Business Development Executive (12m FTC)

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Executive (Officer/Specialist) (12-month FTC) to join our Marketing GEM team, based in A&O Shearman's Belfast office.

This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of our international strategy, working closely with our network of relationship law firms. Your role is pivotal in supporting the commercial and operational goals of the GEM Team.
Members of the GEM function have varying responsibilities for geographies in which we do not have offices. This role will involve support to the marketing and BD activities focused on those geographies, with a priority on central GEM activities and India.

GEM team - Belfast

We have a unique offering that supports the relationship between ourselves and our relationship law firms in locations where we do not have an office. The Global Experts and Markets (GEM) Team works with relationship law firms across Europe, India, Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East to deliver clients a global service. These relationships are key to the complex advice that our lawyers provide for our clients.

The GEM team Executive role works within the wider business development team. This team contributes to the achievement of the firm's business objectives, which includes supporting our partners and associates in their pursuit of becoming our clients' trusted advisers, building and maintaining long-lasting, deep institutional client relationships, winning new clients, increasing the visibility of the firm globally, and positioning the firm as the thought leader and most advanced law firm among the global elite law firms. The function works as one team across the globe with very close collaboration between the central groups - such as Communications - and professionals supporting offices, practice groups, sectors and clients.

What you will do

• The BD Executive will help manage the GEM Senior Assistant and a Marketing placement student, supporting their development and ensuring high-quality delivery.
• Support the delivery of strategic BD, communications and relationship management initiatives across the GEM network, with a particular focus on India-related activity.
• BD program and initiatives - work with partners on BD issues and projects, leading key initiatives and sharing cross-selling opportunities across the network. Promote the firm's expertise with partners and BD colleagues, represent GEM in the BD and marketing community, and ensure the group is connected to relevant central initiatives.
• Proposals - input into proposals, pitch presentations and credentials statements for India-related pitches. Support partners with presentations, promote best practice, contribute to documents requiring expertise on our global network of relationship law firms and working with local counsel.
• Referral tracking - lead responses to global referral requests, coordinate input across the network, track referrals, and report regularly on referral traffic between firms.
• Profile raising - lead on India group directory submissions for Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR, and IBLJ, liaising with partners, associates and BD colleagues for matter selection to ensure referees and submissions best represent the practice. Work with comms and social media on press releases and LinkedIn posts to publish deal announcements and client articles/alerts.
• Client events - lead the end-to-end delivery of central GEM and India-related events working alongside BD managers and events team to ensure alignment with strategic priorities, including managing invitation lists and RSVP reporting, event collateral and materials, logistics, onsite support and budget tracking.
• Internal communications - share market and client intelligence with partners and associates, promote best practice across the GEMs and wider BD community, support internal and external web content, and manage regular India-related communications, including weekly client activity and market intelligence, bi-monthly presentation, and quarterly financial reporting.
• Conflict tracking - monitor and track conflicts data to identify India-related matters globally, to ensure accurate tagging and report accurate India financials at board and senior leadership meetings.
• Webinar series - manage end to end delivery of the GEM virtual webinar series, working with partners and BD colleagues to deliver legal and management topics for our relationship law firm network to facilitate knowledge sharing and relationship building.
• BD tactics - maintain the timeliness, consistency and quality of BD tools by keeping distribution and target lists up to date, updating collateral, credentials, and ensuring deal information is accurately captured in Dynamics.
• Additional projects - support firmwide, local, departmental and practice area projects as needed.

What you will have

• Experience: You've thrived in a team for 3-5 years, juggling major projects and high-profile events. Your track record shows a keen eye for detail and a knack for improving processes.
• Multitasking: You're adept at managing diverse workstreams and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders on tight deadlines.
• Your Impact: You've taken ownership of a legacy process and offered an alternative viewpoint to make the process easier on your stakeholders.

What we can offer you

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, online discounts and lifestyle management services.

We recognise the value of flexible working and embrace hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do, however, remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.

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.

About A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.