Business Development & Awards and Recognition Specialist
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s largest and most successful law firms, has an immediate opening for a Business Development & Awards and Recognition Specialist to join the Client Relations & Marketing team in the Toronto office.
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Client Relations & Business Development, the Specialist will be a member of the Business Development (BD) team, focusing on BD initiatives as well as playing a key role on our Awards & Recognition (A&R) team. This role offers a great opportunity to grow in a BD role, focused on specific practice areas and industries while gaining a broad understanding of firm-wide strategies related to market recognition and reputation.
Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Business Development
Working closely with a Senior BD Manager and collaborating with the wider team, the Specialist will work with specific practice and industry groups on developing and implementing strategies to acquire new clients and expand existing client relationships.
- Research – Sourcing and providing summary analyses to support planning and initiatives for assigned groups.
- Business Evaluation – Assessing and making recommendations related to BD and marketing investments, including drafting business cases and evaluating ROI.
- Submissions – Participating in strategic conversations and preparing draft submissions for assigned practice and industry sector groups.
- Events – Working with the Events team to ensure the successful preparation and delivery of events, conferences and sponsorship opportunities.
- New Business RFPs and Pitches – Drafting information packages and other pitch and proposal materials for new legal work; supporting the development of more complex RFPs in partnership with the Proposals team.
Awards & Recognition
Working closely with a Senior Manager and a coordinator, the Specialist will help to oversee the Firm’s participation in recognition and awards. The responsibilities are focused on process, project management and ensuring best practices are followed. The A&R aspect of this role is not focused on submission drafting.
- Planning – Ongoing planning related to the Firm’s participation in rankings, directories and awards.
- Submission Planning – Collaborating with the BD team and lawyers to ensure directory and award submissions are effectively prepared and follow best practices
- Communications Planning – Working with the Communications, Digital and BD teams to communicate and promote the Firm’s awards and rankings in the market and internally, including drafting announcements and social media posts
- Research and Reporting – Improving A&R tracking and analysis to leverage recognitions across platforms
- Profile Development – Drafting, editing and submitting lawyer and Firm profiles for relevant ranking publications
- A&R Budget – Assisting with the creation and monitoring of the annual A&R budget
- Events – Organizing and managing lawyer attendance at key award galas
Qualifications
Education/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in is required
- Minimum of two years of BD, marketing, project management, communications or business administration experience or similar role
- Experience in a professional-services environment is an asset
Skills/Abilities
- Customer-Service Orientation – Courteous, responsive and delivers with a sense of urgency
- Communication Skills – Strong verbal and written proficiency, and the ability to develop presentations
- Interpersonal Skills – Strong interpersonal skills, supported by a foundation of patience, tact and confidence
- Creative Thinking – Ability to share and embrace new ideas and consider creative solutions to challenges or barriers
- Collaboration – Demonstrates collaboration through actively learning from peers and employing best practices to improve consistency and effectiveness
- Judgement – Identifies and raises red flags when an external or internal change or event could impact assigned groups
- Technology – Strong proficiency with technology, and a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies as required
How to Apply
Please submit your application, including a cover letter and résumé, directly to our application portal.
Blakes wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Who We Are
At Blakes, we care about our people. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for our clients and employees. As a winner of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Greater Toronto’s Top Employers awards, we understand the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace environment that brings out the best in each person. Our success as a firm starts with hiring top talent, retaining our people and helping them thrive.
Blakes welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. The Firm is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment composed of people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, identities and cultures.
The Firm provides accommodation for applicants with disabilities and in respect of other protected grounds during the recruitment process in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact us to request accommodation.
No agencies or recruiters please.