Business Development Specialist - Healthcare & Life Sciences

About Business Development at Ropes & Gray:

The Business Development department’s business objective is to grow firm revenue and take market share, in collaboration with partners, other attorneys and business colleagues, by leveraging and generating the firm’s offering:

Business development is part of a broader business support organization where we are part of a collaborative work environment. The BD group is a specialist business support function with a range of offerings focused solely on business development in the firm’s practice groups, industry groups and client teams including new business pursuit; key account management; BD skills & coaching; pitch & proposals (including RfPs); and client feedback.

Overview of Business Development Specialist role:

The Business Development Specialist (BDS) – Healthcare & Life Sciences will be an integral member of the Business Development Team. Working closely with the SBDM, the BDS will support relevant partners with BD responsibilities to provide strategic, commercial and practical business development and client development support in support of the implementation of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group’s strategic and commercial priorities.

In particular, the BDS will work closely with the SBDM, lead partners, other lawyers and business support colleagues to:

• support the execution of business development and marketing efforts designed to generate new business and improve market visibility for the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group efforts
• identify and target new client
• develop relationships with existing and new clients
• deliver practice group products and knowledge marketing to the appropriate client and market audience

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Working with SBDM, lead partners and practice development colleagues, develop and execute the business and client development strategy for the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group with a focus on growing revenue and relationships
• Develop an understanding of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group’s goals, helping to identify, assess, and pursue new clients
• Help to drive the development of existing client relationships in collaboration with other relevant business support colleagues including:
  • organizing, participating in and maintaining business development meetings and being responsible for certain aspects of client and target development efforts
  • developing a strong knowledge of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group including by commissioning and conducting business research to keep abreast of industry/market intelligence and to support the BD strategy
• Supporting pitching and new business generation by:
  • Executing large pitches, proposals and RfPs, including collaborating in a team to develop a winning strategy, helping to identify ways to differentiate from the competition and helping to write aspects of the pitch
  • maintaining up-to-date pitch content, materials and client information
  • participating in scoping and preparation for in-person meetings and pitches
• Working with the SBDM and marketing team and other business support colleagues to:
  • identify opportunities to create and implement integrated branding and profile-raising campaigns
  • assess market conference opportunities, advise the lawyers on selection, participation in and execution
  • identify the appropriate client and market targets for the delivery of knowledge marketing
• Building a good working knowledge of adjacent practice and industry group services and a clear understanding of relevant group's strategy, priorities and clients
• Communicating best practice business development activities and successes across the group

Essential Capabilities:

This position requires a professional, highly motivated individual capable of functioning in an international, fast-paced legal environment:

• Superior client service orientation
• Quickly able to establish credibility with SBDM and key stakeholders
• Work effectively and efficiently as a team player with an enthusiasm for developing relationships. Able to engage with and support colleagues and stakeholders across all aspects of the business
• A self-starter, when required, in a dynamic environment
• Commercially minded and solutions orientated
• Excellent organization, communication and project management skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of role and responsibilities
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with all levels of attorneys and business professionals. Experience writing in a professional services environment
• Able to work to clear goals and priorities, multi-task and meet multiple deadlines
• Creative and flexible when managing individual workload and priorities, taking colleagues’ time into account, to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities
• Able to demonstrate creativity and initiative by continuously looking for areas to improve and ways to implement positive change to all aspects of role and responsibilities
• Work effectively in a culturally and educationally diverse multi-office environment

Education and Experience Required

• An undergraduate degree is required
• Three to five years’ experience in business development within a professional services firm
• Demonstrate knowledge of Healthcare & Life Sciences helpful but not required

Working Conditions

Normal office environment; incumbent is expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the position; incumbent is expected to work on-site three days per week (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday).

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements.