Manager, Client Development - Energy & Infrastructure

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is one of the world’s leading international law firms. The Firm was established in 1884 and has approximately 2,000 lawyers. Headquartered in New York with offices in Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Palo Alto, San Francisco, São Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., the Firm provides coordinated legal advice and transactional capability to clients around the globe.

The Client Development & Engagement (CDE) function sits at the heart of the Firm’s growth strategy, bringing together business development, marketing, events and communications. Working closely with Partners, practice leaders, and cross functional teams, CDE supports high impact initiatives such as pitches and RFPs, strategic marketing and communications, and practice level business initiatives. The team leverages data, insights, and creative problem solving to help Partners drive sustained growth through repeatable excellence and differentiated client experience.

Job Summary & Objectives

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Manager, Client Development & Engagement to support the continued growth and strategic development of the Firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice. As the practice continues to expand, this role will be instrumental in helping the Firm pursue growth opportunities, deepen client relationships and strengthen its market position.

Working closely with the Senior Manager, this individual will support a global team of more than 75 partners across the Firm’s transactional practices. The role requires a strong understanding of the broader energy and infrastructure landscape, including digital infrastructure, renewable energy, power generation and transmission, and traditional energy.

The ideal candidate is highly organized and able to manage strategic client development initiatives from concept through execution, develop tailored, high-quality client-facing materials and collaborate effectively across Partners, practices, offices, and CDE functions.

Success in this role requires exceptional project management, strong writing and communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to build effective working relationships with senior stakeholders. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment while maintaining a consistently high standard of work.

Responsibilities

Strategic Client Development and Pursuits

• Work closely with the Associate Director and Senior Manager to execute business development strategies and initiatives that support the continued growth of the Firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice, including priority sectors, clients and new business opportunities.
• Lead the development and coordination of tailored pitches, proposals, RFPs, credentials presentations and other client-facing materials, ensuring they showcase the Firm’s most relevant sector experience and capabilities, and are responsive to the opportunity.
• Maintain and enhance sector-specific credentials, practice materials, matter descriptions and other business development resources, ensuring information is current, accurate and positioned effectively for client-facing use. 
• Manage directory, awards and other external submissions, coordinating input from Partners and internal stakeholders and ensuring high-quality work product.  
• Support strategic research projects, including market analysis, competitive intelligence and client research, and apply insights to business development initiatives.

Energy and Infrastructure Business Development

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of the broader energy and infrastructure landscape, including digital infrastructure, renewable energy and clean technology, power generation and transmission, traditional energy, infrastructure private equity, project development and finance, capital deployment and emerging technologies.

• Work with the Associate Director, Senior Manager and the broader team to develop and execute initiatives that strengthen the Firm’s market presence and advance the practice’s strategic growth priorities.

• Partner with key stakeholders and CDE colleagues to support go-to-market strategy and develop compelling narratives that differentiate the Firm’s capabilities the energy and infrastructure landscape.

Cross-Practice Coordination and Industry Support

• Serve as a key point of coordination for Energy and Infrastructure CDE, connecting Partners, practices, offices and CDE functions to support an integrated approach to priority clients and opportunities.
• Coordinate with events, communications, design, strategic intelligence, knowledge management, and client teams to execute client programs, thought leadership, content campaigns and signature events supporting the Energy and Infrastructure Practice.
• Manage and support regular business development meetings with Energy and Infrastructure Partners and priority client and pursuit teams, including agenda development, preparation of materials, opportunity tracking and coordination of follow-up actions.
• Maintain accurate and current information regarding client relationships, relevant transactions and matters, attorney experience, priority pursuits, industry landscape maps and market insights.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned by the Senior Manager, Associate Director or Director.

Team Leadership and Development

• Manage and develop junior members of the Energy and Infrastructure CDE team, providing day-to-day guidance, coaching, feedback and support.
• Lead and execute pitches and other business development projects, while appropriately allocating work across junior team members; oversee execution and ensure projects are delivered accurately and on time.
• Review junior team members’ work products, including pitches, credentials, research and client-facing materials, and provide clear, constructive feedback to strengthen quality, judgement and consistency. 
• Create resources that enable the team to work efficiently, capture institutional knowledge and consistently incorporate Partner feedback into future work.
• Foster a collaborative, responsive and high-performing team environment while creating opportunities for junior team members to take greater ownership as their skills and experience develop

Education

Required

• Bachelor’s degree

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, English, Communications, Advertising, or a related field.
• JD, MBA or relevant advanced degree

Skills and Experience

Required

• Minimum five years of relevant experience

• At least five years of relevant experience in a high-performance environment, preferably in client service, consulting, legal ops, project management, marketing or financial services.

• Demonstrated success working in a highly technical industry is required.

• Ability to manage multiple competing workstreams, including pitches/RFPs, strategic research projects, events planning, conference support, lateral integration, and training and development of junior support.

• Exhibit exceptional project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple high-priority projects, drive complex initiatives, and deliver results under tight deadlines.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft materials and interact with stakeholders effectively.

• Strong analytical skills and high proficiency with Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Experience with CRM systems, market research tools and project management software.

• Structured and analytical approach to problem-solving, with the ability to navigate complex challenges.

• Clear and confident communicator, able to interface professionally with senior client stakeholders and peers.

• Ability to succeed in a remote environment across various time zones to successfully deliver small-scale and large-scale projects on time.

• Executive presence and high emotional intelligence.

• Flexibility and willingness to work additional hours as needed, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a highly competitive and demanding environment.

Preferred

• Prior experience in business development, client development or market intelligence within the energy and infrastructure sector, particularly within a law firm, investment firm, financial institution, energy or infrastructure company, or professional services environment.

• Familiarity with key areas of energy and infrastructure market, including digital infrastructure, renewable energy, power generation and transmission, traditional energy, infrastructure investment and project finance.

• Experience developing highly tailored pitches, credentials, client presentations, awards submissions or other strategic business development materials.

• Familiarity with CRM, experience management and market intelligence platforms.

• Experience managing or developing junior team members in a professional services or similar corporate environment.

Salary Information

NY Only: The estimated base salary range for this position is $180,000 to $220,000 at the time of posting.

The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.

Simpson Thacher will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

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