Business Development Manager

The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving the firm's growth strategy by identifying and securing new business opportunities, strengthening client relationships, and expanding the firm's market presence. The role partners closely with Directors and Practice Leaders to develop and implement business development initiatives that support revenue growth, client retention, and long-term business success. The Business Development Manager also leads client engagement, strategic marketing initiatives, and business development activities to enhance the firm's competitive position in the market.

Duties & Responsibilities

Business Development

• Lead the firm’s strategic business development growth by driving both new client acquisition and the proactive management and expansion of existing client relationships.
• Working closely with Directors, Practice Heads, and Sector Leaders to identify, develop, and implement strategic business development initiatives that support the firm's growth objectives.
• Execute business development strategies aligned to the firm’s priority sectors, practice areas, and key fee-earning talent to support sustainable revenue growth.
• Identify, engage, and co-ordinate the internal and external resources required to pursue and convert targeted business opportunities.
• Oversee the end-to-end business development lifecycle, ensuring the seamless progression of opportunities from lead identification and relationship building through client engagement.
• Working closely with the Business Development Analysts to leverage market intelligence, client insights, and relationship data to strengthen client engagement strategies and drive informed decision-making
• Acts as the central point of co-ordination for business development initiatives, managing collaboration across Sector Heads, Practice Heads, partners, alliance firms, consultants, and operational teams.
• Develop and maintain strategic client relationships to enhance client retention, identify cross-selling opportunities, and deepen long-term client value.
• Co-ordinate and facilitate client engagement activities, including executive meetings, relationship reviews, and strategic networking opportunities.
• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing management of client Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure service excellence and client satisfaction.
• Drive the adoption, optimisation, and effective utilisation of business development technologies and platforms, including CRM and Everlytic, Dynamics 365, AJS, Power BI, SharePoint, Microsoft Office, LinkedIn, Apollo, WOW (Who Owns Who), CoPilot, Nexus to improve relationship management, pipeline visibility, and reporting.
• Collaborate with fee earners and Marketing team to enhance the firm’s market profile through thought leadership, media placements, speaking engagements, webinars, industry events, and other brand-building initiatives.
• Evaluate, recommend, and manage sponsorship and partnership opportunities that enhance the firm’s brand visibility, market presence, and strategic positioning.
• Monitor business development performance, client engagement outcomes, and pipeline activity, providing regular insights and recommendations to support the achievement of the firm’s growth objectives.
• Manage and monitor the Business Development budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources, cost control, and alignment with the firm's strategic growth objectives and return on investment targets.
• Working closely with the Head of Marketing, Pitch Manager and Events Manager to leverage Business Development opportunities for the firm.

Team Management

Lead, mentor, and develop the Business Development team, fostering a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, innovation, and client service excellence.

Qualifications/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Marketing, Commerce, Law, Communications, or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, or a related field would be advantageous
• 5-8 years’ experience in a law firm business development and marketing.
• Proficiency in integrated business management and CRM software, including, Everlytic, Dynamics 365, AJS, Power BI, SharePoint, Microsoft Office, LinkedIn, Apollo, WOW (Who Owns Who), CoPilot, Nexus and data sources such as South African Reserve Bank, JSE, Simply Wall Street, World Bank, Easy Equities, Stats SA BER, Google Alerts, Refinitiv, CB Insights and Bloomberg, R Programming, Smartsheet, Qlik.

Skills & Competencies

• Commercially minded, with a genuine interest in clients, markets and revenue growth
• Ability to work autonomously, take ownership and manage competing priorities effectively.
• Project management skills
• Strong communication skills.
• Establish and build relationships
• Demonstrated ability to work confidently and collaboratively with individuals at all levels of the organisation.
• Collaborate across boundaries
• Client Focus
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Leadership
• Team Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Logical and Analytical Skills
• Critical Reasoning Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Focus on Results
• Ability to work under pressure
• Agile and adaptable to change
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), with the ability to analyse data, manage reporting requirements, develop presentations, and support strategic business development initiatives.
• Ensure confidentiality of all the firm’s and client's documentation and information.