Senior Manager, Client Development

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Manager, Client Development at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP. We are searching for someone who wants to be a valued contributor and member of a talented and dynamic team of lawyers, paralegals and business professionals.

The Senior Manager, Client Development (“CDM”) is responsible for the development and implementation of business development goals and strategies for the assigned practice group. The Senior Manager serves as a strategic advisor to practice leadership, applying deep firm, industry, and market knowledge to drive growth priorities and execute complex business development initiatives with a high degree of independence. The Client Development team works collaboratively to execute cross-sector, cross-practice group projects and initiatives; each CDM is expected to participate in these activities.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Dedicated practice group (PG):

• Is a student of the PG; demonstrates advanced understanding of and can articulate the PG’s business (clients, services and solutions, differentiators, and value proposition), keeps current on market and industry trends, and connects those trends to actionable growth opportunities for the Firm.
• Works closely with the Practice Group Leader(s) (PGL(s)) and other partners within the PG to do strategic planning, identify PG growth priorities, including priority clients, and develop a PG growth plan.
• Executes the PG growth plan, coordinating across subgroups, practice groups, sectors, and geographies to achieve mutually beneficial growth ambitions.
• Applies advanced business and industry knowledge to identify, shape, and advance tailored business development opportunities aligned with firm and practice priorities.
• Directs and supervises the work of a Manager and Coordinator/Specialist aligned to the PG.
• Serves as a strategic resource to Practice Group Leaders, partners, Client Relationship Partners (CRPs), and Client Development colleagues supporting shared or adjacent clients.
• Collaborates with other Client Development (CD) teams (e.g., Client Programs; Digital Marketing; PR, Comms and Brand) to optimize GTM initiatives.
• Independently scopes and guides complex research requests in collaboration with the Research team, translating insights into actionable recommendations that support strategic planning, pitches, and thought leadership initiatives.
• Oversees the development of pitches / pursuits and other marketing collateral relevant to the PG (e.g., grab-and-go pitch content, thought leadership, brochures, Web content), including drafting and editing content.
• Leads the annual directory submission process for the PG.
• Ensures effective management of PG CD infrastructure (e.g., PGL sub-team/working group meetings, scoping market intelligence research, maintaining PG client contact lists).
• Develops and manages the CD segments of the annual US PG budget in partnership with the Practice Director. Tracks and evaluates ROI on major CD expenses.

Collaboration:

• Participates actively in CD-Practices and Sectors team activities and contributes to cross-sector, cross-PG initiatives and projects.
• Engages regularly with the broader CD team on department-wide initiatives and firm-wide projects.
• Partners with Practice Director on strategic PG initiatives.
• Leads broader internal stakeholder meetings and, as appropriate, external client meetings in support of practice group and firm growth objectives.

Leadership:

• Demonstrates behaviors guided by our values: Collaborative, Creative, Professional, Inclusive, and Open.
• Actively engages and brings insights into interactions with others.
• Demonstrates a collaborative and solution-oriented attitude.
• Takes a consultative approach and uses effective communication skills to present ideas and secure buy-in from key stakeholders and leaders.
• Delivers quality work product.
• Serves as a mentor and resource to Managers, Specialists, and Coordinators, promoting best practices and supporting professional development across the Client Development team.
• Applies advanced discretion and sound judgment when managing sensitive client, partner, and firm information, fostering trust and credibility across stakeholders.
• Demonstrates advanced ownership of quality by anticipating risks, proactively resolving issues, and ensuring deliverables align with strategic objectives.

Growth role:

• CDMs are expected to take on a growth role as part of their overall professional development plan.
• The chosen growth role should take no more than 25% of the CDM’s bandwidth.
• Growth roles include being a CDM for a priority account(s); managing a campaign; managing another special project.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required, preferably in marketing or business administration.
• Seven to ten years working in a business development role in a large, multi-office law firm or other professional services firm is required.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver persuasive, audience‑appropriate written and verbal communications for senior lawyers and business professionals.
• Must be self-directed, self-motivated, possess strong organizational and time management skills, as well as analytical and problem-solving skills, and work with a high level of professionalism.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, balance competing priorities, and operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
• Practical understanding of the professional services industry and the partnership environment; curiosity and an aptitude for learning; an entrepreneurial spirit; strong strategic, analytical, and critical-thinking skills; organized, logical, detail- and process-oriented; proficient in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; familiar with research and client contact databases.

This is a hybrid role and will require on-site presence 3 days per week. The salary ranges for this position vary depending on the geographic location and other factors such as experience, internal equity, market data, and job-related considerations. The range for this position is from $140,000 - $185,000, with offers contingent upon the various factors. The firm’s compensation strategy includes not just a base salary but also comprehensive benefits such as healthcare, paid time off, discretionary merit bonuses, life and disability insurance, retirement plans and tailored learning opportunities.

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our Firm and in the larger legal profession. We believe that diverse skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger firm. Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP maintains a policy of affording all employees and applicants equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression or transgender status), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, domestic violence victim status, ancestry, amnesty, citizenship status, ethnicity, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation will not be tolerated in any of the Firm’s offices or any other work-related setting. Qualified individuals with a disability may request reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a position or to enable them to perform the essential functions of a position for which they are otherwise qualified. EEO.