Business Development Senior Manager – Private Capital & Life Sciences

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer•Boston, MA

1d•$175,000 - $225,000•Onsite

About The Position

Freshfields US LLP is a major international law firm providing high-quality legal advice. The Marketing & Business Development (MBD) team is a dynamic global unit comprising business development professionals, research analysts, and experts in brand, marketing, and communications. This team collaborates to shape client strategy, analyze complex business issues, identify opportunities, develop proposals, and execute marketing campaigns that enhance the firm's digital presence and global perception. This role is for a Business Development Senior Manager to lead strategic business development efforts from the new Boston office, focusing on the Private Capital and Life Sciences sectors. These sectors are critical to the firm's growth plans, especially with the opening of the Boston office in 2025. The successful candidate will work with leading Private Capital and Life Sciences partners across the US to identify client issues, analyze market trends, and create client development activities to drive revenue globally, with a particular emphasis on the Boston market. The position is part of the firm’s global MBD function, reporting to the US Head of MBD, and will be an integral member of the global sector MBD team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, ideally in business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
7+ years of experience in business development and/or marketing in a professional services environment; law firm or financial services sector experience strongly preferred.
Strong communication skills, with attention to detail in writing.
Demonstrated experience supporting sector-focused and/or practice-focused business development initiatives, ideally involving corporate, financial institutions, or private capital clients.
Proven track record in preparing and managing pitches, proposals, RFP responses, and client presentations for sophisticated institutional clients.
Strong project management experience with evidence of successfully managing multiple concurrent initiatives, deadlines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment and meet strict, often quickly evolving deadlines.
Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).

Nice To Haves

Experience working with private equity, venture capital, growth equity, or other private capital clients, with asset management/financial institutions more broadly, or with the life sciences sector.
Knowledge of or experience in the Boston legal, financial, life sciences, or private capital markets.
Familiarity or experience working with the life sciences sector.
Experience using CRM systems and BD/marketing technology platforms such as Salesforce, Foundation, as well as Generative AI tools.
Familiarity with databases such as PitchBook, Preqin, Refinitiv, Mergermarket, Capital IQ, or comparable market intelligence tools.
Strategic and analytical thinker, able to interpret market and client information and translate it into practical BD actions and partner-ready recommendations.
Strong emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and the confidence to interact with and influence partners and senior stakeholders while maintaining diplomacy and discretion.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with meticulous attention to detail in drafting and editing client-facing materials.
Highly collaborative team player who builds strong internal networks and works effectively across offices, practices, and business services teams.
Strong organizational and project management skills; able to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and tight deadlines without compromising quality.
Comfort with data, reporting, and use of CRM and marketing technology to monitor activity, measure impact, and inform decision-making.
Proactive, self-motivated, and resourceful, with a natural curiosity and dedication to ongoing learning and professional growth as a well-rounded BD practitioner.

Responsibilities

Lead and support the development and execution of a focused business development strategy for the Private Capital and Life Sciences sectors in Boston, aligned with the firm’s US and global priorities.
Work with Private Capital partners to identify challenges and opportunities in the private equity, venture/growth, and broader private capital ecosystem, translating these into client development initiatives and revenue-generation plans.
Work with Life Sciences partners to identify challenges and opportunities in the life sciences, biotechnology, medtech, and related venture/growth areas, translating these into client development initiatives and revenue-generation plans.
Contribute Boston and New England market intelligence and trends to the firm’s global MBD initiatives, ensuring local developments inform broader sector strategy.
Support the creation and regular review of an annual BD and marketing plan, including targets, key accounts, campaigns, and events, with clear objectives, timelines, and metrics for success.
Develop, implement, and track client targeting initiatives, including key account plans for priority clients, funds, and sponsors in the Boston market and beyond.
Utilize CRM and marketing technology tools to track key relationships, monitor pipeline activity, and generate actionable insights for strategic business opportunities and cross-selling.
Map relationships across target organizations and the broader market, identifying decision makers, influencers, and alumni connections.
Support partners in preparing for client meetings, including briefing notes, talking points, and follow-up actions, ensuring systematic follow-up and entry of activities into the firm’s CRM.
Lead the development of compelling credentials, capability statements, proposals, and pitches for opportunities, strategic panel appointments, and RFPs in the Private Capital and Life Sciences spaces.
Collaborate with partners, lawyers, pricing, and other business services teams to tailor messaging, differentiate the firm’s value proposition, and ensure client-centric materials.
Maintain and enhance a library of sector-specific credentials, experience lists, and case studies, ensuring Boston matters and lawyers are accurately reflected.
Coordinate and support the firm’s relevant legal directory and award submissions, including matter selection, content drafting, and referees tracking.
Develop sector-specific content and campaigns to increase engagement with key clients and prospects and enhance the reputation of the firm and its attorneys in Boston and globally.
Plan and execute thought leadership initiatives, such as client alerts, market reports, and topical briefings, in collaboration with partners, knowledge lawyers, and communications colleagues.
Support and, where appropriate, lead the planning and delivery of client events, roundtables, sponsorships, and conference participation.
Conduct market, competitor, and client analyses in collaboration with research and analytics colleagues to inform go-to-market strategies and campaigns.
Build trusted relationships with MBD colleagues across sectors, practices, and regions, contributing to a global mindset in supporting priority clients and opportunities.
Partner closely with brand, marketing, digital, and communications teams to ensure Private Capital and Life Sciences practices are integrated into firmwide campaigns and digital efforts.
Help manage and improve the internal structure and tools for the sector, including practice groups’ SharePoint or Teams sites, capability statements, and credentials.
Support the development and enhancement of sector and practice group data, liaising with CRM and data teams and Executive Assistants to improve processes and data accuracy.
Build strong, trusted relationships with Boston-based lawyers and key partners in other US offices and globally, serving as a proactive advisor on BD and marketing opportunities.
Provide regular updates to partners on BD initiatives, pipeline status, campaign performance, and market developments.
Contribute to continuous improvement in the firm’s approach to BD through sharing knowledge, data, and best practices.