Client Relations & Business Development Specialist

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada's largest and most successful law firms, is currently looking for a Business Development (BD) Specialist to join the Client Relations & Marketing department in the Vancouver office. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Client Relations and Business Development, the BD Specialist works with members of the Vancouver office and assigned national practice and industry groups to acquire new clients and expand current client relationships in order to drive revenue.

This position will assist with the development of short- and long-term business development plans and strategies and inspire lawyers to focus on business development initiatives.

Primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Work and Project Management – Contributing to the development of work and project plans and delivering on owned accountabilities

Directory and Award Submissions – Participating in table-setting conversations with assigned groups and preparing draft submissions for review and approval by the manager/director and accountable partners

Events – Working in partnership with the Events team to ensure the successful preparation and delivery of events and provide onsite/logistical support

Client Programming – Assisting with the development and execution of educational programming, such as seminars/webinars, tailored CPD sessions and women@blakes programming

Sponsor ships – Assisting in planning, monitoring and executing sponsor ships and industry association events

New Business RFPs and Pitches – Drafting information packages and other client-pitch and proposal materials for routine work for assigned groups; supporting the development of more complex RFPs in partnership with the Senior BD Manager and Proposals team

Business Development Budget – Assisting with creating and monitoring annual BD expense reports and budget

Business Planning – Working in collaboration with the relevant BD Director or Manager(s) to prepare agendas and all required materials for practice, industry group and client team meetings; taking the lead in initiating, framing and facilitating the delivery of business planning for assigned practice groups

Business Evaluation – Assessing marketing investments/expenditures to optimize value and impact; drafting business cases that assess options and provide recommendations, as required

Marketing Materials – Working with the Marketing Communications team to develop and deliver updates or new digital and printed collateral, and provide ongoing review and revision, of both existing and new materials

Research – Sourcing and providing summary analyses from multiple in-house and external sources to support planning and initiatives for assigned groups

Qualifications
Education/Experience

Bachelor’s degree or diploma in business/marketing or equivalent is required

Minimum of three to five years of BD/marketing experience or similar role

Experience in the professional services industry is an asset

Skills/Abilities

Business Acumen – Understands the economic model and the operational flow and content of work in the Firm, and considers implications for the Firm's business and assigned groups

Customer-Service Orientation – Courteous, responsive and delivers with a sense of urgency

Communication Skills – Strong verbal and written proficiency, and the ability to develop presentations

Coaching/Mentoring – Coaches others on work deliverables and is a mentor to junior members of the team

Interpersonal Skills – Strong interpersonal skills, supported by a foundation of patience, tact and confidence

Adaptability – Ability to adapt to multiple areas of law, practice areas and industries

Creative Thinking – Ability to share and embrace new ideas and consider creative…