
• Problem solver.
• The motivation to deliver excellence and exceed expectations.
• Ability to work on own initiative, show innovation and develop projects.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Competencies

• Working together
• Integrity and respect
• Inclusive
• Personal impact and growth
• Driving high standards
• Commercial mindset
• Client - centric
• Responsible Business

Please refer the Job description for details