Business Development Manager

Department: Clients and Markets
Duration: Permanent
Location: London
Reports to: Head of Commercial Division Business Development
Type of Role: Hybrid 
Reference no: 10380

The Role

Dentons is at an exciting time in its strategy and a major focus on marketing and business development activity is seen as crucial to its growth. The Business Development Manager will lead the delivery of marketing and business development activity across the Projects practice, supporting partners to achieve the practice's strategic objectives and drive sustainable growth.

Reporting to the Head of Commercial Division Business Development, the successful candidate will work closely with partners and collaborate with a Senior Business Development Executive based in the UK and a Business Development Executive based in our Warsaw office to deliver high-quality business development support across the practice.

The role will focus on delivering strategic initiatives across client development, proposals, campaigns, profile raising, legal directories, events, sponsorships and client targeting, while identifying opportunities to strengthen the Projects practice's market profile, deepen client relationships and enhance collaboration across sectors, practices and jurisdictions.

Responsibilities 

Client pipeline, client relationship and campaigns

•    Developing and managing business development campaigns, ensuring alignment between the Projects practice and the firm's strategic objectives, working with the Head of Commercial Division Business Development to deliver cross-practice and cross-border initiatives. 
•    Managing RFPs, pitches and opportunities for the Projects practice, including coordinating submissions and supporting regional and global proposals where appropriate.

•    Supporting the management of key client relationships, panel appointments and strategic client programmes.

•    Working with partners to develop and implement individual and practice business development plans. 
•    Building a strong understanding of the Projects market, including infrastructure, energy transition, construction, transport, real estate development and public sector investment, to provide commercially informed advice. 
•    Undertaking market and client research to identify opportunities with strategic clients, sponsors, developers, contractors, lenders, investors and public sector organisations.

•    Supporting partners in preparing for client meetings through briefing notes, credentials, market intelligence and presentation materials. 
•    Developing high-quality credentials, marketing collateral, thought leadership and promotional materials that clearly articulate the practice's capabilities and value proposition, ensuring content is maintained across firm systems and promoted through appropriate internal and external channels. 
•    Supporting client listening and feedback initiatives as part of the firm's wider client programme. 

Events, directories and market development

•    Working with the Events team and Practice Support Executives to plan and deliver client events, seminars, webinars and roundtables aligned to the Projects practice strategy. 
•    Assessing and managing sponsorships, conferences and industry events that support the practice's strategic objectives. 
•    Drafting invitations and developing targeted invitation lists using CRM data and market intelligence.

•    Coordinating event logistics, working with internal teams to ensure successful delivery. 
•    Maximising client engagement opportunities arising from events, sponsorships and industry associations. 
•    Measuring return on investment through CRM reporting, attendee engagement and post-event follow-up.

•    Managing the legal directory and awards submission process for the Projects practice, coordinating submissions, gathering matter information and working with partners to maximise rankings and market profile. 
•    Supporting thought leadership campaigns, legal updates and profile-raising initiatives across priority sectors. 

Team leadership and collaboration

•    Providing day-to-day direction, coaching and prioritisation for the Senior Business Development Executive  and Business Development Executive, ensuring work is effectively allocated, delivered to a high standard and aligned with the Projects practice's strategic priorities. 
•    Working collaboratively with the wider Commercial Division Business Development team to share best practice, drive consistency and identify opportunities for cross-selling and collaboration. 
•    Building strong relationships with partners, fee earners and business services colleagues to ensure business development activity is delivered effectively and strategically. 

Other responsibilities

•    Working closely and collaboratively with the wider Clients & Markets team to support firmwide initiatives. 
•    Working with the Clients & Markets team in Warsaw to coordinate contributions to business development systems, including CRM, credentials, proposals and CV databases. 
•    Supporting cross-selling initiatives between Projects and other practices including Employment & Pensions, TMT, Banking & Finance, Real Estate, Corporate, Public Procurement and Dispute Resolution.

•    Monitoring business development expenditure against budget. 
•    Supporting strategic practice projects and other ad hoc initiatives as required.

Required experience, skills, and attributes

•    Significant business development and marketing experience within a professional services environment.
•    Experience of working within a legal and/or professional services environment, ideally supporting transactional or infrastructure-focused practices.

•    Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
•    Commercially minded with an interest in infrastructure, energy transition and major projects markets.
•    Experience of managing or coordinating the work of others, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop team members.

•    Ability to build trusted relationships with partners, fee earners and wider business services teams.

•    Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to influence at all levels.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
•    Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

•    Proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
•    Sound working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, CRM systems and LinkedIn.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to building an inclusive culture here at Dentons where our people can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstance. As well as being the right thing to do, it makes good business sense too. A richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives helps us best serve our clients and the communities in which we operate. You can find out more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons here: Inclusion and Diversity

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, neurotype, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities. We are also “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” and welcome conversations about flexible working arrangements.

Dentons is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates with a disability may choose to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme. We will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Where application volumes are high, we may offer interviews to those who best meet the minimum criteria, consistent with our approach for all candidates.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email recruitment.matters@dentons.com. 

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you are interested in applying for this position, we welcome direct applications via our careers page, but if you have any questions beforehand, please email  recruitment.matters@dentons.com. Enquiries only please – applications will not be accepted via email.

Please note that we will not accept unsolicited CVs sent to the business, nor will we accept any associated terms of business.