Senior Manager, Business Development, Industry Groups - Lifesciences & Healthcare

Team Summary Our Business Development & Marketing team plays a critical role in enhancing the Firm’s reputation, expanding its client base and driving revenue growth. This team develops and implements strategic marketing plans to promote the Firm’s legal services, leveraging digital and traditional marketing channels to reach target audiences.

They conduct market research to identify industry trends and client needs, positioning the Firm competitively within the legal marketplace. The team also manages client relationships, orchestrates business development initiatives, and seeks opportunities for partnerships and networking. Through compelling content creation, event planning and public relations efforts, they ensure that the Firm maintains a strong market presence and continues to attract and retain clients.

Position Summary

Position Overview

The Life Sciences & Healthcare Industry Group is a priority platform for the Firm, bringing together lawyers across practices and regions to support leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical technology, healthcare services, and digital health companies on their most significant business, regulatory, transactional, and disputes matters.

The Senior Manager, Business Development, Life Sciences & Healthcare Industry Group is the primary business development lead for this group, serving as a trusted adviser to the Industry Group partner leads. The role helps shape the group's commercial objectives by anticipating and responding to market shifts, identifying growth opportunities, supporting client development, and enhancing the Firm's position across the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector.

Working closely with partners across practices and regions, the Senior Manager leads industry business planning, market-facing campaigns, client engagement initiatives, conferences and sponsorships, thought leadership programs, and other activities that support the group's growth objectives. The role also oversees the budget, governance, reporting, and business development infrastructure that enables the Industry Group to operate effectively and deliver measurable results.

This is a highly visible role with significant exposure to senior stakeholders across the Firm. Working closely with the Global Life Sciences & Healthcare Industry Group Leaders, Global Strategic Client teams, Practice Groups, Marketing & Communications, and other Business Services teams, the Senior Manager will help drive a coordinated approach to client development, market engagement, and cross-practice collaboration across the global Life Sciences & Healthcare platform.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic planning & industry growth

• Lead the annual business planning process for the Life Sciences & Healthcare Industry Group, partnering with leadership and lawyers globally to identify growth opportunities, establish priorities, and define the group's objectives.
• Monitor industry, client, and competitive developments, providing actionable insight that informs business development activity, investment decisions, and market positioning.
• Develop and advance priority subsector, thematic, and cross-practice initiatives that strengthen the Firm's presence in key areas of the Life Sciences & Healthcare market.
• Manage Industry Group governance, budget oversight, and performance reporting, ensuring priorities are tracked, resources are aligned effectively, and progress against objectives is clearly measured and communicated. Client development & commercial intelligence
• Advise partners on client development and cross-practice growth opportunities through relationship mapping and white-space analysis.
• Partner with Global Strategic Client teams to bring together the Firm's industry capabilities in support of priority client relationships and significant growth opportunities.
• Lead client engagement programs, including client feedback initiatives, executive debriefs, trainings, secondments, and targeted outreach campaigns.
• Analyze client, market, and competitive information to inform pursuit strategies, relationship development plans, and investment decisions. Market positioning & go-to-market execution
• Shape the Industry Group's external positioning and value proposition, ensuring consistent and differentiated messaging across priority audiences.
• Lead market-facing campaigns, thought leadership programs, and content initiatives that strengthen the Firm's profile and support client engagement around key industry developments.
• Evaluate and lead the Firm's participation in industry conferences, sponsorships, speaking opportunities, partnerships, and other market platforms that enhance client relationships and market visibility.
• Develop and execute coordinated engagement plans around major industry events, including client outreach, partner participation, and post-event follow-up.
• Lead or support significant cross-practice pitches, panel reviews, and RFP responses involving Industry Group expertise.
• Oversee and contribute to relevant legal directory submissions, awards, rankings, and profile-building opportunities.
• Assess the commercial impact and return on investment of go-to-market initiatives, using data and stakeholder feedback to inform future priorities and spending decisions. Cross-practice collaboration
• Build alignment around Industry Group priorities and identify opportunities to bring together lawyers from multiple practices and jurisdictions in support of client needs.
• Manage and drive leadership meetings, communications, reporting, and action tracking to support effective decision-making and accountability.
• Develop industry briefings, training programs, and practical resources that help lawyers understand market developments and identify opportunities for client engagement.
• Maintain and enhance the Industry Group's business development infrastructure, including credentials, market intelligence resources, and other client-facing materials. Leadership and people development
• Model strong leadership behaviors through effective delegation, active coaching, knowledge sharing, and the development of practical resources and best practices that support the broader Business Development team.
• Provide quality oversight to team members and project teams supporting the Industry Group.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture.

Qualifications

and Skills

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or relevant professional qualification is advantageous.
• A minimum of 10 years of business development, client development, or related experience within a law firm or professional services firm.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or advising Life Sciences & Healthcare clients, sectors, or related markets, with the ability to quickly understand complex industry developments and their commercial implications.
• Strong business development expertise spanning business planning, client development, market positioning, thought leadership, campaigns, pitches, and financial reporting.
• Proven ability to advise and influence senior stakeholders, build trusted relationships with partners, and operate effectively in a global organization.
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives across functions, practices, jurisdictions, and time zones.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience using data and market intelligence to support decision-making and measure performance.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, persuasive, and client-ready materials for senior audiences.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the judgment and project management skills required to balance multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint and Excel, and experience working with CRM, reporting, and business development technology platforms.
• A collaborative, proactive, and adaptable approach, with the credibility and professionalism to represent the Industry Group to stakeholders.
• Familiarity with evolving legal technology, AI-enabled tools, and digital business development capabilities is advantageous. Location and Compensation
• This is a full-time role, and can be based in New York or London
• New York Compensation Range: $ 174,400 - $261,600 This role reports to Director, Business Development
• Strategic Clients & Industry Groups Equal Opportunities White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact [email protected].

Benefits

at White & Case White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment. The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business—specific to the relevant office—before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions.

If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.