Associate Director of Business Development - DC

Cooley•Washington DC, DC

4d•$260,000 - $320,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Cooley is seeking an Associate Director of Business Development to join its Marketing and Client Development team. The role is part of the Business Development Team, which leads the firm’s business development efforts in the market in close partnership with Marketing. The position builds relationships, generates opportunities, and supports growth across priority clients, prospects, and sectors by executing outreach strategies, creating high-value connections, and converting engagement into a healthy, sustainable pipeline. The position follows Cooley’s default hybrid schedule, with some in-office presence and some work-from-home days, except for essential in-office roles that require five days per week in the office. The role requires the ability to travel and to work extended and/or weekend hours as required. Cooley offers a competitive compensation and benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. The expected annual pay range for a full-time schedule is $260,000–$320,000; the final offer depends on geographic location, applicable experience, and skillset.

Requirements

After orientation at Cooley LLP, demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office, iManage, and other firm applications.
Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours as required.
Ability to travel as required.
At least 8 years of applicable experience in marketing or business development.
Market-facing presence, including a leverageable network.
Commercial instinct and proven relationship-building skills.
Strong working knowledge of enterprise CRM ecosystems such as Salesforce.
Bachelor’s degree.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to facilitate and solve problems.
Ability to organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple activities, often under tight timelines.
Consultative approach to setting goals, driving projects, and achieving outcomes.
Strong judgment.
Collaborative team-player approach.
Ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects, and client data.
High level of professionalism.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and develop talent.
Proactive, analytical mindset.
Effective presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Prior legal industry or professional services experience.
Entrepreneurial nature.
Excellent attention to detail.
Approach tasks through a lens of quality and consistency.
Approach tasks through a digital-first lens.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain a robust network of clients, prospects, referral sources, and key external influencers, proactively working within relevant market ecosystems to increase firm visibility.
Coordinate with the Marketing team to execute outreach, manage events, and follow up on campaigns to convert engagement into business leads.
Act as a strategic bridge for firm partners by generating introductions, opening doors to key decision-makers, and creating access to high-value opportunities.
Ensure relationship continuity through structured follow-up, internal team handoffs, and ongoing contact with key stakeholders.
Identify growth opportunities among existing and prospective clients and move early-stage conversations into a qualified, high-probability pipeline.
Identify untapped whitespace and cross-selling opportunities within client relationships, connecting client needs to the firm’s broader people and capabilities.
Coordinate and provide tactical follow-up for identified opportunities to advance them through the business development lifecycle.
Track outreach, introductions, and meetings; document next steps and pipeline movement.
Contribute to a consistent, proactive business development rhythm and lead-generation engine in the market.
Perform other duties as assigned or required.