Business Development Manager - Asia Pacific Employment Practice Group

About the Role

The Business Development Manager for the Asia Pacific Employment Practice Group is responsible for formulating and implementing the overall business development strategy and associated marketing initiatives for the practice across the region. This role involves close collaboration with group leaders, steering committee members, business managers, knowledge leads, partner leads in markets, fee earners, and relevant BDMC teams both locally and globally to generate revenue, elevate the group's profile, and foster client relationships.

Main Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Employment Practice Group leaders, partners, business managers, knowledge leads, and expert functions to proactively design and execute a compelling regional BDMC strategy.
• Lead the design and implementation of BDMC plans for Employment across Asia Pacific, incorporating expertise from marketing, proposals, key client management, analytics, research, events, and design teams as needed.
• Drive core Employment priorities such as strategic initiatives, client targeting, events, client feedback, thought leadership, award and directory submissions, proposals, and various BDMC projects.
• Partner with fee earners to ensure BDMC requirements are strategically developed, implemented, and communicated; make prudent decisions on pitch go/no-go assessments.
• Create clear and compelling positioning and messaging for the Employment Practice Group aligned with firm branding and global communications.
• Keep abreast of emerging employment issues and trends, interpreting their legal and commercial implications to provide lawyers with timely insights and relevant talking points.
• Engage with regional and global BDMC colleagues and support teams to identify collaborative opportunities and connect lawyers with key initiatives.
• Plan and deliver quality cross-border client events, campaigns, and profile enhancement activities with a focus on return on investment and revenue generation.
• Support development of winning major cross-border Employment pitches and proposals together with regional BD colleagues.
• Assist in client account management for key Employment clients by helping develop account plans, identify cross-border opportunities, and monitor growth progress.
• Work closely with expert BDMC functions to ensure regional activities align with business goals and best practices.
• Maintain regular review and tailoring of content and BDMC materials to align with regional Employment priorities and client needs.
• Share best practices, achievements, and regional priorities with practice group and BD colleagues to encourage collaboration and alignment.
• Provide line management, coaching, and oversight to a Senior BD Coordinator responsible for regional Employment PG priorities.

Candidate Profile

• Degree in business, finance, economics, communications, marketing, or a related discipline; postgraduate or commercial qualifications are a plus.
• Extensive experience in legal business development or a similar professional services marketing/development role, preferably with exposure to Employment or advisory practice groups.
• Exceptional English communication skills, capable of engaging confidently in diverse cultural and hierarchical settings.
• Proven experience advising senior stakeholders on strategy and execution, demonstrating strong relationship-building capabilities.
• Sound judgment and a history of providing well-founded independent strategic recommendations.
• Advanced knowledge of strategic marketing, communications, client targeting, thought leadership, event management, and proposal/pitch processes.
• Excellent project and time management skills, capable of prioritizing conflicting deadlines efficiently.
• Detail-oriented with high accuracy standards.
• Self-driven, proactive, and able to operate independently with minimal supervision while fostering teamwork.
• Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheets; willingness to learn document automation and legal technology tools.
• Comfort working across multiple cultures and time zones within a matrixed regional organization.
• Ability to handle competing priorities effectively.
• Employment & Compensation knowledge is advantageous but not mandatory.

Additional Information

This position reports to the Head of Markets & Practices for Asia Pacific. Occasional travel within Asia Pacific offices, regional practice group meetings, training sessions, and partner meetings will be required.