Client Development Manager Jobs in Santa Monica, CA

Cooley is seeking a Marketing & Client Development Senior Manager of Governance, Planning & Operations to join the Marketing & Client Development team.

Position summary: This role is part of the Strategy, Transformation & Growth Team, which acts as the firm's "central nervous system," building the scalable infrastructure and data-backed frameworks that allow Marketing & Client Development to move from reactive execution to proactive, high-impact strategy. It ensures that strategic choices and unique brand differentiating experiences (spanning high-end events to targeted digital channels) are translated into repeatable, optimized market performance that makes the firm stand out in market. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities:

• Planning & Operational Governance: Manage the annual and ad-hoc planning cycles for the M&CD organization, coordinating with team leads to ensure initiatives are prioritized and aligned with firm-wide goals.
• Budget Management & Analysis: Oversee day-to-day department budget operations, including precise forecasting, variance reporting, and identifying opportunities for spend optimization.
• Resource & Agency Coordination: Execute headcount planning and resource allocation in collaboration with leadership, managing the onboarding of contractors and the performance of external agency partners.
• MarTech Administration & Utilization: Responsible for the tracking, monitoring, and auditing of the firm's marketing and sales technology stack, in coordination with cross functional product and business owners to ensure systems are integrated, optimized and utilized to drive data-informed decisions.
• Workflow Design & Process Improvement: Partner across the team to implement standardized workflows and operational processes that reduce friction and improve the organization's speed-to-market.
• Training & Skills Enablement: Facilitate an ongoing training curriculum for the M&CD team, focused on upskilling staff on firm systems, operational best practices, and industry standards.
• Cross-Functional Liaison: Serve as the primary operational point of contact between M&CD, Finance, HR, Communications, Innovation, and Technology to ensure seamless execution of cross-functional projects.
• Change Management Execution: Implement internal change management plans when deploying new tools or structures, supporting the team through transitions to maintain operational efficiency.
• Compliance & Risk Monitoring: Monitor all marketing and business development activities to ensure strict adherence to firm policies, data privacy regulations, and professional standards.
• People Leader:

• Serve as direct supervisor and mentor to direct reports
• Provide day-to-day supervision of direct reports, ensure compliance with assigned work hours and monitor for compliance with all firm and department policies. Manage staffing coverage, review and process time logs/time off requests
• Support business professional development and continued educational opportunities
• In collaboration with immediate supervisor and central HR, participate in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination and other employee lifecycle events

• All other duties as assigned or required

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
• 7+ years applicable experience in the field (e.g., marketing or business development, preferably with an emphasis working in a strategy, transformation, or growth function), with 2+ years of exempt/management experience in relevant roles
• Must have professional services industry experience and/or B2B marketing experience
• Must have experience with marketing and client development planning and operations
• Hands on experience in project management technologies (e.g., Workfront, financial management tools)
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate escalating ownership and mastery of assigned area, exhibit strength in the areas below, become a resource and mentor to others and more as they progress in different roles within the department

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree
• Supervisory experience
• 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 to facilitate and 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 level of professionalism at all times
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and develop talent
• Proactive, analytical mindset
• Effective presentation skills

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE.

The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $145,000 - $210,000. 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 21 days of Paid Time Off ("PTO") 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.