Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP is a national, full-service law firm founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with marquee practices in investment management, litigation, and corporate. We are committed to smart growth, innovative thinking, excellence and integrity. With 225 attorneys and 180 business professionals, we proudly serve a diverse base of household-name clients, many of whom help shape the world of financial services and products, working together to produce achievements greater than the sum of our parts.
We are seeking a Business Development (BD) Manager for the Investment Management Department in the Philadelphia office. Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, the BD Manager will work closely with practice group leaders, department chairs and Marketing Communications team to define and execute business growth objectives, identify target opportunities, develop and coordinate business development plans, and work with related teams to grow the firm's business. This role will serve as the subject matter point of contact for the Marketing Communications team on strategic marketing and visibility efforts such as thought leadership, sponsorships and events, content creation, survey submissions and lateral partner integration.
Responsibilities:
- Work directly with department chairs, practice group leaders and partners on business development initiatives to generate revenue, strengthen and expand client relationships, promote cross-selling, and convert prospective clients. Develop and oversee annual individual partner and practice group development plans.
- Perform market and company research and generate competitive intelligence reports to identify qualified prospects and cross-selling initiatives.
- Oversee the creation and submission of tailored pitches, responses to RFPs, engagement letters and fee proposals for new and existing clients.
- Collaborate with practice group leaders, Lateral Growth Officer and firm management on integration plans for new partners, identifying key internal stakeholders and client development opportunities.
- Develop strategies and materials for client presentations and provide counsel on the execution of key messaging.
- Prepare partners for prospective client meetings, focusing on client needs, positioning, messaging, value-adds and next steps.
- Develop and execute tailored business development programs for attorneys related to best practices in executing and leveraging their BD efforts.
- Manage annual budgets with department chairs and practice group leaders, with a focus on targeted initiatives.
- Collaborate with the Marketing Communications team to develop, manage and promote internal and external client events to create targeted opportunities to promote the firm and related practice's external profile.
- Plan and create agendas for practice group meetings, providing strategic advice in connection with partner business development initiatives.
- Research and identify key industry organizations and conferences to generate leads, identify prospective clients and increase market penetration.
- Collaborate with the Marketing Communications team to develop new content distribution channels and identify targeted publications and opportunities for lawyers and practices.
- Collaborate with the Marketing Communications team to draft, maintain and update attorney bios and marketing collateral, including practice area brochures, experience database and website content.
- Collaborate with the Marketing Communications team as the subject matter point of contact for awards and accolades in various publications, including Chambers USA, Legal 500 and Law360.
- Collaborate with leadership on key initiatives, including succession planning and client feedback programs.
Skills and Abilities
- Upholds professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, and discretion with sensitive matters.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently or collaboratively with minimal supervision.
- Strong client service mindset with initiative, problem-solving skills, and resourcefulness.
- Builds trust and strong relationships with attorneys and staff.
- Highly organized, able to manage multiple tasks with attention to detail under pressure.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Understands business processes and identifies opportunities for improvement.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office; quick to learn new software; generative AI experience a plus.
- Flexible with a positive attitude.
Education and/or Experience:
- A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required.
- Seven to ten years working in a business development role in a large, multi-office law firm.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; must be self-directed, initiative-taking, possess strong organizational and time management skills, as well as analytical and problem-solving skills, and work with a high level of professionalism.
- Practical understanding of the legal services industry and the partnership environment; curiosity and an aptitude for learning; an entrepreneurial spirit; strong strategic, analytical, and critical-thinking skills; organized, logical, detail- and process-oriented; proficient in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; familiar with research and client contact databases. Specific experience in Investment Management practices are a plus.