Emerging Growth and Venture Capital BD & Marketing Sr Manager

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive.  Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm.  Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career.  Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

The Emerging Growth and Venture Capital Business Development & Marketing Senior Manager, working in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, is responsible for assisting the firm in generating new business for our Emerging Growth and Venture Capital team, thereby directly contributing to the overall prosperity and growth of the firm. The Emerging Growth and Venture Capital Business Development & Marketing Senior Manager helps to directly drive new business opportunities through targeted approaches and coordinated cross-selling strategies. This leader leverages their strong Venture Capital network to facilitate introductions and collaborate with to build our brand in this space and a track record of helping to acquire and expand client relationships. This individual will also support the creation of marketing materials, customize pitch decks, and identify and work with third parties on go-to-market strategies around conferences, sponsorships and thought leadership opportunities.

Location

This position can sit in our Los Angeles or San Diego office and offers a hybrid work schedule.
 
Responsibilities

• Manages the sales process and pipeline as well as with team leaders, key attorneys and colleagues in the marketing and business development department.

• Building and cultivating long term relationships with entrepreneurs, executives, venture capital investment professionals, bankers, thought leaders, and other connectors to develop new client opportunities in the emerging growth and venture capital practice.

• Leads and/or participate in meetings with existing clients and prospects.

• Advising and guiding current venture-backed clients on strategic growth initiatives, including financing needs and connecting them to potentially relevant investors.

• Helps create and foster a culture that embraces a thoughtful, strategic and proactive approach towards expanding business with existing clients and developing new clients.

• Actively cultivates referral network, independently, as well as in partnership with attorneys.

• Identifies lead, industry trends and gathers intelligence on prospects and emerging markets and competition toward the goal of populating the pipeline and increasing effectiveness in starting and closing new businesses.

• Assist attorneys in meetings, agree upon goals and become more effective in sales and client relations.

• Conducts periodic client satisfaction surveys and other meetings with key clients. Identifies service issues and focuses on increasing client satisfaction.

• Strong writing abilities and substantive knowledge to customize and draft pitches and proposals.

• Serves as an ambassador for DLA Piper at major venture capital market programs and events and helping craft and lead such events and sponsorships.

• Actively supports the strategy for engagement at high-level client events, sponsorships, and educational programs to drive sales pipeline outcomes and increase ROI (e.g., CEO dinners, high-profile CLE programs, etc.).

• Briefs attorneys before meetings.

• Other duties as assigned.
   

Desired Skills   

Prior experience working with law firms is preferrable but not required. Extensive experience and success with client development and building client relationships. Must have a proven track record as an effective sales/business development specialist, preferably in a professional services industry. Excellent presentation and communication skills required to interact with senior executives and lawyers on a regular basis. Ability to quickly develop rapport and gain respect at all levels of an organization. Must have strong business acumen and ability to self-start to drive progress. 

Minimum Education                        

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field.
   

Minimum Years of Experience  

• 8 years’ business development experience preferably in a law firm or professional services organization.

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:
 

• Effectively