Business Development Manager, Capital Markets & Finance - 6m FTC

MBD is a dynamic global team of business development specialists, research analysts, and brand, marketing and communications experts. Together we shape Freshfields' client strategy, target opportunities, develop compelling proposals, and create the content and campaigns that define our digital presence and global reputation.

The Business Development Manager, Capital Markets & Finance leads strategic positioning, visibility and client service activity for one of the world's leading capital markets & finance practices. Working closely with the Senior Manager for Capital Markets & Finance and colleagues across MBD, you will build trusted relationships with partners and senior stakeholders, and bring specialist BD expertise to bear across the practice in the UK, CE and beyond — coaching and mentoring colleagues along the way.

What you'll do

• Lead the practice's marketing and BD strategy to strengthen client relationships, win new work and build the firm's reputation across the UK, CE and beyond.
• Represent and engage the whole practice, managing BD and marketing activity across internal and external stakeholders.
• Own the bid strategy — shaping credentials, proposals and pitches, advising partners on fast-turnaround opportunities and panels, and ensuring activity is tracked and reported via Salesforce.
• Oversee practice-specific content, campaigns, events and directory/award submissions to raise the profile of both practitioners and firm.
• Drive headline marketing campaigns showcasing proprietary insights.
• Use commercial judgement and tools such as Salesforce to spot trends, track key relationships and report on results.
• Champion a 'one team' mindset and an agile, collaborative service model.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in BD practice, sharing knowledge and content via tools such as Foundation.
• Identify and adopt Gen AI tools to deliver smarter, more efficient MBD support.

Key skills and experience

• Degree educated, with 5+ years' BD experience in a global professional services organisation.
• Proven expertise across the BD lifecycle: pitching, campaigns, content/credentials creation, directory submissions and key account management.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with credibility to influence partners and senior leaders.
• Excellent written, presentation and oral communication skills, with strong drafting and proofreading ability.
• Strong project management skills, able to juggle multiple deadlines under pressure.
• Sound commercial judgment, independent thinking and resilience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite.
• Prior experience in the legal sector.
• Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM/marketing technology.
• Experience coaching or mentoring junior colleagues.
• Working knowledge of Gen AI tools and their application to BD/research tasks.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK in the role in question and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only if and when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of relevant factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.