Head of Business Development & Marketing – Debt Finance Group

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world.

With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages.

We offer our clients a truly international perspective.

We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow.

That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations.

But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way.

And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people.

Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Job Description

The role

Clifford Chance has an ambitious global strategy which puts clients at the very heart of everything the firm does.

The Business Development ("BD") function is pivotal in making the firm's strategy a reality.

BD teams collaborate strategically with partners, lawyers and other business professional functions to drive sustainable growth.

The BD function supports conversion of key client and market opportunities through the development and delivery of targeted business development and marketing plans.

This role is part of a global BD product team supporting the Debt Finance Group.

This is a hands‑on and proactive role where you will work alongside and collaborate with other BD team members and act as a key point of contact for relevant product stakeholders within the firm to provide support on the execution of wider BD strategy.

This role is business critical and is an opportunity for a BD professional to make a huge impact in a professional services environment, working closely with multiple stakeholders, to deliver tangible results as part of a global BD team.

Purpose of role

You will work directly to support key stakeholders on their client and market business development initiatives and support the implementation of BD strategy.

This role collaborates closely with the fee‑earning population in region and globally to support identification, pursuit and winning of revenue generating opportunities.

It connects partners and lawyers to the full spectrum of BD services and expertise available across the global function.

This role works alongside counterparts in region, and in other product groups, as well as being a key member of the BD community globally.

Key responsibilities

• Strategy and implementation
• Establish and oversee the implementation of BD development and marketing plans, ensuring alignment with firmwide strategy.
• Track progress against plans and refine approach to achieve over‑arching goals, focusing on ROI on a periodic basis.
• Commission research initiatives on regional product and market trends, clients, prospects, and competitors to inform strategic marketing decisions.
• Oversee and manage the quality of output, ensuring partner expectations are being met.
• Act as the primary contact for information about the product offering in region, and related BD and marketing activities and campaigns.
• Support the relevant product group in implementing its BD plan.
• Work with relevant stakeholders to develop/shape BD product offerings and initiatives.
• Facilitate the flow of information to drive collaboration and cross‑selling of client relationships and products in region and globally.
• Position and promote BD offerings and initiatives within the product group and the firm more widely.
• Proactively spot market trends and opportunities for the product group across the region and globally.
• Support cross‑product panel RFPs with significant regional emphasis, working with our Global Proposals team.
• Provide tailored input into significant product pitches and updating and maintaining capability statements.

Reputation management and marketing communications (working with Brand, Communications and Public Affairs (BC&PA) and Knowledge & Training (K&T))

• Assist in identifying opportunities to position and raise the profile of the product group and its individual lawyers.
• Lead in the organisation of relevant BD client events, seminars and conferences, sponsorships, PR, etc.
• Oversee multiple marketing communications projects, including the delivery of relevant directory/awards submissions.
• Support in the creation and distribution of thought leadership material.
• Client and market development
• Oversee and help with client targeting exercises and maintain oversight of priority clients and prospects in line with the firm's strategic priorities.
• Embed a strong culture around client listening.
• Ensure relevant regional marketing materials (standard pitch content, master capability statements, etc) are up to date and fit for purpose.
• Apply depth of product knowledge to support firmwide client and sector programmes.
• Conduct competitor, client and marketplace analysis to identify new and emerging client and sector opportunities.
• Business Development function
• Work closely with relevant key stakeholder(s) to execute on strategically important BD function projects.
• Support the implementation of the BD Operating Model by assisting with the alignment of activity to teams (within and outside of BD), in line with technology roadmaps and transition plans.

Qualifications

• Your experience
• Previous experience in professional services business development (preferably in a law firm).
• A strong interest in and understanding of the products relevant to this role.
• Sound commercial awareness of legal market development, particularly in relation to products relevant to this role.
• The ability to develop advisory relationships with partners.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and with lawyers of all seniority levels.
• Commitment to quality and attention to detail.
• Additional Information
• How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your expertise and knowledge.

From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to technical and personal development skills‑based training.

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way in line with the hybrid working policy.

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family friendly benefits.

For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK, please visit our What We Offer page on our career site.

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.

This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks.

These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

• Find out more about our inclusive culture here
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