Assistant Director of Client Development

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative, and diverse firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Business Development and Marketing department in our New York office as an Assistant Director of Client Development.

The Assistant Director of Client Development will be primarily responsible for strategic direction and implementation support for Mayer Brown’s Global Client Team program, which is a strategic priority of the Firm. Our Client Teams program operates across practices, industries and offices and works to ensure a consistent client-focused approach at the global and regional level. This role will assist in directing the strategic approach and tactical business development and marketing efforts for a number of key client accounts and support program infrastructure.  This role may also support global industry groups, notably the banking sector, and support other initiatives that align with the Firm’s strategic plan and will require working closely and collaboratively with the rest of the Global Business Development and Marketing team. 

Essential Functions:

• Business Plans & Infrastructure
  • In collaboration with Leadership, assesses client-focused business development activities of the firm and contributes to the implementation of a strategic plan and the firm’s approach to key client penetration and expansion programs, including goal setting, metrics, support offerings, globalization, and financial and performance reporting
  • Directs the development and implementation of key initiatives, including business plans, client satisfaction reviews, lawyer training and other initiatives to enhance business development efforts for assigned client teams
  • Collaborates with Business Development & Marketing department leadership and client team leaders to develop annual budgets to support initiatives outlined in business plan(s) or as outlined by leadership, including specifying key strategic and tactical objectives and means to achieve annual goals
  • Oversee day-to-day responsibilities of the team to ensure that assignments and projects are properly managed and in alignment with the firm’s overall strategic efforts, and that service to clients is exceptional
  • Assists in the development of and provides direction on continuous communications and interaction with client team(s), including responsibility for periodic meetings, reports, analysis and progress monitoring, intranet sites, etc.
  • Provides tactical input and support on the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers
• Business Development & Profile Raising
  • Leads the development and implementation of key BD initiatives, including client targeting and campaigns, client satisfaction, client seminars and networking events, as well as other initiatives to enhance business development efforts
  • Develop and lead the approach to research and analysis and competitive intelligence-gathering
  • Supports the collection and maintenance of CRM-based contact and other data for marketing planning and for mailing lists
  • Support coordination of business development training for lawyers
  • Develop own fruitful relationships with relevant commercial contacts at key clients
• Pitches, Proposals & Marketing Materials
  • Provides sophisticated strategy and support for responses to RFPs, and pitch, presentation, and other opportunities via the development of written proposal and presentation materials for assigned client team(s) and liaises with other industry and product groups, departments, practices and/or country initiatives as needed
• Local Office Support
  • When relevant, provide support for seminars, sponsorships, and other events and initiatives pursued by the firm in your local office
  • When relevant, support the onboarding and integration of lateral lawyers
• Other
  • Supervises and mentor staff that provides strategic and tactical marketing support to key client and industry initiatives.
  • Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered in lieu of the degree when the experience has been directly related to the functions of the job
• A secondary degree (e.g., a Masters degree, a Ph.D., an M.B.A., or a J.D.) is preferred

Professional Experience: 

• A minimum of 8 years of demonstrated success in a marketing and/or business development-related position, either in the professional services arena (e.g., law, accounting, or consulting) or in a comparable position(s) in the corporate, trade association, or academic sectors

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products 

Performance Traits: 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated good judgment, a team-first orientation, and stamina
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Organized, diligent, and follows through with commitments
• Strong presence; capable of engaging credibly and effectively with partners internationally
• Able to effectively manage numerous competing priorities
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Assertive, self-motivated and able to operate with limited day-to-day direction 

Management Accountabilities:

• Manages processes for direct reports in regards to performance appraisals, annual compensation, goal setting and performance counselling
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
• Operational budget analysis and recommendations
• Conducts analysis of staffing levels and participation in the recruitment process
• Able to determine and implement change processes to improve workflow efficiencies
• Process- and service-oriented with strong leadership and project management skills
• Able to set priorities and delegate in an efficient manner
• Analysis of staffing levels and requests for assistance

Physical Requirements:

• May require travel to other offices as needed

The typical pay scale for this position is between $198,700 and $262,800, although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate’s education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified. 

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401 (k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

Thank you for your interest in Mayer Brown. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request a reasonable accommodation related to the application process and/or job interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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