Senior Business Development Manager - Corporate (14 month FTC)

This is a standout opportunity to play a central role in one of the firm’s leading business groups, supporting our corporate practice alongside Private Client, Employment, Pensions & Mobility, and Tax & Incentives at a moment of growth as the firm transitions to Winston Taylor. This maternity cover role is ideal for a proven Manager or Senior Manager ready to build on their experience within Corporate and adjacent practice areas. You’ll work at the heart of the business, partnering closely with the Business Group Director, Practice Group Leaders, partners and lawyers to drive revenue growth, proactive business development and origination, and long‑term client development, all underpinned by a structured and strategic approach to BD.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead business development and marketing strategy for the Business Group, supporting revenue growth, client retention and origination.
• Partner with senior leadership to shape group strategy and translate priorities into focused BD and client development plans.
• Drive client targeting and pursuit activity, identifying new opportunities through market insight, analysis and client engagement.
• Oversee bids, proposals and pricing strategy, shaping compelling narratives and improving bid effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver thought leadership, profile‑raising and marketing initiatives in collaboration with Marketing & Communications.
• Support international strategy, enabling cross‑border collaboration and global client initiatives.
• Coach and develop partners, senior lawyers and BD team members to strengthen commercial skills and BD capability.
• Lead and manage a high‑performing BD team, working collaboratively across the wider firm.
• Track and report on BD performance, using insight and data to inform decision‑making.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

This role is a busy and demanding position, but it is also hugely satisfying and rewarding to work as part of a dynamic and ambitious team. You should be able to demonstrate:

• A high level of personal credibility, impact and influence with proven ability to work effectively and persuasively at all levels of the business.
• An ability to provide commercial and proactive advice on business development, marketing and communications issues – based on knowledge of legal services and the Corporate market.
• Previous BD experience at manager level with practical experience of a variety of BD roles including pitches, account management, thought leadership and team management.
• A can‑do attitude with a bias for action.
• The ability to take the initiative and ownership for projects, and the drive to get things done.
• Excellent team management and communication skills.
• Able to display empathy and emotional intelligence.
• A proactive, tenacious and creative approach and an ability to make tough decisions and follow through with them.
• A flexible mindset and an ability to work to deadlines, juggle multiple projects, work with ambiguity, and deliver under pressure.
• Strong organisational skills and an excellent attention to detail.
• A knowledge of CRM systems and a familiarity with generating meaningful data and reporting for business intelligence and targeting purposes.
• Ambition, drive, likeability and a strong work ethic.

Benefits

• Hybrid working (opportunity to work remotely while maintaining a social boundary by working from our offices for 3 days a week)
• Holiday (basic annual entitlement starts at 25 days, with a discretionary day of paid leave in December; you may purchase up to five extra days each year, pro rata)
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave (after one year of service, up to 26 weeks leave and full pay when applicable)

Along with these, there are many more benefits we offer, with a comprehensive flexible benefits package available.

Our culture

Nurturing a diverse, inclusive culture allows all of our talent to flourish, sparks creativity and powers innovation. We continue to build a team that exemplifies inclusivity and reflects the firm’s core values: creativity, excellence, integrity, responsibility, respect and teamwork. We value and celebrate differences in who we are, what we have experienced and how we think, so all candidates will be treated fairly regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender identity, marital status, neurodiversity, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio‑economic background.

The way we work

At Taylor Wessing, we never settle for average. We are creative thinkers, problem solvers and continuous learners who excel at what we do and believe our best work is still ahead of us. We are a firm that’s large enough for you to achieve your ambitions, but connected enough to be a true community. Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world’s most innovative people and businesses. Deeply embedded within our sectors, we work closely with our clients to crack complex problems, enabling ideas and aspirations to thrive. Together we challenge expectation and create extraordinary results. By shaping the conversation in our sectors, we enable our clients to unlock growth, protect innovation and accelerate ambition.