Business Development Consultant - Contract (12 Months)

Why Baker McKenzie?At Baker McKenzie not only do we pride ourselves on leading pay and a great culture, joining a leading Global Law firm provides unique development opportunities to grow in a highly supportive working environment throughout all stages of your life. We know our people value flexibility around when and where they work. We are committed to offering a more adaptable way to work, and we call this bAgile. As a highly valued employee we will also provide you with an extensive range of wellbeing, recognition & benefits offerings.For more information on our benefits click .The RoleWe are seeking a full-time Business Development Consultant to join our Business Development, Marketing and Communications (BDMC) function in Sydney on a 12 month contract. This role is pertinent in the coordination and execution of the Firm's Business Development and marketing initiatives, ultimately contributing to the Firm's ability to win, retain, and grow business. The role holder will be responsible for but are not limited to, pitch and pursuit support, deal management, client account management support, and other general BD and marketing support in identified areas of focus.ResponsibilitiesPitch & pursuit support

• Preparing first draft proposals based on the pitch lead's brief including, gathering relevant content from Firm tools and precedents, external website, sourcing and editing CVs, Firm experience searches and preliminary selection, rate cards, formatting tasks, deal collections (e.g., request image searches, cleaning of documents)
• Writing and tailoring content (including creating a first draft of non-complex executive summaries to support pitch lead efforts and creating new content based on existing materials)
• Developing presentation materials, including placemats for pitches and pursuits
• Coordinating and organizing input from multiple practice groups (e.g., outreach re CVs, capability matrices, deals, etc)
• Populating client templates and client questionnaires hosted on portals
• Research for proposal strategy development (including pre-panel planning) covering past proposals, terms & conditions, running financial reports, client research (or liaising with the research team)
• Continued support throughout the pitch life cycle, including formatting and proofreading pitches
• Monitoring and following up on the outcome of proposals and updating the trackers accordingly

Deal management and capability statements

• Implementing the deal management process, from identification to closure, and maintaining an organized deals database
• Contributing to the global deals database and ensuring the Australian deals are well-represented
• Regularly updating and maintaining capability statements, ensuring an accurate representation of the Firm's competencies and achievements
• Ensure the capability statements and database are readily accessible to the Firm

Client account management support

• Assisting the Business Development Managers with essential coordination support (e.g. note taking and following up on actions) in account management activities as they relate to the local client program
• Updating our CRM to reflect account activity (such as actions, pitch updates, and client listening)
• Coordinating and developing any marketing and Business Development collateral that supports the local client program. This can include but is not limited to, presentation material, placemats, training days, event support, identification of suitable thought leadership, relationship mapping, general reporting and analysis, research requests, and circulating relevant media and press releases
• Actively using tools and resources to support account management activity and reporting

General BD and marketing support in prioritised areas

• Coordinating activities required to support brand promotion e.g. website content, client outreach (e.g. client alerts, updates, contact cards), social media content
• Coordinating sponsorship, event, or conference activity (project management of any branding, speaking opportunities, supporting presentation preparation, identification of client meetings, social media profiling of event, ROI reporting)
• Supporting and coordinating league table submissions
• Supporting and coordinating directory submissions (e.g. Chambers and Legal500)

What we're looking for -Our ideal candidate would have:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant work experience;
• Strong experience in a Business Development role, preferably in a professional services environment;
• Extensive experience in working closely with Transactional Practice Groups, specifically deal management, pitching, and league tables;
• Strong business acumen and financial understanding;
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and developing relationships with them;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including grammar, spelling and punctuation;
• Ability to take initiative, set priorities, and see projects through to completion to creatively solve problems and implement solutions;
• Client service focus, flexibility, can-do attitude; motivated and enthusiastic; personal drive and energy;
• Self-motivated and independent, able to work in a team and individually;
• Strong organizational and project management skills with a high degree of attention to detail;
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint, Word, Excel, databases. Experience with design tools is advantageous; and
• Experience in using web-based resources and tools for Business Development intelligence gathering and driving Business Development activity.

About the teamThe BDMC function works closely with our Partners and leadership teams to:

• Increase our revenue, profitability, and share across markets, industries, and clients
• Enable us to win, retain, and grow business through powerful pitches, engaging thought leadership, and strong relationship management
• Channel the Baker McKenzie brand, identity, and culture through a single communications voice

About the FirmAt Baker McKenzie, we are different in the way we think, work and behave. The first local, truly global law firm in Australia, we commenced operations in Sydney in 1964, in Melbourne in 1982 and in Brisbane in 2014. Our lawyers work seamlessly with our global colleagues, collectively providing a capacity of more than 13,000 people, including over 6,500 lawyers who work alongside our clients to drive growth that is both sustainable–and inclusive.Baker McKenzie Australia can offer you access to complex, market leading matters working with some of the world's best legal minds–people who know the law and who understand business. We have an unrivalled ability to provide training and secondment opportunities across our global network. Locally, we have an inclusive culture of learning, coaching and opportunity where you will work in small teams on matters that often cross borders. We value people who think ahead and get noticed.Inclusion, Diversity & EquityBaker McKenzie is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive culture for all its employees, with equal opportunity for all to progress and have a meaningful career with our Firm. Our mission is to foster an environment where individuals of every ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, age, disability, carer status and working style may succeed professionally and fully contribute to the goals of the Firm. Our bAgile program encourages a range of flexible work opportunities for all. We invite you to let us know of any reasonable adjustments you require to equitably participate in the recruitment process or in performing the requirements of this role.Our application processPlease apply by selecting the "apply now" link below and completing an online application form.As part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive we encourage applications from all genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.