OVERVIEW
The Maples Group is a standard bearer in financial and legal services, trusted by many of the world’s largest hedge fund managers, private equity firms and international corporations.
Our distinction flows from our carefully curated team: 2,500+ professionals characterised by tenacity, ethics and exacting excellence. Operating in key financial centres across the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, our international presence offers a unique springboard for career development and cross-cultural immersion.
The Maples Group looks to add a London based Senior Business Development Manager & Client Relationship Management, Investment Funds to our team and invites eager and qualified candidates to apply. We are committed to diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity as we attract, retain and develop world-class talent.
Who We Seek
Our merit-based culture suits professionals in pursuit of boundless careers and lives. Beyond their acumen, team members are collaborative and conscientious, bringing a healthy sense of drive and purpose to each interaction and to all aspects of their work.
About the Role
The responsibility of this role covers both the law firm, Maples and Calder and the entity formation and management business, Maples Corporate Services both of which have grown in scale and complexity in recent years and are seeking to further develop and evolve their marketing capabilities to support a dynamic business.
Maples and Calder and Maples Corporate Services is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to support the global Funds & Investment Management practice. This senior role will have an important role to play in contributing to the development of the vision and strategy for global funds practice and, consequently, will be key in providing strategic and operational support to the business development function supporting the future growth and success of the business. The successful candidate will report to the Head of Business Development & Client Relationship Management.
The successful candidate will be working alongside the Global Funds Practice Group Leader (GPGL) and Local Investment Funds Practice Group Leaders (LPGLs) and will have responsibility for supporting the growth of revenue and the reputation of the firm across the funds practice group.
Utilising deep industry expertise and a strong understanding of the investment funds sector client needs, the successful candidate will work alongside the key funds stakeholders to identify ways in which we can differentiate ourselves in the investment funds space through the planning and development of innovative, incisive and value-added business development strategies with a focus on reputation building, relationship deepening and revenue generating programmes. Main responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Client Relationship Management and New Business:
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Undertake structured client and market mapping exercises to identify priority targets, whitespace opportunities and referral networks, and translate these into actionable client development and pursuit plans for both new and existing clients
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Leverage CRM data, and market/competitor intelligence to inform targeting, prioritisation and strategic decision-making
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Drive the development and implementation of CRM initiatives and work with regional Funds BD professionals on the execution and follow up of such initiatives
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Collaborate with the wider Group Business Development & Marketing function on client programmes to ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to client engagement and service delivery
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Oversees and project manages strategic and panel bids for key funds clients
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Work with LPGLs on regional-focused new business strategies to target new clients, leveraging data and competitor insights
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Help develop best practice and guide regional BD managers when responding to other funds pitches and RfPs and provide funds related input, as required, pitches across the Maples network
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Ensure that post matter debriefs are completed for strategically important pitches
Strategy & planning
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Work with the main stakeholders in the funds practice group, including the GPGL and LPGLs, in generating and developing a strong pipeline of work across the practice internationally
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Work with GPGL, LPGLs and local BD teams to develop strategic forward-looking plans for the practice group each financial year, particularly with a focus on coordination and alignment. Support the GPGL to manage budgets according to this plan.
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Act as the BD lead on global funds working groups and initiatives, taking a leading role in the facilitation of funds partner offsites and implementing related actions.
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Co-develop with the Head of Business Development & Client Relationship Management, incisive business development initiatives that drive revenue and profit, build relationships and strengthen our reputation
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Campaign identification and execution - responsible for the ideation of at least one funds specific client facing campaign per annum. Will be required to work closely with Marketing colleagues on the execution and roll-out
Practice management & coordination:
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Be the key point of contact for the GPGL, supporting them on global funds coordination calls and internal and external engagements
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Proactively challenge and support partners to focus on high-value BD activity aligned to agreed strategic priorities
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Support on the allocation of budget for activities that help deliver on BD plans and monitor spend against this. Challenge unplanned spend and ensure there is a proper business case for spend not originally included in the budget allocation
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Drive alignment and coordination across global and regional BD teams to ensure consistent execution of funds BD strategy
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Keep abreast of developments in the funds space by listening to the markets so to detect and/or anticipate any business opportunities to present to clients. Advise others in the business on key trends and opportunities – leading strategic brainstorming discussions on how we can develop the opportunities highlighted
Operational excellence
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Be the main source of knowledge within the Business Development & Marketing team about the funds offering – the individual in this role must be familiar with the types of legal advice and services offered by the funds practice, the relevant stakeholders and always keep a holistic view to join links were relevant with the aim of always making a complete and full-service offering to clients
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Bring best practice, ideas and challenge and ensure the activities and approaches of the Business Development & Marketing function are implemented consistently across the practice
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Support the Business Development & Marketing leadership team to lead, manage, motivate junior team members to ensure good distribution of know-how within the team.
