Job Description

PurposeYou will be responsible for the management of pitch team member(s), based in SEA, on the implementation and maintenance of the teams\xe2\x80\x99 core processes, databases, scheduling, and work allocation.As manager, you will mentor and lead the SEA pitch team who will work directly with partners, lawyers and the wider Asia BDM team. You will have management responsibility for the Pitch Advisor(s) in the SEA pitch team. You will also be required to provide active, hands-on support to pitches.As a senior member of the team, you will support the Asia Pitch Manager in developing and equipping the wider pitch team with the knowledge and skillset to support the growing SEA, Middle East and India markets.Representing Asia, you will also take an active role in working with the global Strategic pitch team on firmwide strategic panels.Key Dimensions

• Manage and develop pitch team member(s), based in SEA, in covering the winning work support for the growing SEA, Middle East and India markets.
• Support the Asia Pitch Manager on managing the wider team and in skillset and resources planning. You will act as her deputy, stepping in and leading where necessary.
• Look into ways to streamline repetitive and operational processes in relation to pitch base materials and credentials, and support the successful roll-out and implementation of projects that further enhance our pitch technology and processes to improve efficiencies \xe2\x80\x93 a BDM strategic priority to use technology to innovate and support revenue generation.
• Be an active and collaborative member of the global pitching community, playing more of an active role within the strategic pitch team. Participation in the team will include, but is not limited to, offering input or seeking input from Asia based stakeholders on global pitch opportunities, project managing and completing workstreams that are critical to the success of these projects and supporting the strategic pitch team on global panels, as and when required.

Key responsibilities and challenges

• Take end-to-end ownership of SEA (including India and Middle East) pitch opportunities, adhering to and championing the firm\xe2\x80\x99s best practice systems and processes, and follow up on results and ensure feedback is obtained.
• Work alongside Partners throughout assessment of the bid/no bid process and support the planning and preparation of pitch meetings/presentations. Ensure appropriate engagement of key stakeholders across the firm, including BDM colleagues, Finance, Pricing, Innovation, Risk, Knowledge and Learning etc. to ensure the client receives the best proposal from Linklaters.
• Lead RFP briefing meetings with partners and client teams, taking an active role to set meeting agendas, lead and chair meetings and project manage the whole pitch process, while communicating regularly to stakeholders throughout.
• Bring original thought and creativity to strategic project and panel pitches, working with the partners to formulate a bespoke offer, and create high-quality, original content.
• Work with the team to develop their pitch skills. You will have line management responsibility for one team member, based in Singapore. Training and development of the wider pitch team is a key element to this role.
• Support the Asia Pitch Manager on developing and equipping the wider pitch team with the knowledge and skillset to support the growing SEA, Middle East and India markets.
• Ensure processes are in place, and regularly maintained, to capture pitch related material and train/inform the wider Asia team as and when necessary. Reporting on pitch data is one of the functions, and firms, priorities and you will take a lead on this.
• Actively take part in the continual review and recommendation of improving pitching best practice.
• Train and share pitching best practice with the pitch team, partners, lawyers and secretaries.
• Alongside the Asia Pitch Manager, you will oversee and manage the Asia pitch mailbox and ensure the fair allocation of pitches across the regional pitch and BDM teams. You will deputise for the Asia Pitch Manager when she is not in the office, acting as her 2IC.

Key contacts:In department

• BDM colleagues, both regionally and globally.

In the firm

• Asia partners and lawyers. Global lawyers as and when required.
• Pitch Assistance Centre in Colchester & Warsaw
• Business Teams including Translation, Finance, Pricing, Risk and HR

Characteristics, Skills & Experience required:LocationSingapore officeLanguagesFluent English (verbal and written)Mandarin/BahasaCharacter

• Strong communication skills \xe2\x80\x93 written and verbal
• Strong project and stakeholder management skills
• Team player - Ability to maintain strong collaborative working relationships.
• Quality control and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure, often to tight deadlines.
• Self-motivated with a positive, can-do attitude
• Robust - ability to bounce back when challenged
• Culturally sensitive
• Ability to lead meetings effectively
• High degree of commercial acumen
• Ability to think strategically
• Excellent interpersonal skills, a strong ability to influence, persuade and prioritise will be essential.
• An understanding of business and cultural nuances in Asia

Education / QualificationsDegree or equivalent relevant experiencePractical Experience

• Demonstrable experience of end-to-end pitch management, supporting and adding value at all stages of the pitch process
• Client engagement (scoping/debriefing/feedback)
• Track record of leading on high value strategic or panel pitch opportunities
• Ability to influence partners
• Ability to produce high-quality work within tight deadlines
• Ability to manage priorities and to a timeline
• Excellent pitch writing skills
• Accurate English grammar and punctuation skills

• Business development experience in the legal sector
• Client facing sales or account management experience
• Previous experience with pitch automation tools and experience with credentials/ experience databases

Office skills

• Proficiency in Word, Excel and PPT
• Experience in data administration and in using databases
• Advanced PowerPoint design and formatting skills
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop

Technical Skills:This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Linklaters