About Ashurst :
In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.
Department / Role Overview
Ashurst's Markets & Growth (M&G) team is located in major cities across EMEA, Asia Pacific and the US. We execute the firm's strategy and drive profitable growth with a specific focus on our chosen industries, markets and clients. We focus on industry solutions and client experience, driving campaigns, leveraging client insights, and managing strategic initiatives to service our client's needs.
This is a key role in the M&G team, aligned to support the growth and firm-wide integration of the Ashurst Advance & Consulting Division ("AAC"). The role is responsible for driving collaboration, growth and client engagement with respect to strategically important focus areas for Ashurst in the UK / EMEA market. The individual will work closely with key cross-practice partners to develop, define and execute the strategy for the AAC team.
The position requires close collaboration across the Clients, Markets and Growth function to bring a comprehensive "whole of Firm" approach to our clients.
Core Responsibilites
There are five core areas of focus for this role :
Strategic Planning & Execution
- Work with the other M&G Managers and key cross-practice partners on corporate development for strategically important focus areas, specifically developing the regional strategy to maximise opportunities to grow revenue in line with the firm's strategic plan
- Proactively manage the strategy for strategically important focus areas, including assessing achievement of key performance indicators and agreed commitments
- Support AAC teams to collaborate and drive strategic market facing initiatives to meet the strategic plan goals, evaluating progress on implementation
Opportunity Identification & Management
Utilise market and client insights to keep up to date with current and emerging trends and issues impacting the market. Identify areas of client need and opportunities for lead generation, with the goal of deepening our client relationships and market penetrationSupport the opportunity pursuit process, including identifying opportunities, managing opportunity tracking processes, preparing client-focused sales strategies and collateral and coordinating partners around pipelines and strategic pursuits (including go / no go), working closely with the Global Pursuits team to contribute to bids and proposalsDevelop and implement integrated revenue generating and profile raising campaigns and thought leadership, working collaboratively with other specialists (eg Go-to-Market Innovation, Brand, Comms, Expertise etc)Act as the connector across practices and industries, working with Practice Heads to understand and map out key opportunities related to those areas of law which will be impactful for the marketLeverage firm-wide thought leadership to drive engagement for AACClient Development & Management
Work seamlessly with Client Relationship Teams to integrate AAC into client account plans, to help deepen relationships and drive profitable growthWork with the team to identify key clients and targets, aligned to AAC focus areas, outside of Strategic Client Portfolios or Industry priority client portfoliosAct in a client facing capacity and develop relationships with key contacts at the designated clientsUndertake regular review, analysis and reporting of client financials to support designated client growthProactively arrange and attend client listening sessions (including general relationship feedback and specific feedback related to major matters and / or pitches), analyse and share insights and take responsibility for following upAnalyse insights gathered within region to identify trends and opportunities across the regional portfolioRegion Management
Build, support and ensure the effectiveness of strategically important focus areas by facilitating engagement across practices and developing relationships with cross practice partnersBuild and leverage relationships with key market players and associations to increase market penetration, monitoring ROISupport the CMG Initiative budget process, monitoring spend and capturing ROISupport internal communications by sharing regional and client AAC successesShare market knowledge across the wider CMG team and contribute to functional and firm-wide training programmesEnsure the requirements for data capture are met (e.g. relevant directory and award submissions; etc.)Contribute to wider CMG team projects, including supporting new systems and processes, as requiredRisk and Control
Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with our regulatory requirements and internal policies.Essential Skills and Experience
Previous experience professional services business development environmentDemonstrated experience for both coaching teams and managing major projects and / or initiativesCommercial awareness and an innovative mind-set for developing and evolving ways of workingStrong interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to build trusting relationships with the partnership and business services.Enthusiastic and proactive, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple projects and activitiesExcellent verbal and written communication with the ability to effectively interact with peers and influence internal clients including senior stakeholdersAbility to synthesise information to identify opportunities and solve complex problems.Strategic thinker with strong focus on executionCollaborates and is highly effective at working as part of a teamPrevious experience in a client facing capacity including client listening experienceAbility to influence credibly and effectively at all levels of the organisation with strong executive presenceLI-HYBRID
