Senior Marketing & Business Development Manager

Join DLA Piper’s Investment Management & Funds Team

DLA Piper has one of the largest investment management and funds teams in the world, with over 350 team members globally. The firm has a strong track record of supporting the investment management industry on the full spectrum of investment funds, all major investment strategies, and all stages of an investment fund's life cycle.

As a key member of the IM&F Sector leadership team, you will help develop and action strategic marketing, communication, and business development initiatives with the ultimate objective to grow business; including the execution of implementation plans, maintaining and progressing the infrastructure required to deliver these plans, and helping lead all supporting activities.

The International MBD team provides the operational and strategic hub, supporting the Luxembourg-based International Sector Head to help deliver the international priorities. These are high-profile teams, working across International and in joint co-operation with the US at sub-group level.

Occasional travel within the UK and internationally is a requirement of the role.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Be the International Sector Head’s trusted MBD advisor and help support and action the strategic priorities.
• Work closely with the wider MBD team, partners, and senior lawyers to develop and action strategic business development initiatives; including the execution of sub-sector implementation plans, maintaining and progressing the infrastructure required to deliver these plans, and helping lead all supporting activity.
• Work on key client relationships and client targeting programmes with a view to cross-selling opportunities across the wider firm.
• Develop and build sector-specific key client and industry relationships, participate in client reviews when necessary, and provide account management support to the sector's growth clients.
• Leverage the power of our internal systems, utilising data analytics, to provide a smarter marketing & BD service and experience to the sector.
• Champion our new marketing systems; global credentials database (Experience Hub) and proposal automation tool (Qorus), and drive engagement across the sector.
• Bring the best of the firm to the sector – identify and share the most relevant opportunities on an ongoing basis and help to plug in the right contributors.
• Work closely with partners and other MBD colleagues (sectors, practice groups, and locations) to identify joint client and target opportunities and craft winning pursuit strategies.
• Lead and support on key IM&F pitch opportunities (from reactive/quick turnaround transaction opportunities to more strategically planned approaches).
• Value Added Services – work closely with Knowledge on training, alerts, and thought leadership to bring wider value to our clients, such as connecting clients to opportunities and engaging on headline agendas.
• Support laterals with embedding their ‘book of business’.
• Contribute to the development and content of the business development and communications strategy across the international sector, encouraging collaboration, innovation, and client service delivery.
• Prepare the marketing budget bid and ensure allocated budgets are effectively handled and that investment is targeted at agreed priorities. Demonstrate advanced analytical skills of financial information and develop budgets in line with firmwide guidelines.
• Coach new partner promotions / potential partner talent.
• Work closely with other business services functions to take products, services, and campaigns to market in the best possible light.
• Work with the Head of International IM&F Strategy Delivery & Development to manage the flow of priorities.
• Report on results and ROI.
• Organisational support for internal group conferences and subgroup training days with Knowledge and the Head of Operations.
• Oversee the development and submission of key directory submissions for the varying workstreams within Finance.

In order to deliver the areas of key responsibility identified above, the successful candidate will be expected to manage & execute the MBD strategy:

• Work with the International Sector Head and the Head of International IM&F Strategy Delivery & Development to ensure a regular communication flow, keeping the strategic priorities front of mind.
• With the strategy in place, work with the key workstream leaders to review and refresh their own workstream marketing/BD plans.
• Work closely in conjunction with our Knowledge team in the identification of issues affecting clients and consider how to bring related thought leadership to our marketplace.
• Develop products and services with robust route to market campaigns (in collaboration with other Groups, Sectors, and/or regions as appropriate).
• Build the profile for IM&F both internally and in the market.
• Work with IM&F leads, across priority countries, to ensure we optimise go-to-market.

Manage the MBD team:

• Provide leadership and direction to support the marketing team, ensuring it is kept fully informed of developments, issues, and requirements.
• Manage the small marketing team and access to the central marketing functions - web, events, pitching, research, marketing systems, Interaction, and PR.
• Coach and mentor talent within the team, providing the necessary stretch to develop and prosper for the firm as a whole.

The job holder may be required to undertake additional duties from time to time.

About you

• Senior manager level experience and looking to expand your role in an international organisation.
• A high level of written, oral communication, and project management skills. You will be expected to have strong probing, consultative listening skills coupled with the ability to negotiate, persuade, and manage senior stakeholders.
• The ability to display a consistently positive and proactive attitude and demonstrate a collaborative working style; operating both as an individual and as part of a wider team (often based in other international locations).
• A deep knowledge of MBD processes for professional services - a sound understanding of new business processes, digital marketing, CRM, and the emerging technologies that will help us win and retain legal work.
• An exemplary professional approach and demonstrably high levels of commitment and internal client care.
• Ideally a working knowledge of the area of IM&F and a familiarity with the terminology.
• Demonstrable experience in demanding, partner-led international environments, where success has depended on an ability to:
  • multi-task and work to deadlines
  • manage conflicting priorities and expectations in a robust and fast-paced atmosphere
  • perform at a consistently high standard
  • remain calm and composed in what are often demanding situations
  • see delegated tasks through to completion at a high standard
• A proven ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information.
• High level of literacy in IT and marketing systems - Excel, Word, and Outlook is essential; experience of InterAction / CRM and design software would be beneficial.
• Sales techniques and coaching skills.
• Ability to understand and identify with the firm, its objectives, and values.

This job description is not designed to be exhaustive and can be varied, as required, to develop, or fulfil, the role on the demands of the IM&F Sector.

About us

We're a global law firm helping our clients achieve their goals wherever they do business. Our pursuit of innovation has transformed our delivery of legal services. With offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, we deliver exceptional outcomes on cross-border projects, critical transactions, and high-stakes disputes.

For our people, that means a world of opportunity. You'll shape the future, have the freedom to seize opportunities, and discover your own path. Together, we unlock our potential and redefine what we can achieve.

At DLA Piper, diversity, equity, and inclusion is about creating a sense of belonging. We strive towards a workplace and culture where everyone feels that they belong, that their voice counts, and that they can prosper in their career. For us, diversity is about the unique blend of talents, skills, experiences, and perspectives that make each of us an individual. We are committed to being accessible and accommodating any reasonable adjustments needed throughout the recruitment process to ensure an inclusive experience for all. If you need any support or adjustments, please let us know.

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That's why we are open to agile working.

Where local legislation permits, we will conduct relevant pre-engagement screening checks prior to your first day.