Sr. Director, Business Development – Transactional

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Based in New York (preferred), Century City, Los Angeles, Orange Country, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, or Washington, D.C., the Sr. Director, Business Development will oversee the Transactional practices (including Tax and Real Estate). The primary role of this senior leadership position is to drive the revenue growth of the firm, support transactional lawyers with their marketing initiatives and manage the domestic Transaction Business Development team.

This role reports to the Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer.

Responsibilities include:

• Working with relevant Practice Group Leaders and the Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer to determine visibility and business development priorities and plans for the transactional practices (inclusive of Tax and Real Estate).
• Leading the development, execution and review of the relevant strategies and related initiatives for the related practices and lawyers.
• Leading and drive related revenue generation initiatives including client targeting, market research, responses to RFPs, and client relationship reviews.
• Collaborating with the Sr. Director of Business Development, Litigation and senior international business development leads on cross-practice and cross-border opportunities and efforts.
• Working in partnership with the communications, brand, and award and recognition teams to develop and execute strategic visibility initiatives and build brand awareness.
• Working with senior lawyers providing coaching and guidance on visibility and business development initiatives.
• Leading team efforts related to strategic key transactional clients including providing direction, infrastructure, KPIs and metrics for the relevant initiatives.
• Building, managing and leading a highly effective team of marketing and business development professionals located across the U.S.
• Collaborating with the relevant Practice Managers to drive broader practice initiatives providing guidance through a marketing and business development lens.
• Working with the Market Intelligence Team and Knowledge Management to elevate matter collection and streamline relevant business development knowledge management processes.
• Building and manage a highly effective team of marketing and business development professionals.
• Partnering with the M&BD leadership team to drive cross-functional projects and efforts to increase efficiency, collaboration, communication and visibility for both the department as well as the lawyers.

Qualifications:

• 15 years’ experience of professional services marketing and business development experience with a strong preference for experience in a highly, sophisticated, and matrixed organization.
• Significant management experience required.
• Demonstrated record of team building and transformational project management.
• High level relationship management experience highly valued.

Experience:

• Strong business acumen with the ability to develop short- and long-term business development and strategic marketing plans.
• A strong background in business development and marketing technology, tools, processes and innovation to drive revenue and efficiency.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to clearly communicate, build consensus and create excitement and support for initiatives and programs.
• Team first approach with a proven track record of managing and mentoring a large, geographically diverse team.
• Dynamic energy level, “can do” attitude, willingness to lead by example, results oriented and client service mentality.
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities.
• Strong leadership skills to guide, manage and inspire the team.
• Ability to develop and implement effective strategies that align with the firm's overall business objectives.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and people skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Collaboration and facilitation skills to work with various departments and facilitate their ability to work with each other.
• Ability to work independently and with a team, and to delegate and manage resources effectively. Strong leadership skills to manage and develop a large and geographically dispersed staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills, IQ, EQ and AQ to build and maintain positive relationships with employees, partners and leaders.
• Exhibit high degree of initiative and critical-thinking skills in exercising independent judgment and making decisions in managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment.
• Creative thinker who is open to considering multiple approaches to issues and collaborating with other leaders to develop and execute plans.
• Ability to manage and lead change initiatives related to talent and people management.
• Understands and stays up to date on current legal market trends, news, and innovations.
• Exhibits high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, high-stressed, detail-oriented work environment.

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Compensation & Benefits:

The annual compensation range for this position is $360-375k. The salary offered within this range will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

Benefits offered for this position include health care; retirement benefits; paid days off, including sick time, and vacation time; parental leave; basic life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts; as well as discretionary, performance-based bonuses.