Client & Market Development Executive Manager – Project & Development Finance

Who we are

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, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer 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.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

The role

Clifford Chance has an aspiring global strategy which puts clients at the very heart of everything the Firm does. We have a clear mandate around developing our existing strengths and relationships whilst increasing our market share in new markets.

Our Client & Market Development function ("CMD") is pivotal in making the Firm's vision a reality. CMD works strategically with our Global Business Units – all with the same vision "to be the global law firm of choice for the world's leading businesses of today and tomorrow".

Clifford Chance's London Global Financial Markets practices ("GFM") are recognised as market leaders and work with many of the world's pre-eminent financial institutions and investors.

This role sits within the GFM CMD team in London and supports the Project & Development Finance Group and the Worldwide Projects Group ("WWPG"), which covers renewable and new energy sources, infrastructure, conventional power, oil & gas and mining & metals.

Who you will work with

This management role will require you to work closely with the leaders of and lawyers within Project & Development Finance / WWPG and others across the global team to achieve their business development aims.

You will have line management responsibility for members of the GFM team including the Project & Development Finance CMD Senior Executive.

You will also work in collaboration with the wider CMD teams across the global network.

What you will be responsible for

The Project & Development Finance / WWPG practice is recognised as a market-leading team of lawyers, working with many of the world's pre-eminent investors, sponsors and lenders in both emerging markets and established financial centres. With primary responsibility for the team in London, this role will also take the lead on supporting the WWPG globally with business development and marketing initiatives, working with relevant CMD colleagues across the global firm. This role is business critical in its support to these teams and is an opportunity for a high-energy BD professional to make a huge impact within GFM and more broadly within the Firm.

This is a strategic role requiring an individual who will be able to: adopt a problem-solving approach to day-to-day support; guide others in resolving complex issues; play a key role in setting best practice and take the lead on the successful delivery of cross-border and/or cross-practice initiatives.

The successful candidate will also be expected to take an active liaison role supporting and connecting with the Firm's major initiatives; namely the support of our priority sector focus on Energy and Infrastructure, as well as energy transition opportunities, which are key to the Firm's strategic vision.

What you will do

This role requires the individual to deliver effective project

Revenue generation

• Shape the WWPG practice's business planning process.

• Proactively spot opportunities and develop positioning statements to impact the pipeline.

• Oversee the effective pursuit of opportunities, including everything from coaching lawyers, to developing pricing models, to providing pitching templates.

• Manage the cross-practice production of strategically significant RfP responses, pitches and credential statements.

Reputation management and marketing communications

• Take an external view with the aim to build profile and pipeline opportunities (e.g. sponsorships, PR and other business development campaigns).

• Strategic internal and external events to build a community.

• Oversee multiple marcomms projects, including the delivery of directory/awards submissions, client collateral and product positioning statements.

• Support global, local and cross-practice initiatives and flow of information across the WWPG.

Client focus

• Take a lead role in client planning, client development and client feedback.

• Set up and implement a strategy to increase core client interaction opportunities.

• Work with other global sector and Client Development Managers on WWPG-related strategic client activity.

Line Management

• Shape the effectiveness of the CMD team by managing and mentoring individuals across the global the team.

• Build strong working relationship with peers and more junior CMD team members across the Firm.

Your experience

• Extensive experience of working in business development, ideally within the legal services sector or professional services.

• Ideally experience of /an interest in energy, infrastructure and energy transition.

• A track record of delivering across the full lifecycle of a pitch, panel pitch or capability request.

• Well-developed influencing and presentation skills as well as being confident, resilient and focused.

• The ability to work effectively and co-operatively with senior business development teams.

• A client centric view and the ability to translate opportunities into actionable plans.

• A global perspective, with sensitivity to multiple and diverse cultures (international working experience would be an advantage).

• Excellent prioritising skills with the ability to make judgement calls on where to add value.

• Strong interpersonal skills and exceptionally strong communication skills, both verbal and written (including strong editing and proofing ability and attention to detail).

• The ability to work autonomously with little guidance.

• The ability to demonstrate a track record of being proactive and delivering high quality work both personally and through a team.

• Proven project management skills.

• Experience of line management.

How we will support you

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

Hybrid Working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK, please visit our What We Offer page on our career site.

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society. 

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.

#IND1