Business Development Specialist

Schillings is a multidisciplinary advisory firm with expertise in reputation, privacy and security.

We work with UK and international clients to successfully manage high-stakes opportunities and threats, using a unique combination of capabilities: legal; intelligence; communications; security and diplomacy.

We believe everyone has a right to fair treatment of their reputation, to a reasonable expectation of privacy and to feel safe.

Our experts sit within their specialist team but day-to-day work in multidisciplinary teams solving client problems. They are supported by our business services teams: Clients and Markets, HR, Finance, Risk and Compliance, IT and Client Services. 

Because we are a growth business, opportunities appear in all areas and at all levels.   We have the largest team of specialist media lawyers in the world, an expanding Intelligence & Investigations team, a growing Critical Risks unit, an evolving Digital Resilience practice, and a new communications agency – Schillings Communications – that will grow significantly in the next three years. 

Schillings is a collaborative, fun and welcoming place to work, with a positive culture, strong values and a developed service ethic.  We require commitment, diligence, agility and professionalism, and in return provide competitive packages and incredibly stimulating 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 trajectory and longevity at Schillings is a good example of this: a third of our people have been at the business for over five years. Join us and become part of our story.

Job Title: Business Development Specialist

Reporting to: Director of Global Business Development

Job Purpose

As Schillings continues to grow internationally, we are seeking a results-driven Business Development Specialist to join our high-performing Clients & Markets team.

You will work with our Director of Global BD and a team of BD Managers and Specialists to deliver our ambitious strategy and execute our sector-specific tactical plans to reach priority audiences. You will be responsible for high-quality market analysis and research, sales support, and project management of BD plans.

You should have experience of supporting partners’ marketing and business development activities. You will be knowledgeable about our clients, understanding the needs and concerns of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and successful companies, and be familiar with the types of advisers who refer these kinds of clients to Schillings.

Working closely with client-facing staff, you will research prospective clients and competitors, draft proposals, and support Partners with speaking and media opportunities. You will provide regular KPI information relating to the performance of the plans. 

Role Accountabilities

Market Research:

• Conduct thorough market research to identify opportunities, trends, and potential clients and referrers in our priority jurisdictions. Our work is global, and on any given day, you will have the opportunity to focus on different markets. These range from London, Luxembourg, and Lagos, to Zurich, Dubai, and Monaco.
• Proactively identify relevant networking opportunities for our priority sectors and international audiences.

Opportunity Support:

• Assist in the drafting of proposals and presentations to help Partners win new clients facing high-stakes situations.
• Project manage our firmwide pipeline of high-value opportunities to ensure they are being moved forward.

Collaboration and Networking:

• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to business development.
• Maintain excellent relationships with external industry organisations. Be an ambassador for the firm.

Performance Analysis:

• Monitor and analyse the performance of business development plans, providing regular reports to the Director of Global BD.
• Identify areas for improvement and lead on elevating our approach.

Events Management:

• Working closely with the BD and Marketing team, coordinate the planning and execution of elegant and relevant business development events, ensuring seamless logistics and a positive guest experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:

• Proven track record with circa 5+ years in business development roles in a fast-paced professional environment.
• Desire to work as part of a team.
• Able to work calmly, accurately, and efficiently, confidently managing multiple deadlines. 
• Demonstrated success in delivering high-impact business development projects.
• Experience in planning and executing events, with a keen attention to detail.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Excellent written communication and ability to concisely convey information for busy decision-makers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of the international private client or corporate energy sectors is ideal.

Life at Schillings

Given our audacious (and successful) 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 and are remarkably non-hierarchical, especially given our roots as a law firm. Schillings has adopted a set of values to put at the heart of this change 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 the 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.

Please let us know if there are any extenuating circumstances we should consider, or any adjustments we may need to make to our selection process, when making your application.

Find our candidate privacy notice here, Candidate Privacy Notice (schillingspartners.com)