Marketing and Business Development Advisor at Hogan Lovells

Role Overview

• Role overview   As a key member of our Africa Regional Marketing and Business Development team, the successful candidate will lead the business development and marketing initiatives for our growing firm in South Africa by seeking out and implementing activities to grow our profile and win work from new and existing clients.
• This is a varied and hands-on role which offers the opportunity for involvement in business development planning, client relationship management, profile raising, proposal writing, client research, project management, budget management and event support. Our expectation is that the Advisor will possess a strong business development background with experience of imbedding a culture of best practice. They will work closely with the team to deliver the business plan in order to help the business grow.
• This is an international role. The successful candidate will work globally with the M&BD team across 7 Africa hub offices Paris, London, Dubai, , Washington, Frankfurt and Beijing and with other Hogan Lovells management staff and international offices as required.

Key Performance Areas and Accountabilities

Reporting to the Head of Marketing and Business Development for Africa & Middle East the successful candidate will work collaboratively with the lawyers and Partners in South Africa, as well as the regional and global BD teams to support all aspects of the business development and marketing functions of the firm, including:

• Business Development: Support with business development plans, client targeting and research, and implementation of those plans.
• Client Relationship Management: Support with business development on selected key clients. This will involve supporting the partners and Key Account Managers (KAMs) with the internal management and administration of these accounts; implementing  the firm-wide client feedback programme; and taking the lead in developing actionable client development plans and draft relationship reports.
• Business Proposals: Supporting the proposal process including: opportunity assessment; formulation of proposal strategies; drafting proposals; client and competitor research; developing key messages and compelling value propositions. In addition, working with multiple stakeholders to present pricing analysis and modelling recommendations; and where appropriate undertaking proposal debriefs with clients.
• Research: Requesting market intelligence including client and competitor research across the and efficient assessment of relationship development and new business opportunities. 
• Profile Raising: Working with multiple stakeholders including partners, local agencies, and the global media relations team to identify and pursue profile raising opportunities, including article placement, and coordinating media interviews and press releases. In addition, a key function of this role will be to help increase internal awareness of the Johannesburg practice, capabilities, and new business opportunities.
• Event Support: Initiate, plan and execute a broad range of events and client engagement activities including panel and speaking engagements, substantive seminars and conferences, social events and receptions.
• Social Media: Working closely with the local agency, regional and global marketing and communications team to raise our profile across  social media platforms
• Collateral Management: Oversee the updating and maintenance of a full suite of marketing collateral, including office and practice profiles, brochures, PowerPoint presentations and experience trackers.
• Reporting: Develop and deliver local M&BD reports, business summaries and deal reporting. Also help to collate information for global management conferences and regional reports.
• Directory and Award Submissions: Draft and coordinate legal directory and award submissions.
• Information Maintenance: Ensure that key information systems such as the website, credentials database, experience database, and InterAction contacts database for the office are kept up-to-date.

Processes and Systems:

• Ensure that the systems and processes we use to support our marketing activities are managed and promoted in an integrated and consistent manner across our international network of offices.
• Client listening - Track and update client listening interviews and feedback according to the Client Listening Program, capturing information in the Client Listening Database and/Tracker.
• Proofing internal and external client facing deliverables and saving to the appropriate document management system.
• Uploading final pitches into our Global Pitch System (GPS) and/or our Global Pitch Library (GPL), ensuring pitch materials are kept up to date, are client-focused, compliant, and easy to evaluate.
• Experience database - Support the experience capture process/database and regularly maintaining records.
• Credentials hub - Collaborate with practice area, regional, and industry Marketing and Business Development teams to update the credentials database.
• Other duties and systems as assigned, supporting a broad range of M&BD services.
• Ad-hoc projects: Assisting with special projects as required.

Role Requirements

Qualifications and Training:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably with an emphasis in business administration, marketing or law.
• Minimum 4 - 6 years’ experience in Marketing Advisory  and Operational Management in a law firm (working with practice group strategies, tenders and pitches) experience at Managerial level
• Minimum 4 -6 years’ experience in Project and Change Management at Managerial level

Key Competencies:

The successful candidate should have:

• A minimum of approximately 4 - 6 years of experience in a business development role with proven practice development, client relationship and industry sector development experience, including a thorough understanding of proposal management and lead generation. This experience should preferably be in a professional services environment.
• Ability to analyse financial and technical information to develop options and make recommendations for dealing with challenging commercial environments.
• Proven ability to work on own initiative, with the skills to prioritise and handle a number of concurrent projects, under pressure and delivering to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work with multi-functional teams remotely and across various timelines. Leveraging available resources to provide support and assistance when required. 
• Ability to manage consultants and third-party suppliers.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills with the ability to influence at a senior level and strong organisational abilities.
• Outstanding attention to detail, including exceptional proofreading skills.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to perform under pressure, independently and as part of a wider regional team.
• Consistent positive attitude with a "can do" mentality.
• The ability to work flexibly and in a diverse, cross-border, cross-cultural team is essential.
• Proven discretion and trust in dealing with confidential and sensitive information.
• Advanced PC skills, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, and ability to learn new IT skills such as InterAction, Sitecore, and other database systems.

System skills:

• ADD email marketing and CRM platforms - Intermediate
• Microsoft Office

Mental & Environmental / Legal Requirements

• Must be able to handle pressure, setbacks and a high level of stress
• Must be able to work to deadlines
• Must be able to maintain strict adherence to confidentiality policies
• Must have clear criminal and credit records

Knowledge and skills:

• Excellent written and communication skills
• Project Management experience
• Understanding of industry trends and implementing best practices procedures
• Advanced commercial awareness
• Ability to deal with matrix management environment
• Ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity
• Adapting and responding to change
• Delivering results and meeting business expectations
• Strong presentation and communication skills (verbally and in writing)

Additional Considerations

• Applicants must be South African citizens or have a valid South African work permit
• Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates
• Preference will be given to candidates who are living with a disability