A&O Shearman
Business Development Manager - Debt Finance
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Business Development Manager - Debt Finance
Marketing team - London
Our Marketing team helps the firm win and grow the right clients and work. We drive client development across the firm - deepening priority relationships, increasing share of wallet and converting strategic opportunities into profitable revenue. We equip partners with effective go-to-market strategies, tactics and processes, differentiated insights and disciplined execution. Alongside this, we strengthen the firm's market profile and reputation to support client acquisition, retention, and growth. We work as one integrated global team, aligning central support and expertise with local knowledge and execution to maximize impact across offices, practice groups, sectors and client programs.
What you will do
You will support day-to-day business development for the lender side London Debt Finance practice by converting strategy into tactical plans that you deliver in an efficient, disciplined and collaborative way. You will provide both reactive and proactive support to lawyers and the business to help pursue growth opportunities, including managing the pitch pipeline, client development, running campaigns and other client touchpoints in line with go-to-market strategies, and ensuring that best practice is followed in terms of systems, technology and processes.
Strategic planning and execution
- Contribute to the development of approved business plans and translate into tactical execution.
- Track spend and return on investment against plans and report variances.
- Provide status reports using Dynamics (our CRM system) and pipeline data to inform partner discussions.
- Monitor market and client news; summarize implications and feed intelligence into wider marketing activities.
Client development
- Work on the development of client plans, contact maps and meeting records, ensuring that Dynamics is populated with high data quality.
- Coordinate client meetings, briefings and events; prepare targeted follow-up so that we capitalize on client interactions.
- Capture client feedback and post-matter insights; log themes and flag opportunities to the senior BD manager.
- Assemble client and decision-maker profiles using approved research tools to support cross-selling.
- Track coverage, contacts and actions for priority client accounts.
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AI and technology
- Use approved marketing function AI tools, including the function's agents for designated tasks, in line with the firm's AI usage policy.
- Complete the marketing function's mandatory AI capability program and develop applied AI skills relevant to the role, including the function's agents for designated tasks (in line with the firm's AI usage policy).
- Demonstrate progression in applied AI skills through tangible contribution to personal and team output.
Pursuit excellence
- Coordinate proposals and work in conjunction with the pitch team, senior BD manager, pricing and lawyers to support compelling, compliant submissions.
- Tailor credentials and case studies to client needs; support rehearsals and Q&A preparation.
- Maintain pipeline hygiene and data completeness; run basic go/no-go checklists.
Market profile, content and campaigns
- Execute event and campaign tasks across channels; track engagement metrics and report simple ROI indicators.
- Manage directories/awards submissions and associated interviews and follow up.
- Manage events logistics and follow-up within agreed timelines and budgets.
- Ensure consistent, evidence-based messaging and in all market facing materials.
Collaboration, integration and change
- Work closely with colleagues across regions, practices, sectors and central teams.
- Promote consistent use of firm systems and templates; maintain file hygiene and naming/version standards.
- Actively participate in change initiatives; share ideas and help embed new ways of working.
- Adhere to agreed service levels and briefing templates with central teams.
Team leadership and development
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- Support resourcing across competing priorities and time zones.
- Contribute tips, examples and improvements to team playbooks and libraries.
- Contribute to onboarding new team members by sharing best practice for common BD tasks.
What you will have
- Proven experience executing business development activities in professional services.
- Intellectual curiosity about market trends and client needs combined with a proactive instinct to shape business development activities in line with these insights.
- Strong project management and stakeholder skills; clear, persuasive writing with a focus on client needs.
- Comfortable with data and research; confident using client data management systems (e.g., Dynamics), experience and pipeline systems.
- Highly organized, proactive and resilient; strong attention to detail and follow-through across multiple priorities.
- Strong client focus and ability to work well with busy lawyers while balancing deadlines.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
- Occasional travel as required.
What we can offer you
To learn more about the culture and benefits available at A&O Shearman, please visit: Culture and benefits | A&O Shearman careers
Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.
We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.
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