Senior Business Development (BD) Manager
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s largest and most successful law firms, is currently looking for a Senior Business Development (BD) Manager to join the Client Relations & Marketing department in the Toronto office.
Reporting to the Director, Client Relations & Business Development, the successful candidate will be accountable for providing business development expertise and support to assigned portfolios, with the objective of improving the Firm’s revenue, profit and overall profile in the marketplace. In this role, the Senior BD Manager works closely with partners and associates across all offices and the national Client Relations & Marketing team.
Primary responsibilities associated with this position include:
- Business Planning – Managing a number of practice and industry groups, working closely with assigned practice group leaders and individual lawyers on business plans, targeting strategies and related execution.
- Research – Initiating and managing complex research and analysis projects that inform long-term business planning with a view to grow revenue and increase market awareness for assigned portfolios.
- Business Evaluation – Understanding Firm priorities and sources of revenue (both current and projected), and using this knowledge to assist practice groups with pursuing strategic business development opportunities and increasing their return on investment.
- New Business Proposals and Pitches – Working with key partners and practice group leaders to develop pitch strategies, and managing the development of and finalizes client pitch and proposal materials.
- Rankings and Submissions – Leading the strategic planning for key directory and award submissions, ensuring that clear objectives are established, and working with Firm leadership to optimize submissions and ranking outcomes.
- Events – In partnership with the Events team, conceiving and overseeing all event planning and execution for assigned portfolios, including defining the business purpose of the event and working with key partners on setting and achieving event objectives.
- Marketing Materials – Working with the Communications and Digital teams to develop and update marketing materials and collateral, including relevant practice area and sector webpages.
- Industry Associations – Providing ongoing evaluation and developing plans for leveraging relevant industry association memberships.
- BD Budget – Managing the overall BD budget for assigned groups.
Qualifications
Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in business/marketing or equivalent is required.
- Minimum of 10 years of BD/marketing experience, with proven experience leading BD teams for a variety of practice and industry groups.
- Bilingual (English/French) capability is an asset but not required.
Skills/Abilities:
- Strong ability to provide appropriate and responsive customer service to lawyers, clients and other business services staff.
- Strong understanding of the Firm’s economic model and business strategy, as well as external markets, industries and geographic sectors.
- Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
- Good judgment skills, with the ability to make independent decisions for assigned practice groups, while knowing when to escalate issues to Directors or other senior leaders.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver presentations to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to provide sound guidance and expertise to team members and stakeholders at all levels, including coaching assigned lawyers on building online presence.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence others.
- Ability to adapt to multiple areas of law and work with any portfolio within the Firm as needed.
- Creative thinking skills, with the ability to share and embrace new ideas, and consider creative solutions to challenges or barriers.
- Strong proficiency with technology and a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies as required.
- Ability to map out complex project plans, assign roles and responsibilities, and manage the project team through to completion.
How to Apply:
To apply for this position, please submit your application and include your cover letter and résumé directly to our application portal.
Blakes wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Who We Are
At Blakes, we care about our people. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for not only our clients but also our employees. As a winner of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Greater Toronto’s Top Employers awards, we understand the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace environment that brings out the best in each person. Our success as a firm starts with hiring and retaining top talent and then helping them thrive.
Blakes welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. The Firm is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment composed of people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, identities and cultures.
The Firm provides accommodation for applicants with disabilities and in respect of other protected grounds during the recruitment process in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact us to request accommodation.