Totum Partners
Business Development Manager
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Business Development Manager
Leading advisory firm
London based
Hybrid working
My client is a specialist investigations and intelligence consultancy with an established reputation for advising law firms, corporates, financial institutions, and investors on complex disputes, investigations, and high-stakes situations across multiple jurisdictions.
Due to continued growth, my client is seeking a Business Development Manager to lead and develop the firm's business development strategy. Reporting directly to a Partner and managing a Business Development Assistant, this is a broad, high-visibility role with responsibility for shaping business development activity across the business and supporting the firm's continued growth ambitions.
Working closely with Partners and senior leaders, the Business Development Manager will take ownership of business development planning, client targeting, profile-raising initiatives, thought leadership, events, legal directories, and strategic growth projects. This is an opportunity to join a highly entrepreneurial environment where business development is viewed as a genuine commercial function and where the successful candidate will have the autonomy to influence decision-making, challenge ideas, and drive new initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver the firm's annual business development strategy and plan, ensuring activity supports wider commercial objectives.
- Act as the central business development lead across the business, working closely with Partners and senior stakeholders on growth initiatives.
- Support lead generation, client targeting, and relationship development activity across key sectors and markets.
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities, strategic relationships, and routes to market.
- Drive profile-raising initiatives that strengthen the firm's position within the investigations, disputes, and professional services markets.
- Lead the firm's thought leadership programme, working with fee earners to develop relevant and engaging market content.
- Develop and manage an annual conferences and events strategy, ensuring activity is aligned with business development objectives and delivers measurable value.
- Prepare and oversee proposals, credentials, presentations, and other client-facing business development materials.
- Manage business development budgets, monitoring return on investment, and ensuring resources are deployed effectively.
- Lead the legal directories process, coordinating submissions, and working with senior stakeholders to maximize market recognition.
- Manage and develop the Business Development Assistant, providing coaching, support, and clear direction.
- Produce regular business development reporting, pipeline updates, and market insights for senior leadership.
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Person Specification
The successful candidate will bring a minimum of 6 years' business development experience gained within investigations, legal, or a professional services environment.
You will have experience developing and implementing business development plans, supporting senior stakeholders, and contributing to growth initiatives. Exposure to disputes, investigations, contentious matters, or related practice areas would be highly advantageous.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate:
- Experience supporting Partners, senior fee earners, or equivalent senior stakeholders.
- The ability to develop and execute business development strategy rather than solely deliver activity.
- Strong client development, relationship management, and targeting experience.
- Experience managing events, profile-raising initiatives, and thought leadership programmes.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify and evaluate growth opportunities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities.
- Previous people management experience or the desire to develop management responsibilities further.
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Most importantly, the firm is looking for an individual who is proactive, self-motivated, and comfortable taking ownership. This role would suit someone who enjoys working within a relatively lean structure where they can make decisions, influence strategy, and see the direct impact of their contribution.
This is a rare opportunity for a Business Development Manager to take ownership of the business development agenda within a growing specialist consultancy. The scope of the role extends well beyond delivery, offering direct access to senior leadership, exposure to strategic decision-making, and the opportunity to shape the firm's approach to business development as it continues to expand.
Equal Opportunities
As a responsible business, it is important that we represent the diversity of our people, our clients, and our communities. We believe that the firms that thrive are those with the most diverse team; that's why we work so hard to source the best talent from the broadest pool possible. As an equal opportunities employer, we strive to accommodate anyone who may have specific needs. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the selection process, please talk to a member of the recruitment team so that any required adjustments can be made in advance.
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