Senior Business Development Manager

Reporting the firm's Business Development Director, this Senior Business Development Manager role partners with the firm's Litigation and Disputes practices to develop and execute marketing and business development strategy that advances practice priorities and drives revenue growth. The role identifies and pursues new business opportunities; leads and supports pitches, proposals, RFPs; and provides strategic counsel on client care and cross-selling. The position also translates practice goals into actionable business development plans and budgets, oversees key practice initiatives and programs, and uses metrics, expense reporting, and ROI analysis to improve performance and demonstrate impact. In addition, the role ensures best-in-class positioning by managing practice related content for the firm's website and capabilities materials, managing legal directory and survey submissions, and capturing experience information in firm databases.

In addition, the Senior Business Development Manager plays a role in advancing firmwide and departmental initiatives working closely with the business operations and practice management team. The role provides day to day guidance, mentoring, and subject matter support to business development team members; promotes consistency and best practices across the group; and actively shares market intelligence, institutional knowledge, and lessons learned to strengthen team performance and elevate the firm's overall business development capabilities.

This position supervises a team of BD Managers, Coordinators, and Assistants and is based in the firm's Washington, DC office, with hybrid working arrangements available.

Essential Functions

New Business Development & Growth Strategy

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities; coordinate outreach strategy for prospects.
• Evaluate referral sources, sponsorships, and speaking engagements to expand pipeline.
• Proactively determine and communicate opportunities for cross-selling.
• Recommend client development strategies and implementation.
• Lead and/or support responses to pitches, proposals, RFPs, and other team selling initiatives.

  Practice & Partner Planning and Initiatives

• Work with the practice group leaders and business managers to develop practice group BD goals and budgets.
• Oversee the development and execution of the practice groups' marketing and BD activities in line with the BD goals.
• Work with the pricing and M&BD teams on pitching opportunities.
• Deliver lateral hire partner BD onboarding and integration activities.
• Conduct BD coaching of partners and develop and track individual marketing and business development plans.
• Regularly meet with practice group leaders and partners to identify business development opportunities and determine client development needs.
• Lead practice group business development and marketing meetings.

  Tracking, Reporting and Performance Measurement

• Regularly track outcomes and evaluate effectiveness of new business development actions.
• Review (and approve when appropriate) business development expenses and provide monthly reporting to practice group leaders.
• Monitor ROI of activities and promotional programs.

  Content, Credentials, and Experience Management

• Develop, manage and maintain content for website, capabilities materials, legal directories, and surveys.
• Identify and capture client experience for use in marketing and BD activities

  Team Management and Collaboration

• Supervise and manage direct reports, including regular meetings to review goals, project status and team needs.
• Collaborate with peer Senior BD Managers, BD Director, CMBDO, firm management, and Practice Group Leaders to develop policies and approaches that support marketing goals

Non-Essential Functions

• Complete other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualification

• 10+ years of professional experience in business development roles; preferably in a legal or professional services environment.
• Undergrad or Master's level education.
• Executive presence, including the ability to lead and manage an experienced team of business development professionals.
• Experience serving as a trusted advisor to partners and practice group leaders.
• Knowledge of legal industry and legal sector business development.
• Ability to translate high level strategy into actionable plans to reach measurable outcomes.
• The ability to write professionally and with superb attention to detail.
• Excellent time-management and strong judgment in prioritizing multiple assignments to deliver solid results while working under pressure.
• Superior client service skills.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft office programs, CRM (Client Relationship Management) systems, proposal management systems, and experience management databases.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information with the appropriate discretion.

  Success Factors

• Ability to drive alignment among partners.
• Ability to foster a business development-focused culture while respecting the norms of a top-tier law firm environment.
• Superior project management skills and ability to ensure deadlines and objectives are met across the Litigation team.
• Collaborative leadership style that integrates BD with marketing, client value, and knowledge functions.
• Attention to detail, proofreading, and accuracy are key in this role, including the ability to generate a first draft that requires minimal revisions.
• Excellent market/client research analysis skills, as well as targeting, positioning, and business development planning proficiency.

Work Environment

• Flexibility to support time-sensitive deadlines, check message outside of normal working hours, and navigate high-pressure environments.
• Available to work 9:00 a.m. -5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $200,000. The actual base salary offered will be dependent upon the applicant's experience and qualifications, as well as other job-related factors, including but not limited to, relevant skills, education, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, geographic location.

Steptoe offers a full range of benefits for you and your eligible dependents. Benefits currently include: medical, dental, vision, life, disability, dependent care, health care flexible spending accounts, 401K Plan, Profit-Sharing, Paid Time-Off and a robust Wellness Program.