US Senior Business Development Manager Capital Markets and Finance

About Marketing & Business Development (MBD)

MBD is a dynamic global team which includes business development specialists, research analysts, brand, marketing and communications experts. By working collaboratively, our team shapes the firm’s client strategy, completes analysis of complex business issues, targets opportunities, develops compelling proposals and creates content and marketing campaigns that lead our digital presence. Together, we define the client experience and shape the perception of Freshfields around the globe.

The Capital Markets and Finance (CM&F) MBD team leads strategic positioning, visibility, and client service activities for one of the world’s leading capital markets and finance practices. 

Role summary

This is a dynamic role requiring excellent teamworking and communication skills as well as the ability to build strong, trusted relationships with partners and senior internal stakeholders (across 5 offices in the US and beyond) and to work collaboratively with brand, marketing, communications, research and other business services across our global firm.

The Senior Business Development Manager will have considerable experience of working for a global firm in a fast-paced, professional, and client-focused environment. The role requires broad experience with legal or other professional services business development activities and initiatives and the know-how to operationalize and execute across the various legal disciplines of a CM&F practice, multiple practice areas, sectors and geographies. A successful candidate will have specialized expertise in all aspects of business development, such as pitching, marketing/thought leadership campaigns, content or credentials creation, directory submissions, or key account client relationship management. It is intended that any existing specialization or expertise continues to be leveraged significantly within this role and used to coach and mentor colleagues in the US and beyond.

With this context, the role holder will work closely with the ‘Head of’ to lead the Global Business Development team for CM&F and will:

• Engage with the specific strategic challenges and opportunities for US CM&F, then partner with the business to lead the formulation of a focused marketing and business development strategy that strengthens relationships with existing clients, targets and positions the partners to win new work effectively and continues to build the reputation of the firm in the US and beyond
• Be visible, credible and use their strong influencing skills to represent and engage the whole of US CM&F in the strategy, then manage associated BD and marketing activities effectively across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Lead the bid strategy including, as appropriate, involvement in the creation of compelling credentials, proposals and pitches, and advising partners on how best to respond to fast turn-around bids, US CM&F focused panels or other opportunities to win work for the US CM&F practice as the lead or as part of a team, ensuring that opportunities are pursued tenaciously and pitch activity is recorded, tracked and results are reportable via Salesforce
• Oversee the creation of practice group-specific content, campaigns and events and the completion of relevant directory and award submissions to increase engagement with priority clients and enhance the personal brands of leading practitioners, as well as the firm’s global reputation
• Manage the development of the headline marketing campaigns to support the broad dissemination of CM&F proprietary insights
• Leverage their commercial mindset and knowledge of business development best practices, as well as marketing technology and tools e.g. Salesforce to analyze trends, anticipate opportunities to win work and develop existing clients and services, track key relationships, and report on the success of initiatives
• Demonstrate strong people management and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and drive three direct reports to become a high performing US CM&F BD team, as well as coaching and mentoring individuals to support their career and personal development goals
• Build trusted relationships with partners, stakeholders and global colleagues to achieve a ‘one team’ global mindset
• Establish an agile and responsive service model based on mutual respect and appreciation of skillsets across the team
• Contribute to continuous improvement in the firm’s approach to business development, including setting high expectations of the team to coach, learn from each other and share knowledge, content and data proactively to centralized tools, such as Foundation
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of how AI tools, including Gen AI products, can be used to support and where appropriate automate horizon scanning, research and other functions of the role. Take responsibility for identifying, adopting and leveraging the firm's suite of Gen AI tools to deliver better MBD support, more efficiently.

Key requirements (skills/experience)

• Educated to degree level, with considerable experience in global professional organizations (preferably legal)
• Deep understanding of how to develop effective go-to-market strategies for compelling proprietary content
• Affinity for leveraging digital tools to reach both broad and targeted audiences
• Strong emotional intelligence, independent thinking and execution, and mature professional judgment
• Excellent teamworking and collaboration skills, with the ability to build strong relationships internally and externally with senior stakeholders, as well as act as a source of guidance for less experienced team colleagues
• Strong multi-tasking and project management skills and demonstrated capabilities to manage multiple deadlines and changing project criteria, and resilience under pressure
• Superior written, presentation and oral communications skills, with demonstrated excellence in grammar and proofreading, as well as the proven ability to create well-crafted drafts of substantive materials, requiring limited editing by senior stakeholders
• Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Suite software
• Ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines and high expectations
• Natural curiosity and propensity to learn from all experiences; enthusiasm and ability to coach and mentor direct reports into well-rounded business development professionals

For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in New York and California or reporting to someone in those states, Freshfields is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is specific to the States of New York and California and takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $250,000 to $300,000.

EEO Statement
Freshfields US LLP is proud to be an equal employment employer. Our policies and practices will be free from unlawful discrimination based upon race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship, immigration status, ancestry, age, marital status, protected veteran status, military service, disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law. We strive to promote an atmosphere that encourages equal opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices, including sexual harassment.
Disability Accommodation for Applicants to Freshfields US LLP
Freshfields US LLP is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may use the alternative email address below to contact us about your interest in employment at [email protected] , or you can send your resume to [email protected] , or you can call us at +1-212-277-4000.