Director of Business Development

Cooley LLP•Los Angeles, CA

11d•$280,000 - $340,000

About The Position

Cooley is seeking a Director of Business Development to join the Marketing and Client Development team. This role is part of the Business Development Team, which leads the firm’s business development efforts in the market, in close partnership with Marketing, to build relationships, generate opportunities, and support growth across priority clients, prospects, and sectors. Responsible for engaging directly with key clients, strategic pursuits, and firm leadership to drive business growth, strengthen market presence, and translate competitive intelligence into actionable strategies.

Requirements

After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
Ability to travel, as required
10+ years of directly relevant exempt-level experience (e.g., marketing or business development), with 5+ years of management experience in relevant roles
Market-facing presence including a leverageable network
Commercial instinct and proven relationship building skills, including strong working knowledge of enterprise CRM ecosystems (e.g., Salesforce)
Proven track record of effective leadership
Bachelor’s degree

Nice To Haves

Prior legal industry or professional services experience
Entrepreneurial by nature
Excellent attention to detail
Approaches tasks through a lens of quality and consistency
Approaches tasks through a digital first lens
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with ability to facilitate and solve problems
Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines
Takes a consultative approach to set goals, drive projects, and achieve outcomes
Strong judgment
Team-player with collaborative spirit
Unwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects, client data
High level of professionalism at all times
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and develop talent
Proactive, analytical mindset
Effective presentation skills

Responsibilities

Set the business development agenda for each market in alignment with firm priorities, maintaining total oversight of pipeline health, activity levels, and revenue trends across the region.
Support priority client relationships and strategic opportunities by engaging directly in the market where senior business development involvement is required to open doors or advance complex work.
Continuously evaluate results and market conditions to adjust strategies and reallocate resources, ensuring the team remains focused on the highest-value activities and growth levers.
Drive total alignment between regional BD and Marketing efforts, ensuring that outreach, events, campaigns, and follow-up activities are executed as a single, coordinated motion.
Instill a culture of consistency across the region, implementing the structure and systems necessary to improve follow-through on leads and ensure reliable execution of the growth plan.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of BD professionals across the region, setting clear performance expectations and reinforcing rigorous accountability for results.
Partner with firm leaders, partners, and enabling teams to ensure regional efforts are seamlessly connected to broader firm capabilities and global strategic priorities.
Maintain high visibility in the market to stay ahead of competitive developments, sharing real-time client feedback and market insights to inform firm-wide investment and strategic decisions.
Act as the primary bridge between regional activity and the firm’s centralized resources, ensuring a unified "one-firm" approach to client engagement and market-facing initiatives.
Serve as direct supervisor and mentor to direct reports
Provide day-to-day supervision of direct reports, ensure compliance with assigned work hours and monitor for compliance with all firm and department policies.
Manage staffing coverage, review and process time logs/time off requests
Support business professional development and continued educational opportunities
In collaboration with immediate supervisor and central HR, participate in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination and other employee lifecycle events
All other duties as assigned or required