Senior Business Development Manager

This is a unique opportunity to lead and support an integrated global group comprising of the main technology & media, IP & competition (TMIC) teams as well as the Consumer & Retail and TMT sectors.

The successful candidate will lead and support on the planning and implementation of all BD & marketing activities, in line with the firmwide strategy and in close coordination with the global Practice Group Business Development team. 

The role can be based in any of our UK locations including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh or Sheffield.

About us

CMS is a Future Facing firm with more than 80 offices in over 45 countries and 5,800+ lawyers worldwide. We combine deep local market understanding with a global perspective. We are passionate about building strong relationships with our clients, our people, and the communities we work in.

We take a bold, dynamic, and agile approach to ensure our clients are able to face the future with confidence. We are driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI and readily embrace the possibilities it opens up for developing new and better ways of working.  Our aim is to inspire, impact and support our clients and our people, helping them to maximize their potential and thrive.

About the role

The practice group, with over 150 lawyers, works for many of the world’s biggest brands on often market-defining mandates. In addition to managing the team and coordinating day-to-day support for partners, the successful candidate will have the experience and maturity to be regarded as a trusted advisor and to proactively engage with partners in conceiving and implementing significant BD & marketing campaigns in line with the firmwide strategy. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Team management – To manage, oversee and provide guidance to a team of BD Managers and (Senior) Executives, including responsibility for appraisals and training.

• Business planning & Budgeting – To contribute to the annual business planning and budgeting process, ensuring that BD activities are appropriately prioritised and implemented to budget.

• BD infrastructure – To maintain a BD infrastructure for the group, including a complete set of standard pitch content, clearly defined client mailing lists and a list of target clients.

• Pitching – To support pitches which the practice leads on, collaborating with other practice groups, monitoring the outcome of pitches, and conducting pitch reviews as necessary.

• Campaigns – To lead on the development and execution of marketing and thought leadership campaigns for the practice aligned to the firmwide BD & marketing priorities.

• Events – To contribute to a series of seminars branded as part of the CMS Spotlight Series and to support the execution of all seminars and events.

• Client targeting – To support activities aimed at targeting potential clients or further developing existing clients of the practice, in line with firmwide priority sector targets.

• Communications / PR – To work with the Communications team to develop a meaningful proposition that helps the group differentiate in the market.

• Directory and award submissions – To ensure that directory and awards submissions in the group are prioritised, completed and reflect consistent messaging about CMS and our strategy.

• To develop and maintain effective working relationships with key individuals across the firm, particularly the group’s fee earners and business services team.

• To liaise with the wider CMS Legal Business Development team as necessary to ensure alignment with CMS-wide activities and strategies.

• To support other initiatives and activities as requested by the Head of Business Development and Sector Marketing from time to time. 

About you

We will invest in your ongoing training and development to support your professional goals and help you to thrive in your role from day one. Our opportunities are open to all suitably qualified applicants, so to be considered for this role, you must meet the following skills and experience:

• Experience in all aspects of Business Development and Marketing, including pitching, practice group and sector marketing, client targeting and campaigns, gained within a law firm environment.

• Experience of managing small teams ensuring team members perform effectively and contribute to the work of the team as a whole.

• Experienced in budgeting and budget management.

• Strong ability to build strong working relationships with partners and staff at all levels within the firm and with external vendors.

• Has the ability to grasp, analyse and present complex information and concepts in a clear and concise manner.

• Excellent communication and listening skills, checking for understanding wherever necessary.

• Demonstrates ability to plan and organise time; works to given timeframes and balances work well to meet goals and objectives.

• Identifies issues, risks and conflicts and asks for assistance and/or delegates appropriately when required in a timely and constructive manner.

• Adheres to, and seeks to improve established processes and procedures, where appropriate. 

What’s in it for you?

We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

•    Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)
•    Flexible, hybrid working policy
•    Generous bonus scheme
•    Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)
•    Holiday exchange scheme
•    Private medical insurance
•    Enhanced parental leave
•    Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

Equal opportunities

At CMS, we place diversity and inclusion at the centre of our culture and the heart of our organisation. As a firm we recognise, celebrate, and embrace the diverse talent our society has to offer because we know that to solve big problems, we need the best and brightest minds available to us.  In support of this goal, we commit to actively breaking down barriers which stand in the way of those from diverse backgrounds and play our part in levelling the playing field. 
 
As a Future Facing Firm, we strongly believe that a career in law should be open to people from all walks of life, because not only does diversity of thought and experience make our firm a stronger and more sustainable business, but it also makes it a more rewarding place to work.
 
When recruiting, we prioritise attracting talented people and we actively promote a flexible working environment which enables all our team members to thrive. If you see a role you are interested in, but don’t feel you meet 100% of the criteria we encourage you to still consider making an application. We also welcome applications from those who may be looking to return to the workforce after a career break. 
 
We are proud to say our leadership in creating an inclusive working culture has been celebrated and recognised externally, including being listed for a number of years in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women and the Social Mobility Index.
 
We are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer, and we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities, whether visible or invisible. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity throughout our recruitment process and in every element of the employee life cycle. If you require assistance, or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements or adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please contact Becky Lowe at TalentAcquisition@cms-cmno.com who will be happy to support you.

Ready to apply? Here are the next steps.

We look forward to receiving your application online via the CMS careers site. Please contact our Talent Acquisition team if you have any questions. 

Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.

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