Business Development Executive, 12-month Fixed Term Contract

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world, with over 30 offices across the globe. We strive to exceed the expectations of our clients by providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, combining the firm's global standards with in-depth local expertise. Our firm, work, and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages, offering our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating, full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That's why we're so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Alongside world-class legal careers, Clifford Chance offers excellent opportunities in the support functions that underpin its business operations.  By joining us in the Business Professionals Team, you will help us innovate in the way we deliver our services and enable us to run a successful multinational business that never stands still.  Business Professionals are integral to the running of the firm and are critical to its success. 

The Client & Market Development team is seeking a Business Development Executive on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract to support and proactively advance the business development and marketing strategy for our South East Asia practice.

This role is a key part of the South East Asia team, working closely with partners, lawyers, and business services professionals. You will also collaborate with colleagues across our eight Asia Pacific offices, including the wider Asia Pacific Client & Market Development (CMD) team and the Brand, Communications & Public Affairs (BC&AP) team.

In broad terms, your focus will be to:

• Operate as a trusted advisor to the fee earners
• Coordinate and support on the pitching process
• Support the strategic development of practices, clients and sectors
• Ensure delivery against agreed business development plans
• Produce research on companies, industries and countries
• Co-ordinate submissions to the main legal directories and advise practices on promoting their capabilities to these directories

You will be accountable for the following:

Relationship building

• Develop strong relationships with the fee earners across multiple practice areas 
• Develop equally strong relationships across the APAC (and global as appropriate) CMD and BC&PA team so that you can effectively connect with the wider network
• Develop good relationships across all areas of Business Services – HR, Finance, Best Delivery, Knowledge, IT, EAs

Proposals, pitches and capability statements

• Proactively manage proposals, pitches, capability statements with fee earners and other business functions to produce key materials in PowerPoint, Word, etc.
• Contribute to cross-border pitch projects, liaising with the global CMD team
• Support the pitching process, delivering market analysis to assist partners to assess new opportunities
• Maintain up to date global and local materials on the Singapore office and South East Asia
• Track pitch outcomes and produce win/loss reporting

Opportunity spotting

• Develop market knowledge, understanding and insights to identify potential business opportunities and expanding existing business, as well as raising the practice's profile via events, conferences and client seminars
• Identify and co-ordinate cross-selling opportunities with other practices, sectors and client teams
• Ensure correct information for all fee earners is correctly captured in the various Singapore trackers

Country, client, and sector focus

• Support the Firm's key sector program by feeding into global initiatives
• Support on the execution and delivery of country-specific focus group initiatives including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
• Advise partners on targeting and client relationships in conjunction with client, sector and country focus teams

Marketing and communications

• Produce targeted client lists from the Firm's CRM tool (InterAction)
• Develop the Firm's reputation through targeted marketing communications, publications (newsletters, client briefings), and awards and directories submissions.
• Liaise with the BC&PA team on media and PR opportunities.

Events, seminars and conferences

• Manage and support on activities relating to client events (including guest list, coordination of slides, management of speakers and logistics).
• Work efficiently with the wider facilities and Business Services team on both internal and external events.

Business planning

• Support practice group business planning with senior members of the CMD team in APAC:
  • Understanding the external forces that shape the clients' industries and the legal profession.
  • Assisting with the preparation of BD practice plans based on comprehensive market research (region and country macroeconomics, clients, competitors)
  • Supporting partners on targeting and client relationships in conjunction with client, sector and country focus teams

Experience

• Ideally 3+ years' experience working in a similar role.
• Experience in working on competitive proposals and pitches, ideally within the legal market.
• Experience in developing and implementing programmes in relation to client portfolios whether in a marketing or business development context.
• A track record of being pro-active and delivering high quality work.

Skills

• The ability to think strategically coupled with the energy and determination to realise these strategies at a tactical level.
• Strong project management and analytical capabilities and a pragmatic approach.
• Practical, proactive, commercially minded and service driven with a "can do" and positive attitude.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise; responsiveness.
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Sensitive to different business cultures.
• Well-developed influencing and presentation skills coupled with confidence, resilience and focus.
• Builds strong effective relationships with partners, fee earners, and CMD and BC&PA colleagues across the firm.
• Strong writing skills, editing ability and proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and InterAction (or other CRM software).

Working at Clifford Chance & About the Firm

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance. And wherever you're heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.

We're proud of our approachable, friendly and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.

Equal Opportunities

Clifford Chance is committed to an Equal Opportunities policy in employment and believes in equality of opportunity regardless of gender, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, disability or sexual orientation.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment. Find out more here.

#LI-Hybrid