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Share knowledge across the wider BD team and contribute to functional and firm-wide training programmes
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Support the Head of Business Development & Client Relationship Management and wider Business Development & Marketing team in firm wide activities, including taking a strategic lead role on complex projects that may fall outside of the core practice group activities, but require Senior Manager involvement
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Work alongside the wider Maples Group Business Development & Marketing community, in helping to shape the agenda and make strategic decisions regarding areas of future focus
Key relationships:
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Regular contact with the Head of Business Development & Client Relationship Management and regional funds BD teams to ensure that practice group knowledge, new initiatives and best practice are shared in the regions
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Daily contact with fee earners across the network to further strategic objectives of the funds practice
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Regular engagement with leading industry bodies
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Frequent contact with other marketing and BD team members to ensure best practice and enhance opportunities for cross-selling
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Regular contact with business services areas and other parts of the business to ensure an integrated approach to the achievement of firm wide business objectives
EXPERIENCE
What You Bring
The successful applicant will have the ability to engage credibly with all members of the organisation with enthusiasm and initiative. They will be an excellent communicator with the ability to influence and support the Business Development objectives. Attention to detail, strong networking skills and the ability to collaborate with others to provide a high-quality service to the firm is essential. The individual's skills and experience will include:
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Previous experience within a professional services environment desirable
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Financial Services industry sector experience with marketing / sales / business development experience preferred
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10+ years' experience in developing and successfully implementing BD strategies with a demonstrable track record for success within high performance cultures
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Previous team management experience is essential
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Demonstrated understanding of the Funds & Investment Management Sector
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Advanced client development skills and knowledge
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Experience working with people of different cultures and backgrounds
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Thinks commercially about changes within the firm and client environment and how that provides opportunities or impacts client relationships
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Well-developed understanding of marketing and business development strategy and implementation
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Strong project management skills.
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Ability to run strategic pitch processes
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Proven track-record in working with teams to develop business and client relationships
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Ability to build strong networks relevant to the development of the firm’s profile and business
BENEFITS & REWARDS
The most enduring professional relationships are reciprocal relationships. The Maples Group prioritises employee health and wellbeing. Depending on your location, we offer a range of benefits, including:
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Hybrid Working
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Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental and optical)
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Competitive vacation packages
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Educational assistance and professional development programmes
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Savings or pension plan
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Life insurance
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Travel insurance
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Global mental wellness programme
- Sports clubs and social events
ABOUT MAPLES GROUP
Over five decades, the Maples Group has grown from modest beginnings into one of the world's preeminent professional services firms, offering specialised fiduciary, fund administration, regulatory and compliance, entity formation and management and legal services on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg.
You can learn more about the Maples Group on our corporate website. Experience our culture and our people on our Careers Page or on LinkedIn.
Please note that it is the Maples Group standard policy to undertake various background screening checks on all applicants to whom a conditional job offer is made. Except for roles based in the Republic of Ireland, the background checks will include criminal records checks when a conditional job offer is made. If you have a criminal record, it does not mean that your job offer will be automatically withdrawn. The Maples Group will make all job offer decisions on a case-by-case basis and will take a number of factors into account, such as the role that you are applying for and the nature and circumstances of the past offence. You will have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before a decision is made. Further details will be provided at the time any conditional job offer is made.
Disclaimer: All personal information collected during the application process will be used for recruitment-related purposes only. Please refer to our Job Applicant Privacy Notice at https://maples.com/privacy for details on how we handle personal information relating to job applicants.
