About Business Development at Ropes & Gray:

The Business Development department’s business objective is to grow firm revenue and take market share, in collaboration with partners, other attorneys and business colleagues, by leveraging and generating the firm’s offering:

• to grow existing client relationships via industry and practice group business development efforts and client teams
• to develop identified new client pursuits

Business development is part of a broader business support organization where we are part of a collaborative work environment. The BD group is a specialist business support function with a range of offerings focused solely on business development in the firm’s practice groups, industry groups and client teams including new business pursuit; key account management; BD skills & coaching; pitch & proposals (including RFPs); and client feedback.

Overview of Business Development Manager role:

The Business Development Manager (BDM) will serve as a trusted advisor to Practice Group Leaders (PGLs), Specialty Group Leaders (SGLs) and other partners with BD responsibilities to provide strategic, commercial, and practical business development and client development support in support of the implementation of the practice group’s strategic and commercial priorities.

In particular, the BDM will work closely with lead partners, other lawyers and business support colleagues to:

• develop and execute business development and marketing efforts designed to generate new business and improve market visibility for the Asset Management Group with a focus on Registered Funds.
• Identify and target new clients
• develop relationships with existing and new clients
• deliver practice group products and knowledge marketing to the appropriate client and market audience

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Working with lead partners and practice development colleagues, develop and execute the business and client development strategy for the Asset Management group with a focus on growing revenue and relationships
• Through in-depth understanding of the practice group’s ambition, identifying, assessing and pursuing new clients
• Managing and driving the development of existing client relationships in collaboration with other relevant business support colleagues including:
  • organizing, participating in and maintaining business development meetings and being responsible for all aspects of client and target development efforts including proactively driving follow-up
  • becoming expert in the Asset Management practice including by commissioning and conducting business research to keep abreast of industry/market intelligence and to support the BD strategy
• Driving pitching and new business generation by:
  • Managing and executing large pitches, proposals and RFPs, including leading a team to develop a winning strategy, identifying ways to differentiate from the competition and helping to write aspects of the pitch
  • working with finance to develop compelling fee arrangements
  • maintaining up-to-date pitch content, materials and client information
  • acting as trusted advisor to attorney teams to scope, prepare for in-person meetings and pitches, and provide post pitch client and target feedback
• Working with the marketing team and other business support colleagues to:
  • identify opportunities to create and implement integrated branding and profile-raising campaigns
  • assess market conference opportunities, advise the lawyers on selection, participation in and execution
  • identify the appropriate client and market targets for the delivery of knowledge marketing
• Managing and developing junior members of the business development team
• Supporting the development of attorney-facing BD training.
• Building a strong working knowledge of adjacent practice and industry group services and a clear understanding of relevant group's strategy, priorities and clients
• Communicating best practice business development activities and successes across the group.

Essential Capabilities:

This position requires a professional, highly motivated individual capable of functioning in an international, fast-paced legal environment:

• Superior client service orientation
• Quickly able to establish credibility with lead partners and key stakeholders by balancing a confident, measured and persistent approach
• Work effectively and efficiently as a team player with an enthusiasm for developing relationships. Able to engage with and support colleagues and stakeholders across all aspects of the business
• A confident leader and self-starter, when required, in a dynamic environment
• Commercially minded and solutions orientated
• Excellent organization, communication and project management skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of role and responsibilities
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with all levels of attorneys and business professionals. Experience writing in a professional services environment
• Able to set clear goals and priorities, multi-task and meet multiple deadlines
• Creative and flexible when managing individual as well as team’s workload and priorities, taking colleagues’ time into account, to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities
• Able to demonstrate creativity and initiative by continuously looking for areas to improve and ways to implement positive change to all aspects of role and responsibilities
• Work effectively in a culturally and educationally diverse multi-office environment.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• MBA or JD helpful but not required
• Professional experience, including management of direct reports
• Minimum of eight years of experience in business development within a professional services firm
• Demonstrated knowledge of Asset Management is preferred

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment; incumbent is expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. Incumbent is expected to work on-site during the firm’s three anchor days per week of Tuesday-Thursday.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements.

NY Comprehensive Total Rewards Package

Ropes & Gray is proud to offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our business support team members. The firm also offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is $135,000 - $202,000, which represents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the starting salary range at the time of posting. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.