Research Development Associate Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

FBT Gibbons LLP is a national law firm focused on serving companies operating and investing in the middle market. With nearly 1,500 employees across 26 offices, we support clients ranging from large multinationals to mid-sized businesses and growth-oriented startups across the United States. Our teams collaborate across departments and geographies to deliver excellent service to our clients, colleagues, and the communities we serve.

At FBT Gibbons, diversity enriches our vibrant culture and empowers our teams to achieve more together. We welcome talented professionals who bring valuable skills, a collaborative mindset, and a shared commitment to helping our firm and clients thrive. Here, you’ll make meaningful contributions, collaborate with exceptional colleagues, and build a career that grows with your skills and ambitions.

We are currently searching for a full-time Business Development Associate to collaborate closely with Practice Groups, Industry Teams, cross-functional departments, and firm leadership to create and implement business development strategies that drive revenue for the Finance Industry Team and associated practices. This includes strategic planning, execution of tactics that support strategic initiatives, budget planning, and identifying, tracking and reporting on KPIs.

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious with experience in business development and the legal field. They should be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. The ability to work independently, stay focused, and adapt quickly to changes is key to success in this role. Understanding of the finance industry, banking, lending, commercial real estate, restructuring and/or private wealth preferred. Experience in a B2B professional services or legal environment is required.

This position can be based in Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; or Louisville, KY.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary marketing and business development contact for assigned Practice Groups and/or Industry Subteams, partnering closely with group leaders and senior business development colleagues.
• Support strategic goals and client development efforts by executing marketing and business development initiatives, conducting research, and preparing reports and materials.
• Create pitches, proposals, and RFP responses for new business opportunities, and track activity in the firm’s knowledge management system.
• Develop and maintain marketing collateral, website content, attorney biographies, and other business development materials.
• Coordinate strategic awards and ranking submissions and identify additional profile-raising opportunities.
• Partner with the events team to support seminars, webinars, conferences, and other client-facing programs.
• Manage sponsorship deliverables and trade organization relationships for assigned groups.
• Collaborate with communications and marketing colleagues on campaigns and content, including alerts, newsletters, press releases, social media, videos, and website updates.
• Identify and recommend business development opportunities, including speaking engagements, thought leadership topics, and cross-practice growth opportunities.
• Support onboarding for new attorneys by introducing available resources and ensuring marketing-related information is collected and shared efficiently.
• Manage budgets, timelines, contact lists, and communication templates for assigned groups.
• Edit and proofread materials to ensure quality, accuracy, and consistency.
• Provide market insights and trend analysis to support strategic planning and outreach.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Minimum 3 years of related work experience in business development for B2B professional services or law firm required.
• Interaction, Foundation, or other Client Relationship Management (CRM), experience or content database systems experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Teams, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
• Proven ability to assist multiple individuals of various levels with diverse needs and challenges simultaneously. Independent self-starter capable of managing and prioritizing multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong judgment and ability to make independent decisions with consultation from attorneys, firm leaders, and colleagues as part of developing, implementing, and assessing the marketplace, practice groups industry strategies.
• Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, editing, and proofreading skills required.
• High degree of professionalism when interacting with internal and external clients.
• Ability to think critically, demonstrating intellectual curiosity and solution-orientation.
• Ability to travel as needed across the firm’s footprint (estimate is moderate 10-15%).

FBT Gibbons is fully committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of FBT Gibbons to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, military status, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other protected status.

FBT Gibbons offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health care coverage (medical, dental, and vision), life insurance, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, employee wellbeing and EAP programs, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching and profit-sharing. Benefit offerings and eligibility vary by location and are subject to applicable plan terms and legal requirements.

experience and other job-related factors, consistent with applicable employment laws.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. FBT Gibbons does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

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