Cooley LLP

Director of Client Development 

Cooley LLP$260K — $320K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of relevant marketing or business development experience, ideally in client development.
  • 5+ years of management experience in relevant roles.
  • Proven leadership track record.
  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Familiarity with the legal industry or professional services preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Define and execute a client development strategy aligned with firm priorities.
  • Align business development and marketing plans around shared growth objectives.
  • Collaborate with partners to drive growth opportunities for key accounts.
  • Design and implement scalable business development programs and tools.
  • Lead and develop the client development organization with clear expectations and accountability.
  • Champion client feedback initiatives to inform service delivery improvements.
  • Monitor business performance metrics and adjust strategies accordingly.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • Generous Paid Time Off (25 days) and 10 paid holidays.
  • Firm-paid life insurance and long-term disability coverage.
  • Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care.
  • Support for parental leave and fertility benefits.
Full Job Description
Director of Client Development 

Cooley is seeking a Director of Client Development to join the Marketing and Client Development team.

Position summary:The role is part of the Client Development Team, which is responsible for orchestrating the full client lifecycle—from initial targeting and sales campaigns to sophisticated listening and feedback programs—ensuring deep market penetration and sustainable growth. Specificduties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities: 

  • Strategic Design & Execution:Define and execute a clear, actionable client development strategy aligned with firm priorities, translating high-level goals into specific plans across regions, industries, and key accounts.

  • Integrated Growth Priorities:Align BD and Marketing priorities, plans, and resources around shared growth objectivesto ensure a unified and efficient approach to market opportunities.

  • High-Stakes Business Partnership:Team with partners to identifyand advance growth opportunities, providing hands-on leadership for priority accounts and pursuits where senior engagement is critical to success.

  • Scalable Growth Infrastructure:Design and implement the programs, tools, and resources necessary for consistent BD execution, ensuring the team is equipped to operatewith discipline and measurable impact.

  • Organizational Leadership & Alignment:Lead, develop, and align the CD organization across all groups and roles,establishingclear expectations, focus, and rigorous accountability for results.

  • Client Listening & Relationship Expansion:Champion the "voice of the client" through formal feedback programs, converting insights into actionable strategies to strengthen service delivery and expand existing relationships.

  • Performance Monitoring & Adaptation:Oversee the pursuitpipeline, activity, and revenue trends, proactively adjusting strategies and resource allocations based on performance data and market feedback.

  • Collaborative Culture:Instill a "one-team" culture of collaboration across Client Development, Marketing, and related enabling functions to drive a coordinated approach to growth across all firm capabilities.

  • Strategic Coaching & Intelligence:Serve as a high-level advisor to firm leadership, providing the tactical coaching and market intelligence requiredto move client relationships from transactional to strategic partnerships.

  • People Leader: 

  • Serve as direct supervisor and mentor to direct reports

  • Provide day-to-day supervision of direct reports, ensure compliance with assigned workhoursand monitor forcompliance with all firm and department policies. Manage staffing coverage, reviewand process time logs/time off requests

  • Support business professional development and continued educational opportunities

  • In collaboration with immediate supervisor andcentralHR, participatein hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, terminationand other employee lifecycle events 

  • All other duties as assigned orrequired

Skills and experience:  

Required: 

  • After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications 

  • Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required 

  • Ability to travel, as required 

  • 10+ years of directly relevant exempt-level experience (e.g., marketing or business development, preferably with an emphasis working in a client development function), with 5+ years of management experience in relevant roles 

  • Proven track record of effective leadership 

  • Bachelor’s degree 

Preferred: 

  • Prior legal industry or professional services experience 

 

Competencies:  

  • Entrepreneurial by nature 

  • Excellent attention to detail

  • Approaches tasks through a lens of quality and consistency 

  • Approaches tasks through a digital first lens

  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with ability tofacilitateand solve problems

  • Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines

  • Takes a consultative approach to set goals, drive projects, and achieve outcomes 

  • Strong judgment

  • Team-player with collaborative spirit

  • Unwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects, client data 

  • High levelof professionalism at all times

  • Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and develop talent 

  • Proactive, analytical mindset

  • Effective presentation skills

The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $260,000 - $320,000.Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 25 days of Paid Time Off (7PTO8) and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.

About Cooley LLP

Cooley LLP is an American international law firm, headquartered in Palo Alto, California with offices worldwide. The firm's practice areas include corporate, litigation, intellectual property, fund formation, public markets, employment, life sciences, clean tech, real estate, and tax. Cooley's clients include private and public companies, financial institutions, venture capital firms, and nonprofit organizations. Cooley has been recognized as one of the top law firms for technology and life sciences companies. The firm has also been recognized for its diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Learn more about Cooley LLP
Size
1,200 employees
Industry
Founded
1920

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