Market Development Specialist

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.  Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

We are seeking a Market Development Specialist to join the Chicago, Charlotte, or Research Triangle Park office. Working under the direction of a Market Development Manager, the Market Development Specialist (MDS) will support and execute marketing and business development programs and initiatives for firmwide practice areas, industry groups and/or offices.  The MDS will have significant interaction with lawyers, office and practice managers and firm administration.  Successful candidates will possess superior written and oral communications skills, project management abilities and will be able to implement strategic directives and coordinate marketing functions.  The MDS will see projects through from concept to delivery, sometimes with limited or no oversight from a manager. Candidates must be self-starters who possess the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Excellent communication skills and a commitment to providing the highest quality client service are strongly preferred.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
• Assist practice groups and individual lawyers with development and implementation of marketing, business and client development projects and provide general marketing support to practice groups.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Serving as a primary point of contact for production and assembly of customized marketing packages and promotional materials.
• Creating and delivering client-focused proposals, qualifications and presentation materials in response to RFPs and other opportunities for new business.
• Drafting, editing and proofing such materials as marketing collateral, slide decks, letters, event invitations, and lawyer biographies.
• Serving as liaison to lawyers and secretaries to build, maintain and regularly update practice group contact lists in the firm’s client relationship management (CRM) database.
• Creating and maintaining experience lists for practice areas and lawyer activities (e.g., participation in outside conferences and seminars, membership in trade associations, etc.).
• Prepare and deliver detailed competitive intelligence and marketing research reports leveraging firmwide research tools and library resources.  This may also include development of qualified prospect lists for certain marketing/client development initiatives.
• Coordinate the development of articles, newsletters, electronic news alerts and other marketing communications materials.    
• Coordinate practice/industry group/office special events, including mailing list management, collateral production, logistics planning and on-site support.  Assist in planning process and provide support to all follow-up business development activities.

• Assist in tracking information relating to business development activities in the firm’s proposal tracking system.
• Support office and practice public relations activities.
• Coordinate practice group membership/renewals in various trade and related organizations.
• Secure reprint permissions and stock for use in future marketing efforts.
• Serve as a member of K&L Gates’ firmwide marketing team.  Execute firmwide initiatives as assigned.  Participate in special projects at the behest of the CMO.
• Undertake other projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or communications with 3 to 5 years of experience in a professional services organization or closely related corporate environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to write and produce compelling proposals, collateral, research reports and client-facing presentation materials.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated service orientation.
• High level of maturity and confidence necessary to interact with sophisticated internal and external clients.
• Excellent computer skills with knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Internet research tools essential.  Knowledge of InterAction® CRM software, a plus.
• Demonstrated good judgment, decision-making and follow-through capabilities.  Persistence coupled with the ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent project management, organizational and planning skills with ability to prioritize multiple tasks and projects and meet deadlines.
• Outstanding attention to detail, flexibility and creativity.
• Team player who is also self-motivated and can work independently with minimum supervision.

Working Conditions:
• Manual dexterity required for typing, reaching and lifting of small objects, and operating office equipment.
• Frequent computer use at workstation for extended periods of time.
• Mobility within the office including movement from floor to floor.
• Access information using a computer.
• Effectively manages and communicates confidential issues.

Any information contained on this form represents the usual method of accomplishing the duties in this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be considered in appropriate circumstances.  However, as the nature of an accommodation may vary depending on the needs and desires of an individual with a disability, it is impossible to describe in advance specific accommodations which will be considered.

NOTE: Nothing in this job description restricts the firm’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with approximately 2,000 lawyers across five continents. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world.  We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered in the past five years emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

BENEFITS

We offer a dynamic work environment and excellent benefits.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices shall not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of unlawful harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is sexual, racial, age-related, disability-related or ethnic background-related.