Business Development Manager-Energy/Oil & Gas

Houston, TX

Summary

The Business Development Manager (BDM) will support and work closely with partners to develop and implement the business development and marketing strategies for the firm’s Houston office. The BDM will have a strong understanding of the energy market in Texas and the US, and he/she will be expected to proactively drive and direct the partners and associates in raising the profile of the firm in the local market and drive client development initiatives. This role will require frequent collaboration with the firm’s core services group and other practice groups in the US and internationally, as well as close cooperation and teamwork with other members of the global Marketing and Business Development team.

Earlier this year the Firm opened an office in Houston with leading lawyers in the US oil & gas industry. Their expansion into Houston significantly bolsters their Oil & Gas practice through the addition of experience in advising leading operators and investors across the entire value chain in the US and internationally. The practice works with both exploration and production companies and leading private equity investors.  This builds on their industry leading position as a trusted advisor on the midstream and downstream segments in the US and the wider Americas region.  While the office is primarily an oil & gas M&A practice, they expect to grow the Houston office over the course of the next 6 months to include capital markets, finance, environment and regulatory capabilities.

Key objectives for this role are to assist and drive the partners in generating revenue through strategic business development activities; raise the market profile of the partners, practice and office; and coordinate efforts with international colleagues and other marketing team members on global cross-selling efforts, including providing support for client teams, industry groups, local offices and other firm-wide business development initiatives. 

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the respective partners to develop and execute on business development strategies and efforts across the Houston Office.
• Assist in the development and implementation of business plans and marketing budgets for the Houston office.
• Identify opportunities for raising the profile of the firm in Houston and more widely in the Texas energy space, taking a strategic view on which opportunities represent the best potential return on investment for the firm.
• Gather market intelligence and advise the partners and associates on which client and thought leadership opportunities they should be pursuing.
• Take an active networking role in the Texas energy marketing arena, working closely with the Houston partners and associates to raise brand awareness.
• Draft customized pitches and RFPs and track success rates in the client relationship management database; collaborating with BD team in advocating best practices
• Drive the partners and work with them to gather client feedback after pitches – wins and losses – and use that feedback to further improve our approach to client pitches.
• Prepare all relevant directory submissions, research guides and awards submissions; scheduling interview calls; preparing specific talking points; identifying and tracking practice specific awards / submissions
• Organize and attend regular Houston/Texas partner meetings (e.g., partner lunches, roundtables and individual meetings) to ensure and support regular and effective communication on issues and opportunities relating to practice and business development, and team management and financial performance.
• Develop and maintain marketing collateral (brochures, capability presentations, web content) in conjunction with other BD team members (i.e. Industry, offices or practice); ensuring all information are kept up-to-date and are in line with our firm brand standards.
• Conduct research and financial analyses, and provide other marketing support as requested for supporting targeted business development opportunities.
• Draft, update, organize and maintain marketing collateral and experience on the external and internal websites and/or various databases as required.
• Identify and assist in the coordination of profile-raising opportunities, including conferences, external speaking engagements, sponsorships, client alerts and article-placements.
• Work with the firm’s Marketing Communications team to develop and implement external communications and media opportunities, including speaking and by-lined article and thought leadership opportunities.
• Identify, plan and execute in-house client events, external speaking engagements, and conferences (working with events team in New York when necessary)
• Work with marketing and business development colleagues around the world to develop business development best practices and to carry out cross-border, cross-practice business development initiatives.
• Adhoc requests to support special projects, initiatives and presentations. 

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Strong knowledge of the Oil & Gas and Infrastructure industry, including upstream, midstream and downstream transactions and projects throughout the value chain is desirable.
• Demonstrable credible knowledge or experience in Project Development & Finance and/or Private Equity and Joint Ventures.
• Credible understanding of business and local legal landscape.
• Well networked in the Houston energy market place would be a significant advantage
• Very strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills and prioritizes work effectively.
• Ability to identify and implement solutions to business and people issues.
• Exceptional and creative problem-solving skills; superior analytical skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and demonstrable ability to establish alignment between the expectations and strategies of different stakeholder groups.
• Superior ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects.
• Ability to develop and deliver executive-level presentations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Confident, flexible and resilient team player.
• Manages risk effectively.
• Communicates complex ideas effectively.
• Adapts style to build relationships across all levels.
• Works effectively under the pressure of deadlines with little supervision
• Flexibility to work outside standard business hours as needed. 

Education & Experience

• Minimum of 7-8 years in progressively responsible and frontline work experience in energy related business development roles in legal marketing or other professional services firms.
• Equivalent of 4 year college degree required.
• Relevant graduate degree a plus.
• Significant experience managing pitches, legal directory submissions and the full range of legal marketing and business development services.
• Experience working in an international firm across time zones.
• Good knowledge of global financial markets, corporate business market, legal market and industry trends.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, InterAction; familiarity in working with any desktop publishing software would be a plus.