Business Development & Marketing Manager

Travers Smith LLP; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm based in London is seeking a Business Development & Marketing Manager to spearhead business strategies in its Pensions Practice Group. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in business development within professional services and strong leadership skills. This position involves developing marketing activities, leading pitch processes, and collaborating with partners to drive client engagement. A competitive salary and full-time role await the right candidate.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ business development experience in professional services, ideally within a law firm.

Responsibilities

• Develop business development strategies and plans across the Pensions Practice Group.

Skills

Business growth strategies

Education

5+ years in business development

Tools

Word

Job description

Business Development & Marketing Manager

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The Role

Reporting to a Senior Business Development Manager, the role is central to developing and executing the firm's business development strategies and plans across the Pension Practice Group and nominated initiatives. The BD Manager will collaborate across several distinct practice areas, proactively lead and constructively challenge on topics such as BD strategy and execution. The role has high visibility and daily interaction with partners and other key people across the firm, and is both strategic and operational, focused on executing each group\'s business plan and delivering an overall first-class service. This role would be ideal for a Senior Executive looking to step up into their first Manager position.

About the Practice

The Pensions Practice Group

Our Pensions Department is a recognised market leader, supporting trustees, employers, and pension funds through constant change in the pensions sector. We combine technical excellence with commercial acumen, advising on all aspects of pensions law, from liability management, governance, tax, and investments, to dispute resolution and de-risking. Our integrated teams work with the UK\'s largest pension funds and employers, helping them manage risk, capitalise on opportunities, and navigate complex regulation. Our dedication to client service and innovation is acknowledged with top-tier legal rankings and awards.

Key Responsibilities

• Business and Client Planning
• Develop close working relationships with the partners and wider lawyer team, providing support to develop, implement and refine business plans, understanding the respective practice areas, and identifying market and client trends and growth opportunities from existing and new potential clients.
• Create targeted business development and marketing activity plans that flow from the business plans, to help achieve objectives set in the Pensions Group\'s business plan. Monitor, analyse and report on activity against objectives, and put ROI measures in place to assess success.
• Work closely with the firm\'s Head of Client Relationships to ensure client action plans are created, monitored, supported and actioned for the most significant clients. Identify common elements with action plans for other clients across the firm and coordinate with firm-wide initiatives.
• Collaborate with the wider Business Development team to ensure activities are aligned across practice groups and cross-firm initiatives for a "one firm" approach to clients and BD activities.
• Develop a deep understanding of key client relationships and practices, including specific partners and areas of expertise, and competitor and market trends to recommend actions for revenue growth, cross-selling with other practices and client service improvements.

• Business Development and Marketing Activities
• Create an annual BD and marketing plan for the Pensions Practice Group and nominated horizontal initiatives, ensuring execution across all marketing mix elements (brochures, materials, pitch documents, thought leadership, social media, website content, lawyer bios, events, and corporate hospitality).
• Provide market and practice insights to support the Communications team in developing a media and PR plan; determine how PR and media plans can support the business and marketing plans.
• Coordinate with Events teams to plan, organise and deliver client-facing events and referral events to high standards.
• Assess value and relevance of sponsorships, events and hospitality opportunities to ensure best value for the firm and clients.
• Plan and deliver targeted thought leadership to clients and prospects via channels such as direct communications, website content, email marketing, and LinkedIn.
• Lead the pitch process for opportunities in the Pensions Practice Group and support firm-wide pitches with insights to tailor each opportunity.
• Manage the practices\' directory and awards submissions in line with firm processes, creating high-quality content that delivers results.
• Be the InterAction champion for the practice groups and cross-functional initiatives, coordinating with the Digital Marketing team, department PAs and lawyers to ensure BD activities are updated.
• Manage and track BD budgets for groups and initiatives.
• Support firm-wide client initiatives and marketing programs including client listening, post-pitch reviews and change programmes.

• Other Responsibilities
• Assist in developing the BD team\'s expertise through active engagement in team meetings and initiatives, sharing best practices from previous roles and industries, training and original research.
• Collaborate with the Chief Marketing Officer and legal Heads of Department to plan and manage annual BD budgets.

Person Specification – Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• 5+ years’ BD experience in professional services, ideally within a law firm.
• Strong commercial acumen with proven success in driving business growth.
• Advanced skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and InterAction.
• Ability to leverage macro-economic trends for BD planning.
• Excellent communicator and presenter, able to influence stakeholders internally and externally.
• Experience in managing, mentoring, and motivating teams; a natural coach with an energetic, hands-on leadership style.
• Confident advisor to senior stakeholders, comfortable with ambiguity and challenging the status quo.
• Strategic and analytical thinker, skilled in setting and measuring BD program success.
• Proactive, generating high-impact strategic ideas to support firm growth.
• Effective relationship builder with clients and colleagues.
• Highly organised, able to handle fast-paced, demanding workloads and set clear priorities.

We are excited to be moving from our London headquarters in Snow Hill, to a brand-new building in the City – Stonecutter Court. The move is expected to take place in early 2026.

Diversity & Inclusion statement: We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of every individual including differences in gender, ethnicity, disability, faith, and more. We\'re committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of our clients and communities, where everyone feels empowered, respected, and heard. We actively partner with organisations and networks that champion equality and fairness, ensuring our policies and practices uphold these values.

Accessibility statement:If individuals have any accessibility issues when reviewing this document, please notify a member of the Travers Smith HR team so that the document can be provided in an alternative format.

Support and Adjustments for candidates: At Travers Smith, we are committed to ensuring that people who are disabled or have a long-term condition are empowered in their identity, valued equally, and listened to. If we can adjust the recruitment process to make it more accessible, please let us know. For further information please visit our website: Recruitment - Support and adjustments for candidates | Travers Smith

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Business Development
• Industries
• Law Practice

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