Director of Business Development

With 500+ professionals and 350+ business professionals, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (www.manatt.com), is a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm known for quality and an extraordinary commitment to clients. The Firm’s groundbreaking approach—bringing together legal services, advocacy and business strategy—differentiates Manatt from its competitors and positions the Firm to provide a distinct and compelling value proposition.

Opportunity

We are seeking a strategic, results driven Director of Business Development- Health to help shape and accelerate the growth of one of the Firm’s most dynamic, high profile and nationally recognized groups. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, client development, marketing and leadership, offering a unique opportunity to partner closely with business units and client account groups to drive market impact and revenue growth in the health care and life sciences industry. 

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to group leadership, driving the development and execution of integrated marketing and business development strategies that deepen client relationships, expand cross-selling and unlock new growth opportunities. With a strong understanding of the health care marketplace, the director will translate market and competitive intelligence into actionable go-to-market initiatives, client development campaigns and differentiated positioning that strengthens Manatt Health’s national profile.

For a senior business development professional who thrives in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment—and who wants to help shape the growth trajectory of a market leading health practice—this role offers a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact.

This role reports to Chief Client Development and Marketing Officer, oversees approximately seven business development and marketing business professionals, and plays a significant leadership role within the BD/Marketing team

Core  Responsibilities

Strategy, Planning and Leadership

• Lead the implementation of the multi-year Manatt Health Strategic Plan and advance the associated Business Development and Marketing Action Plan, in partnership with practice and client account group leadership, to drive growth and identify new revenue opportunities.

• Collaborate closely with client account group leaders and professionals to elevate the market profile, positioning and visibility of practices and individuals internally and externally.

• Design and implement integrated go-to-market and client development campaigns aligned with practice priorities, including cross-selling and client service enhancement strategies. Provide leadership, supervision, coaching and mentoring. 

Client Development and Growth

• Support the growth of key client relationships and priority clients through targeted business development initiatives, research, and opportunity identification.

• Define and apply business development processes to expand business penetration with existing clients cross-platform by improving and advancing cross-selling practices.

• Collaborate with client account group leaders to track, analyze and manage pipeline.

• Track and analyze business development performance, including pipeline activity, wins and losses, ROI, best practices and lessons learned, and report insights to leadership.

Marketing, Branding and Communications

• Develop strategies to position practices nationally and work with professionals to market services and expertise both externally and within the Firm.

• Drive new business generation through strategic sponsorships, memberships, speaking opportunities and targeted events, supported by business case evaluation and ROI tracking.

• Build a strategy to both create and amplify Manatt Health thought leadership, including white papers, newsletters, client alerts and marketing collateral, in collaboration with communications and branding teams to support client development.

• Oversee development and deployment of brand-compliant marketing materials including digital content and social media. 

• Identify professional organizations, industry associations, educational institutions, and clients to pursue leadership roles, speaking opportunities and referral sources.

• In collaboration with communications team strengthen share of voice through media and press opportunities.

• Assist with the integration of senior professionals (partners, managing directors, national advisors) by supporting onboarding, announcements and relationship building initiatives.

Proposals, Pitches and Rankings

• Establish and maintain standards and processes to capture, manage and update representative experience, capability statements, case studies, and matter lists to support proposals and ranking submissions.

• Provide strategic direction, oversight and quality control for RFPs, pitches, proposals and presentations, including customized messaging, value proposition development and editing.

• Oversee submissions to legal rankings and directories (e.g., Chambers, Legal 500), including content development and strategic positioning.

Research, Market and Competitive Intelligence

• Conduct market, client, industry and competitor research to analyze trends, assess competitive positioning, and inform marketing strategies, proposals, and practice development plans.

• Identify opportunities with existing and prospective clients based on research, trend analysis, and market insights.

Data, Budgeting and Operations

• Grow and segment the firm’s client and industry contact database to support targeted campaigns, events and publications.

• Develop and manage project plans and budgets for business development initiatives, ensuring timely execution, fiscal discipline and compliance with firm policies.

Qualifications

• At least 15 years’ experience leading the marketing and business development for health care and/or life sciences practices in the professional services industry – legal, accounting and/or business consulting.

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in marketing, public health, law, business administration or similarly relevant fields.

• Experienced team leader with demonstrated success driving high-performance collaboration.

• A team player who brings positive, can-do energy to their role and the team.

• Excellent spoken, written communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.

• Experience with CRM software and data analytics tools, particularly Salesforce.

• Forward-thinking, results-oriented, deliverables-driven strategic thinker and self-starter with the ability to balance long-term strategic vision and effective day-to-day execution.

• Technologically savvy with demonstrated proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, including Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

• Superb project and process management skills with the consistent ability to meet deadlines.

• Extremely detail oriented and a strong sense of accountability and ownership of work products.

• Possess exceptional judgement, professionalism and confidentiality.

• Commitment to exceptional internal and external client service.

• Demonstrated reliability and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a hybrid (remote and in-office) team environment.  The Firm operates on a hybrid work schedule requiring in-office presence Tuesday through Thursday, with optional remote work permitted on Mondays and Fridays. All employees must remain available for onsite work up to five days per week as business needs dictate. This schedule is subject to change; flexibility is required.

The base annual pay range for this role is between $190,000–$230,000. The base pay to be offered will vary and depend on skills and qualifications, experience and location.  A full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits dependent on the position will also be offered.

EEO/AA EMPLOYER/Veterans/Disabled

Manatt is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex or gender (including gender identity, gender expression, status as a transgender or transsexual individual, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (over 40), genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, sexual orientation, political activity or affiliation, genetic or and any other protected classes or characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the American Disabilities Act, applicants may request accommodations needed to participate in the application process.

This employer will provide the Social Security Administration  (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security  (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking  adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. 

Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or  to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the  choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid,  this employer uses E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).