Sr. Business Development Specialist

Haynes and Boone, LLP•Houston, TX

98d•Onsite

About The Position

At Haynes and Boone, our people are the driving force behind our success. Because we value the role every individual plays in how we deliver exceptional legal services, we hire people who will contribute to our professional reputation, enhance client relationships and share in our success. Haynes and Boone is one of the largest law firms in Dallas, and it continues to grow. In 2023, Haynes and Boone moved its headquarters to a new 27-story office tower in the Harwood District of uptown Dallas. Lawyers in our Dallas office serve all the firm’s practice and industry areas – including corporate, litigation, banking/finance, insurance law, healthcare law, labor and employment, estate planning, real estate, bankruptcy, intellectual property, white collar crime, and antitrust. Our Dallas lawyers are widely recognized in their practice areas in publications such as The Best Lawyers in America directory (Woodward/White, Inc.) and the Chambers USA legal directory (Chambers & Partners). This office attracts high-energy, technically proficient people who enjoy working in a collegial environment. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that reflects our communities, and we seek highly motivated lawyers and staff who value our culture of respect and teamwork. This exempt position provides direct support and frequently leads in the execution of a wide variety of business development efforts and initiatives including pitch books, presentations, proposals, research, content administration, marketing communications, events and practice group coordination. The Senior Specialist has primary responsibility for a number of initiatives, projects or other business development efforts from strategic identification through tactical execution and implementation. The Senior Specialist reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer with a dotted line relationship to the relevant Business Development Manager.

Requirements

At least 5 years of work experience in professional services, marketing/business development or corporate communications is preferred.
Strong computer proficiency is a must, with particular knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Excellent communication skills, including listening, writing, proofreading and editing, and superior attention to detail.
Strong work ethic and positive client service orientation.
Enthusiasm and dedication to the development of a professional services business development career.
Ability to learn new software such as InterAction and a variety of competitive and business intelligence tools is required.
Must be able to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
Must be poised and able to exhibit professional diplomacy amid high stress situations.
Strong teamwork skills and ability to take ownership of numerous assigned tasks.
Bachelor’s degree.

Nice To Haves

Experience with middle market corporations and/or private equity sector desired.
MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Graduate degree a plus.

Responsibilities

Pitch Books, Presentations and Proposals: Responsible for creation, tailoring, and production of pitch books, presentations and proposals and tracking relevant information in the firm’s pitch book and proposal databases.
Coordinate the capturing of revisions made to lawyer resumes, practice descriptions and experience records in the course of preparing a pitch book or proposal and applying any permanent updates to the business development documents and databases.
Identify and recommend newly drafted content that should be culled from pitch books and proposals and added to the business development databases.
Supports firm-wide efforts related to use of proposal tools, knowledge management of pitches, proposals, and cross-promotional opportunities for assigned groups.
Research: Partner with the Business Development Manager and section leadership to identify the need for specific company, client, industry, competitor, and industry trends research using the firm’s research tools and internal databases to assist with business development efforts.
Liaison with the department’s Competitive Intelligence Group on firm research projects.
Assist in identifying and evaluating new business opportunities and targets, facilitating cross-selling initiatives, participating on client-specific target teams, and supporting deal/case tracking.
Content Administration: Accountable for regular updates practice group overviews, deal and case charts, representative client lists, and other materials.
Provide updates on lawyer resumes to the website team for periodic updates.
Support the collection of experience from attorneys and practice groups for inclusion in the firm’s business development databases.
Ensure experience submissions meet the firm’s style standards.
Delegating submissions to other BD team members such as Specialists and Coordinators of key directory rankings, awards and league tables.
Marketing Communications: Work with the Business Development Manager and marketing operations colleagues to leverage collected experience by distributing information through multiple communications channels, e.g., website, press releases, social media and directory submissions.
Prepare and develop internal newsletters and assist Business Development Managers with external client communications.
Proofread various marketing communication pieces.
Leading the creation of new marketing communication pieces, ads, collateral, etc.
Coordinate and lead marketing campaigns for new content such as reports / surveys.
Events: Coordinate and lead various business development events, sponsorships, advertisements, speaking engagements, etc. by working with the firm’s Event Specialists on event logistics, invitation list creation and updating, invitation design, event material preparation, reminders, and follow-up communications.
Responsible for assigned events including the strategy, subject matter, planning, execution and follow up plan.
Updating firm’s CRM system to track post-event follow-up and return on investment.
Negotiate event sponsorships under supervision by the Business Development Manager.
Practice Group Coordination: Work directly with the Business Development Manager and relevant section chairs to coordinate annual business planning and goal development, formulate the overall strategy, and execute the tactical business development/marketing plans each year.
Identify opportunities to create and execute plans to support new specialty practice areas or industry groups and serve as strategic marketing advisor to key stakeholders in them with supervision by the Business Development Manager.
Coordinate all aspects of practice group and client team business development meetings.
Prepare and circulate relevant pre/post meeting materials.
Review and update periodic accounting reports, working with the Business Development Manager.
Actively analyze and help coordinate Section budgets with supervision by the Business Development Manager.
Assist in the onboarding of new attorneys and lateral lawyers into the firm and their relevant Practices/Sections by discussing current BD initiatives and adding them to various internal lists and meeting notices.
Training Provide periodic direction and training to the BD Specialists, Coordinators and Assistants with supervision by the Business Development Manager on projects such as proposals, events, and bios.
Other Duties Perform related duties as assigned.