Director of Marketing, Communications & Business Development Operations

Build your big career with the firm that does Big Law, Better. McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,750 lawyers and 3,200 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work. 

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office. 

With us, you’ll find: 

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!  

• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.  

• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.  

  

• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.   

Job Description:

The Director of Marketing, Communications & Business Development (MCBD) Operations is a strategic leader responsible for driving operational excellence, advancing firmwide MCBD priorities, and enabling scale across a global platform. Partnering directly with the Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer (CMBDO), this role ensures the effective execution of strategic initiatives, reporting, budgeting, team communications, and professional development. The Director will collaborate extensively with functional leaders, serve as a catalyst for innovation and change, and manage one direct report.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership 

• Partner with the CMBDO to operationalize the firm’s MCBD strategy through people, process, technology, and governance 

• Identify and drive strategic processes/projects focusing on efficiencies and enablement that evolve MCBD operations for the future, including pinpointing critical intersection points where teams can work more effectively together to deliver greater client value, accelerate growth, and maximize revenue impact 

• Work closely with team leads to develop, refine and measure the annual enterprise MCBD plan incorporating change management strategies for firmwide alignment 

• Build scalable solutions that enhance resource allocation, global adoption, and cross-functional collaboration 

Performance Management 

• Lead the design and evolution of KPIs, dashboards, and forecasting tools to measure impact and guide decision-making 

• Deliver reporting and analysis on firmwide initiatives, including partner integration, brand visibility, marketing campaigns, events, lead generation, and other strategic MCBD activities 

Operational Excellence 

• Partner with teams to streamline workflows and implement project management automation that drives efficiency and scalability 

• Lead project management for strategic initiatives across brand, communications, business development and cross-functional campaigns 

• Ensure that the teams’ development of AI assistants and tools are aligned to the right projects and delivering efficiencies 

Planning & Budgeting 

• Oversee the MCBD department’s budgeting, forecasting, and expense tracking processes, ensuring compliance and alignment with firm policies 

• Monitor adherence to