Senior Business Development Manager

Schillings handles high stakes opportunities and threats for an international clientele: successful individuals, businesses and high‑profile organisations across the world.

We support our clients to achieve their goals by developing winning strategies to protect their freedom to operate, and are the first port of call in a crisis, defending our clients from attacks on their reputations, privacy and security. Schillings’ offer is unique to the market, combining strategic communications with law, intelligence & investigations, digital resilience and security.

Schillings is a collaborative and welcoming place to work, with a positive culture, strong values and a developed service ethic. We require commitment, diligence, curiosity, agility and professionalism, and in return provide competitive packages, stimulating challenges and interesting work. We are committed to sharing learning and creating development opportunities so you can progress your career with us. Our people’s career trajectories and average longevity at Schillings underline this.

Schillings Communications

Founded in 2023 to help clients navigate the new terrain of scrutiny, Schillings Communications’ work spans agenda‑setting campaigns and public policy, to crisis management and long‑term senior counsel. We advise global corporates, internationally influential principals and family offices through geopolitical and generational change. We proactively shape narratives and engage stakeholders to build and protect our clients’ interests.

Job Title

Senior Manager, Business Development

Reporting to

Director of Global Business Development

Role Description

The Senior Business Development Manager will work with Partner stakeholders and the Clients and Markets Directors to shape and drive commercially focused business development (BD) and marketing activity for Schillings Communications, our rapidly scaling, market‑leading strategic communications business.

Already recognised among the top crisis and reputation advisers in the market, Schillings Communications is entering its next phase of growth.

You will take responsibility for high‑impact, complex BD and client development (CD) initiatives that are integral to the firm’s 2030 Plan. This role requires a strong understanding of how strategic communications and advisory services are positioned, together with the seniority and judgement to advise Partners and Directors on progressing opportunities.

Role Accountabilities

• You will help Partners execute our CD/BD strategy for Schillings Communications, working closely with the Directors of Global Business Development and Global Client Development
• You will act as a ‘trusted BD adviser’ to Partners, bringing insight on industry trends and client needs, to assist Partners to build out their client base.
• Working with the Director of Global Business Development, you will agree BD & marketing resources assigned to events and campaigns. You will report on the ROI for Partner BD activity.
• When appropriate, you will provide healthy challenge to Partner assumptions to ensure laser focus on our strategic audiences.
• You will advise Partners on the design and delivery of high‑impact ‘six‑star’ events, working with the Client & Markets team appropriately.

Team and firmwide collaboration

• You will be a role model, guiding and coaching Clients & Markets colleagues to enhance BD/CD efforts within the firm.
• Beyond the day‑to‑day support to Partners, you will be comfortable identifying and embedding new processes across fee earning teams, to help elevate our brand assets.

External ambassador of Schillings

• You will represent the firm at external events and be confident articulating our offer to audiences.
• You will be comfortable liaising and negotiating with external networking organisations, to ensure we are front‑of‑mind with the audiences who matter.
• You will be comfortable proactively developing a network of contacts with (for example) offshore wealth advisers and others, to ensure our team is adopting the best ideas in the market.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of how high‑value, relationship‑led advisory work is positioned, developed, and won.
• Demonstrable track record of driving measurable impact through BD and client development initiatives at previous businesses.
• Innovative and creative thinker, problem solver and opportunity‑spotter.
• Able to move from conceptualising ideas to implementation.
• Able to persuade and influence others, and constructively challenge.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to adapt style to suit different internal and external audiences; able to communicate complex and nuanced issues, and challenge assumptions where necessary.
• Builds strong relationships within and outside the firm.
• Hands‑on and delivery focused; comfortable rolling sleeves up to progress work as well as advising on approach.
• Innovative: Creative and Strategic Thinker
• Bold: Manages Ambiguity and Decision Making
• United: Builds Collaborative Relationships and Inspirational, Mindful Leadership
• Excellent: Responsive and Delivering Results

Life at Schillings

Given our bold and innovative business strategy, it is not surprising that Schillings has a very strong culture. The atmosphere is highly collaborative and focused on excellence. We have worked hard over the years to develop a coaching culture. Schillings has adopted a set of values to put at the heart of this and they reflect the intention and tenor of our ambitious plans. They are: ‘Innovative; Bold; United; and Excellent’. Our client list speaks for the outstanding results that have been delivered over many years and the task now is to grow without losing any of the commitment to delivering for clients or our service ethos. Finding people who share our values and can thrive in this environment is key to our success.

It takes a unique mix of people to create something truly great. We appreciate that diversity of thought, background and culture creates the best environment to truly innovate, solve problems and achieve our goals. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds – if you are driven and want to achieve your best then we will give you the platform and support to succeed.

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