Role Overview

We are recruiting for an Interim Business Development Manager (IBDM) for a 6-month FTC. Reporting to the Head of Business Development, this position will cover the gap before another permanent person is recruited. The objective of the role will be to work with the Senior BD Executive (SBDE) in supporting key activities and initiatives and ensuring smooth and seamless support for the Retail & Consumer and MIPTOC (Media, IP, Technology, Outsourcing, Commercial Contracts) groups. Alongside the SBDE the role will be the key point of Business Development (BD) support for the two groups before ensuring a smooth handover to a new incoming permanent person as and when they are recruited.

The Retail & Consumer sector is one of the firm's five core areas of focus. We act for numerous household names and have a number of accolades including being ranked in Tier 1 of in the Retail & Consumer and Consumer category of the Legal 500 directory and being accredited as Best Legal Adviser by Legal Week eight years in a row. The role also focuses on supporting the firm's MIPTOC practices - a core part of the Commercial Division of the firm.

• Working alongside the SBDE and another Executive, this role will have responsibility for supporting the Retail & Consumer group's ongoing BD activities and initiatives
• Whilst the role will draw together multiple services in support of the Retail & Consumer Group, it will also help to deliver ongoing support for the firm's MIPTOC group of practices.
• The successful candidate will coordinate joined-up marketing and BD through the wider BMS team in support of Retail & Consumer and MIPTOC clients and prospects.
• The successful candidate will have experience gained within a marketing and BD function at a major professional services firm - preferably within the legal sector. Experience of working with Retail & Consumer clients would be helpful, but not essential.
• The opportunity offers exposure at the most senior levels of the firm and is suitable for a motivated self-starter, ideally an experienced interim who is used to hitting the ground running and holding the tiller for an interim period.
• We would also consider a temp to perm if we find the right candidate

Reports to:

Head of Business Development

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will support Retail & Consumer related BD and Marketing activity. The Retail & Consumer group focuses on three key streams:

1. Food & Drink
2. Digital Retail & Consumer
3. Stores of the Future

Each stream has two partner leads. In addition, he or she will also have responsibility for advisory and support marketing and BD services for the MIPTOC group of practices.

The successful candidate will work closely with the current SBDE, supporting them in delivering key initiatives and activities and will be responsible for the below:

• Business and BD planning - Work with the Retail & Consumer group to finalise and support relevant BD activity plans
• Key Client Support - Work with SBDE, relevant Partners and the Head of Practice Management, to support activity related to the top clients and identified prospects
• Lead Generation - Identify business leads and emerging opportunities through market research and analysis where necessary
• Content - Support the Retail & Consumer and MIPTOC groups in developing compelling content and value propositions by group and stream
• Communications - In collaboration with the marketing services team, execute strategies to ensure the propositions are clearly articulated and communicated across all channels (digital platforms, capability statements, proposals, legal directories etc), and with maximum impact
• Branding/Awareness - Work with relevant lawyers and the marketing services team to deliver activities which build brand awareness and understanding in the external marketplace for the Retail & Consumer and MPITOC groups and their constituent streams, for clients, targets and other key audiences
• Selling support - Prepare partners for effective relationship and BD meetings with clients and targets including client/target research and presentation/marketing collateral support, advising and coaching where required
• Marketing and profile raising - Provide advice and guidance to lawyers on how to raise profile, awareness and market reputation to key buyer groups, work alongside lawyers and wider BMS colleagues to implement appropriate positioning and marketing communication tactics including:
  • legal updates, bulletins and blogs
  • PR and media relations
  • sponsorship and advertising
  • conferences
  • seminars
  • client hospitality
  • thought leadership and content
  • strategic social media and other digital platforms
  • directories
  • internal communication
  • awards

• Collaborate - with BMS colleagues to ensure Retail & Consumer and MIPTOC marketing initiatives dovetail with and complement firmwide, sector and practice marketing and brand-building activities
• Measurement and reporting - work with wider BMS team, monitor and support the current approach to measure marketing and BD activities for the Retail & Consumer and MIPTOC groups
• Pitching - Work closely with the Bid Manager to support the delivery of bids, proposals, client presentations and capability statements. Lead on the management and drafting of ad hoc opportunities as required
• Budgets - monitor budgets for the MIPTOC group ensuring they are aligned to the firm and practice's priorities, reviewing monthly expenditure against budget, ensuring value-driven cost control
• Meetings - attend all relevant meetings for the Retail & Consumer, MIPTOC and BMS groups

The team is led by the Head of Business Development (Simon Moffat) and forms part of the Brand, Marketing & Sales team (led by Director of Brand, Marketing & Sales, Ed FitzGerald). Internationally the team comprises just over 40 professionals.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• A strong understanding of business-to-business marketing, business development and relationship management within professional services, ideally the legal sector
• Evidence of good Partner management skills, ideally gained within a professional services environment
• Experience of delivering on short term objectives in similar interim roles
• Experience of, and a keen interest in, supporting business development for any of Retail & Consumer sector, Media, IP, Technology, Outsourcing or Commercial Contracts practices within a law firm is a plus
• An understanding of the workings and language of a commercial team in a law firm
• A team player with a willingness to do what's needed across the board to keep things moving
• Must be educated to graduate level
• A relevant post-graduate management or marketing qualification such as CIM or equivalent would be advantageous
• Significant powers of organisation; excellent attention to detail; and infectious enthusiasm
• Able to think strategically and commercially
• Strong operational and project management skills
• Stature and gravitas - is professional, credible and impactful, and confident with persuading and influencing where appropriate
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written)
• Flexible - is happy to work outside normal working hours when required
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Effective relationship builder - able to interact with individuals at all levels across the business
• Shows initiative
• Is a self-starter and has the ability and confidence to run with things
• Being an ambassador of the firm
• Doesn't take themselves too seriously