Senior Business Development Manager

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP • Washington, DC

4d • $179,000 - $223,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to lead and execute business development priorities for its Technology, Communications, Privacy & Security (TCPS) and Healthcare Practice Groups. The manager serves as a strategic advisor to Practice Group Chairs, partners, client team leads, and other firm leaders, developing client-development strategies and coordinating work with lawyers, business development colleagues, marketing teams, and other business professionals. The role combines substantive strategic work with tactical execution, requiring sound judgment, business and financial acumen, analytical and organizational strength, project leadership, and clear communication. The manager is expected to work independently, delegate and oversee assignments when appropriate resources are available, manage competing time-sensitive work, and use firmwide data and technology to deliver accurate, client-focused results.

The position is based in the Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, or Washington, D.C. office, with a hybrid schedule of three days in-office and two days remote. DWT describes a culture of inclusion, authenticity, professional growth, and community involvement, and is committed to client service and an inclusive, adaptive workforce.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to provide direction and guidance in business plan development at individual, practice group, and office levels.
• Ability to lead complex requests for proposal responses.
• Ability to build professional working relationships and consultative, advisory-level trust with lawyers.
• Ability to coach and develop business development skills among staff and lawyers.
• Understanding of the business of law, including finance, sales and marketing, staffing models, and industry trends.
• Understanding of alternative fee arrangements in the service industry is required; understanding of law firm pricing models is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and high levels of organization and accuracy are required.
• Ability to work professionally and collegially with lawyers, paralegals, and staff.
• Excellent writing, grammar, spelling, and proofreading skills are required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including professional and courteous verbal and written communication with clients, firm members, and other business contacts.
• Experience negotiating sponsorship contracts is required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel is required.

Nice To Haves

• Emphasis in Marketing, Business Administration, or a similar field.
• MBA, JD, or other relevant advanced degree.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Experience with CRM technology.
• Understanding of law firm pricing models.

Responsibilities

• Advise Practice Group Chairs, partners, client team leads, and firm leaders on business development strategy for the TCPS and Healthcare Practice Groups.
• Develop and execute annual business development plans, set priorities and success measures, advise on resource allocation, and coordinate with relevant firm teams.
• Maintain knowledge of the firm’s services, clients, competitors, markets, and strategic priorities; identify client relationships, market opportunities, and cross-selling potential and coordinate follow-up.
• Conduct and synthesize client, prospect, company, market, industry, and competitive research into actionable insights, target lists, growth plans, briefing materials, outreach, and recommendations.
• Lead complex pitches and proposals from intake through submission and follow-up, including win strategy, client-specific messaging, content development, contributor coordination, quality control, approvals, and post-submission analysis.
• Advise on priority clients, targets, and relationship strategies; lead key-client and pursuit plans; prepare lawyers for client meetings; facilitate follow-up and accountability; and use relationship, financial, and market data to advance opportunities.
• Drive strategy for firm-identified Client Teams aligned with assigned Practice Groups.
• Set strategy and investment priorities for events, webinars, seminars, conferences, and sponsorships; establish objectives and target audiences, coordinate execution with the Events Team, encourage lawyer engagement and follow-up, and evaluate results and return on investment.
• Develop, write, edit, and manage practice and client-facing marketing content and communications, coordinating with Marketing colleagues and ensuring accuracy, consistency, differentiation, and measurable impact.
• Lead awards and rankings submissions, develop compelling content, advise on supporting experience, and manage lawyer and business-professional contributions, interview preparation, and references.
• Lead collection and management of matter experience and oversee accurate capture and use of client, activity, pitch, and financial information; promote effective use of CRM, financial systems, and other firm technology.
• Provide leadership through expertise, collaboration, and project ownership; delegate and review work when appropriate, mentor colleagues, and contribute to team planning, capability building, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate assigned projects, workplans, deliverables, and status updates; support changing client team, practice group, and broader Business Development priorities; and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Choice of health and vision insurance plans.
• Two paid volunteer days for qualifying community service work.
• Dental plan.
• Fertility and adoption benefit.
• Paid sabbatical after 13 years of service.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits.
• Retirement contribution.
• Potential bonus eligibility for full-time employees.
• Health insurance with optional HSA.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage, depending on location.
• Life insurance.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Subsidized backup care and caregiving resources.
• 401(k).
• Vacation and sick time; Washington full-time employees receive an initial 15 vacation days and 11 sick days per year, accrued bi-weekly.
• Paid holidays; Washington full-time employees receive 11 paid holidays each year.
• Employee assistance program.
• Voluntary accident, life, disability, long-term care, and pet insurance programs.
• Commuter and transit programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior