Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Manager - Corporate to join our Marketing team, based in A&O Shearman’s Singapore Office.

Marketing team – Singapore

Our Marketing team helps the firm win and grow the right clients and work. We drive client development across the firm-deepening priority relationships, increasing share of wallet and converting strategic opportunities into profitable revenue. We equip partners with effective go-to-market strategies, tactics and processes, differentiated insights and disciplined execution. Alongside this, we strengthen the firm’s market profile and reputation to support client acquisition, retention, and growth. We work as one integrated global team, aligning central support and expertise with local knowledge and execution to maximize impact across offices, practice groups, sectors and client programs.

What you will do

You will be the dedicated business development partner to our Corporate practice in Singapore, working closely with Corporate partners and lawyers to help the practice win and grow the right clients and work. You will convert practice strategy into tactical plans that you deliver in an efficient, disciplined and collaborative way, providing both reactive and proactive support to pursue growth opportunities. Your core focus will be leading the Corporate pitch pipeline, complemented by client development, campaigns and other client touchpoints in line with go-to-market strategies, while ensuring that best practice is followed in terms of systems, technology and processes.

Pitching is at the heart of this role. You should expect pitches, proposals and panel submissions to make up the largest share of your time, particularly during busy periods of deal activity. You will not be doing this alone: our Central Pitch Team, based in Perth, provides dedicated support throughout the pitch process, allowing you to concentrate on the higher-value work of shaping pitch strategy, sharpening messaging and working alongside partners to win work. The role also offers genuine variety beyond pitching, including client development, market profile activity and campaigns for the Corporate practice.

Pitching and pursuit excellence

Act as the lead BD contact on Corporate pitches, proposals and panel submissions in Singapore, working with Corporate partners, pricing and your senior BD manager to deliver compelling, client-centric and compliant submissions.
Work in partnership with our Central Pitch Team in Perth, who provide dedicated support across the pitch process, so that you can focus on strategy, win themes, tailoring and partner engagement.
Tailor credentials and Corporate/M&A case studies to client needs; support rehearsals and Q&A preparation.
Maintain pipeline hygiene and data completeness for Corporate opportunities; run basic go/no-go checklists.
Identify opportunities to run pitch debriefs with clients and support the process, feeding lessons learned back into future Corporate pursuits.
Develop and enhance standard Corporate pitch content, working with the Central Pitch Team to improve the quality of our pitching collateral and process efficiencies.

Strategic planning and execution

Contribute to the development of approved Corporate practice business plans and translate them into tactical execution.
Track spend and return on investment against plans and report variances.
Provide status reports using Dynamics (our CRM system) and pipeline data to inform partner discussions.
Monitor market and client news; summarize implications and feed intelligence into wider marketing activities.

Client development

Work on the development of client plans, contact maps and meeting records for priority Corporate clients, ensuring that Dynamics is populated with high data quality.
Coordinate client meetings, briefings and events; prepare targeted follow-up so that we capitalize on client interactions.
Support client listening exercises, including preparing briefing materials, participating in client interviews where appropriate alongside your senior manager, capturing feedback accurately and coordinating follow-up actions, while building capability through training and experience.
Assemble client and decision-maker profiles using approved research tools to support cross-selling.
Track coverage, contacts and actions for priority client accounts.

AI and technology

Use approved marketing function AI tools, including the function’s agents for designated tasks, in line with the firm’s AI usage policy.
Complete the marketing function’s mandatory AI capability program and develop applied AI skills relevant to the role, including the function’s agents for designated tasks (in line with the firm’s AI usage policy).
Demonstrate progression in applied AI skills through tangible contribution to personal and team output.

Market profile, content and campaigns

Execute event and campaign tasks across channels; track engagement metrics and report simple ROI indicators.
Manage Corporate practice directories/awards submissions and associated interviews and follow up.
Manager events logistics and follow-up within agreed timelines and budgets.
Ensure consistent, evidence-based messaging and in all market facing materials.

Collaboration, integration and change

Work closely with colleagues across regions, practices, sectors and central teams.
Promote consistent use of firm systems and templates; maintain file hygiene and naming/version standards.
Actively participate in change initiatives; share ideas and help embed new ways of working.
Escalate blockers and propose practical fixes.
Adhere to agreed service levels and briefing templates with central teams.

Team leadership and development

Support resourcing across competing priorities and time zones.
Contribute tips, examples and improvements to team playbooks and libraries.
Contribute to onboarding new team members by sharing best practice for common BD tasks.
Take ownership of your ongoing professional development by completing relevant training, including but not limited to AI capability training, pitching and client listening training.
Seek regular feedback from colleagues to identify improvement opportunities across a broad range of skills and behaviors.

What you will have

Graduate or equivalent professional experience.
Significant business development or marketing experience within an international law firm or comparable professional services environment.
Significant and demonstrable experience leading complex pitches, proposals and panel submissions, ideally for transactional practices, alongside campaigns and client development activity.
Experience supporting Corporate/M&A or other transactional practice groups.
Enjoys the pace and rigor of a pitch-focused role and is comfortable collaborating closely with a central pitch team based in another office.
Strong commercial judgement and experience developing practice, client or sector business development plans.
Credible and confident when working with partners, senior lawyers and other high-profile stakeholders.
Excellent communication, writing, presentation, project-management and organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.
A collaborative, proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure.
Knowledge of, or a strong interest in, the legal and commercial markets in the APAC region
Strong digital capability, including confidence using business development systems, data and AI tools appropriately and responsibly.
Experience of developing junior team members would be advantageous.
Occasional travel as required.

What we can offer you

To learn more about the culture and benefits available at A&O Shearman, please visit: Culture and benefits | A&O Shearman careers

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.

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