Business Development Executive - Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Bristol, Sevenoaks

Business Development Executive - Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Bristol, Sevenoaks

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 6th best law firm to work at in 2026.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership.

Our Business Development and Marketing Team sits within our wider Business Services Division. The team work together in support of the firms vision, mission and values. The team are responsible for the firms Business Development, PR and Communications, CRM, Campaigns and Events, as well as tender and proposal management.

With the benefit of professional qualifications, experience, knowledge of targets and our client base, the team direct activity to support the firms strategic objectives; for all business development and marketing activity. As a KPI focussed team, they are keen to measure and track activity and review return on investment.

The team support our firm-wide vision to be the standout law firm for client experience, we continue to support delivery of a differentiated services and at the heart of what we do is build anddrive the awareness of the Birketts brandto support firm wide growth.

The team are insights driven and use data to facilitate making the best decisions for both our clients and our business andhold the business true to their team strategies and bringing them to life.Our ultimate aim is to support the firms strategic objectives.

The Business Development Executive (BDE) will play a key role in driving the success of the firms designated practice and sector groups, as set out under Accountabilities below. The BDE will develop an in-depth understanding of these groups, their priorities and their markets.

• Responsible for supporting the following practice group teams ( Employment, Private Wealth Disputes, Court of Protection)
• Responsible for supporting the following sector groups (Food and Beverage & Financial Services)
• Work with the Leads of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups to develop and deliver their strategic business plans and budgets.
• Monitor spend against budget and report on return on investment (ROI), ensuring that business development activities remain within budget and meet agreed objectives.
• Proactively support, contribute to and coordinate regular practice and sector group meetings, both core and wider where appropriate.
• Act as the first point of contact for business development and marketing queries from the responsible practice group teams and sector groups, triaging requests according to the strategic priorities of the teams and the firm, with ROI front of mind.
• Work with the CRM and Data Team to support Practice Team Leads and Sector Team Leads in using and developing their Intapp dashboards, with a focus on producing robust lead-generation information.
• Support the Leads of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups in identifying potential new areas of business and client segments.
• Support the Leads of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups in identifying, coordinating and project-managing events and sponsorships, working closely with the Events and Sponsorship Team and keeping ROI front of mind.
• Work with the Client Development Team to ensure close collaboration between the Leads of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups and the Enterprise Client Programme.
• Work with the Bids Team to produce bids relating to the responsible practice group teams and sector groups.
• Ensure that the Leads of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups are aware of all relevant bid opportunities.
• Work with the Digital Team and the Leads of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups to ensure that practice- and sector-related content across the firms website, intranet and social media channels remains current and relevant through regular review and updates.
• Direct the drafting and production of marketing collateral for responsible practice group teams and sector groups and ensure that this is kept up to date.
• Work with the PR Team to identify external opportunities to promote the work of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups.
• Work with the Leads of the responsible practice group teams and sector groups to develop thought leadership programmes, including campaigns and products that demonstrate creativity and innovation.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

• A solid background in business development and marketing, with broad experience across the full marketing mix, ideally gained in a professional services environment.
• A strong interest in industry and sector trends.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to persuade and influence senior stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of marketing and business development processes.
• A collaborative team player who builds positive relationships with colleagues, peers, partners and clients, and demonstrates diplomacy, active listening and influencing skills.
• A proactive approach and a can-do attitude.
• Enthusiasm and determination, with the ability to address and overcome obstacles to make progress.
• The ability to apply broad knowledge to analyse problems, recommend solutions and, where appropriate, implement them.
• A consistent track record of delivering excellent service to internal clients.
• Effective project management skills, including the ability to plan and prioritise competing demands and meet team deadlines.
• A strong understanding of the firm's business and marketplace.
• The ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Knowledge of CRM or data management systems and their functionality.

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week.

We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy

You can find out more on our website:

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

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At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firms values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via View email address on diversityjobsgroup.com