Strategic Pitch Senior Manager Europe

Linklaters is a global law firm, with 30 offices in 20 countries worldwide.

Linklaters is a people business. Being best in class in the eyes of our clients means that our people must be exceptional.

We look not only for brilliant minds, but for people who will thrive in our environment: people who love working collaboratively and demonstrate the innovative, efficient, agile, entrepreneurial, and responsible mind-set we aim to bring to every interaction.

Ours is an environment of outperformance. We achieve this not with targets and incentives, but by fostering a positive, supportive, fair, and open atmosphere.

We respect and value difference but insist on inclusivity. We celebrate all aspects of diversity and challenge any form of bias. This is vital to our ability to work as one team, with a common goal.

The role:

As part of the Strategic Pitch Team (SPT), Your role will be to take ownership and lead on the firm's most strategically important panel and matter pitches. You will manage and add value to the full lifecycle of a pitch, providing strategic direction, efficient project management of deliverables, and effective coordination with all contributors and stakeholders. You will be a custodian and champion of pitch best practice in the firm. You will be responsible for creating and updating pitch resources, developing and delivery of training, and constantly driving continuous improvement in pitch best practice.

Your key responsibilities

• Lead and project manage the delivery of high-priority and strategically important panel and matter pitches. Ensure all relevant stakeholders and engaged and/or informed appropriately throughout the process.
• Manage workload and resource allocation in the SPT by liaising closely with other SPT Senior Managers globally.
• Develop and execute customised strategies for each pitch based on client requirements, our relationship with the client, competitor landscape, and the firm's capabilities and experience.
• Lead on qualification discussions as and when appropriate to ensure that pitches are aligned with firm strategy and that resources are deployed most effectively.  
• Lead and/or support Partners with client engagement and scoping at the pre-RFP stage or early stage of the pitch.
• Lead on the preparation of pitch content and documentation. Edit and tailor base content and create new content where necessary.
• Work with designers to create visually compelling proposals that showcase our offering in the most impactful way, whilst remaining aligned with the Linklaters brand.
• Coach and prepare teams for pitch meetings and presentations. Facilitate rehearsals as appropriate and lead on the creation of supporting materials.
• Lead and/or support Partners with client pitch feedback sessions and debriefs. Ensure that feedback and lessons learnt are documented and made available on Salesforce.
• Develop and deliver internal pitch training for BDM teams and lawyers. Sessions for be tailored and targeted to the relevant audience.
• Define and shape requirements with the Pitch Development Manager for pitch improvement initiatives. Key areas would include opportunities to for automation, utilising GenAI and creating dynamic and digital base content.
• Liaise with the Panel Lifecycle Manager in relation to client Engagement Terms, onboarding and panel pipeline management.
• Research and analyse client markets, competitor activities, and industry trends to inform pitch strategies and identify differentiation opportunities.

What we're looking for:

• Extensive experience managing strategic pitching in professional services, preferably in a legal environment.
• Experience creating customised, client-focused value propositions that differentiate from competitors.
• Leadership experience with proven ability to develop high-performing pitch teams.
• Strong project management experience with ability to manage complex timelines and deliverables.
• Experience in coaching and preparing Partners and more junior members of the team for client pitch meetings and presentations.
• Client facing experience, in the particular in the context of scoping opportunities and gathering pitch feedback.
• Experience analysing pitch feedback and outcomes to identify and implement continuous improvement measures.
• Awareness of and interest in technologies that have pitch related applications (i.e. automation and GenAI).
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage, inform and align diverse contributors and stakeholders globally.
• Experience in delivering internal pitch training and mentoring.
• Experience working with CRM systems, in particular Salesforce.
• A degree in marketing, business, or a related field, with a preference for advanced leadership or marketing qualifications.
• Very high proficiency in German and English languages.

The Team

You will be welcomed into the BDM function as a critical part of the team reporting into the Head of Pitching.

BDM is a globally diverse group of specialists dedicated to driving revenue growth, nurturing our priority client relationships, strengthening the firm's reputation.

In this role, you will be supported by and collaborate closely with the BDM leadership team and the broader function beyond. Our team thrives on a collegiate atmosphere with a strong focus on teamwork and collaboration with colleagues.

Alongside our lawyers, the BDM function is committed to creating, developing, and executing business development and marketing initiatives that drive growth and align with the firm's strategic goals.

The role within BDM promises a diverse array of tasks and projects.

You will encounter significant opportunities for learning and growth within a nurturing and supportive environment. We look forward to expanding our team with individuals who share our drive, forward-thinking mindset, and enthusiasm.