The role
Africa is an important part of DLA Piper’s vision to be the leading global business law firm.
DLA Piper has a long history on the continent dating back over 20 years. We have built an unrivalled presence and geographical footprint, that includes over 460 lawyers operating from offices in 20 countries. We have two fully financially integrated DLA Piper offices in Johannesburg and Casablanca, in addition to DLA Piper Africa, a Swiss verein comprising 18 independent law firms across the continent working with DLA Piper lawyers globally to deliver best-in-class legal services to clients.
Ranked Band 1 for Africa-Wide Networks by Chambers Global for the past eight years, our prominence on the African continent continues to be recognised.
Delivered through five key pillars: People, Clients, Alignment, Quality and Technology & Innovation, our Africa strategy underpins our vision to be the leading provider of legal services in Africa as an integral part of DLA Piper globally.
The Africa Marketing & Business Development (MBD) team plays a critical role in the delivery and implementation of our strategy and ultimately in our Africa business’ success – both internationally and on the continent. The team works with partners and lawyers from across our DLA Piper Africa offices, in addition to DLA Piper partners globally, to develop and implement a range of high-profile campaigns, go-to-market strategies and client development activities that seek to drive revenue growth, deepen client relationships, raise market profile and develop a sense of community within Africa that will lead to a stronger, more cohesive client service offering.
The team is part of a larger DLA Piper International MBD team based in locations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. It also plays a key advisory role working with each of our Africa member firms across the continent to help them to develop and implement best practice MBD strategies within each of their respective markets.
Reporting to the Senior Business Development & Marketing Manager – Africa, this role is an exciting opportunity for a Marketing & BD Coordinator to join a dynamic, fast-paced and growing team. The role will primarily support the Pan-African and International components of our Africa strategy, leading and supporting on a broad range of initiatives to help the firm develop relationships with clients; raise profile and strengthen its position in the market with respect to Africa; improve collaboration between the MBD community across Africa and win profitable business. The role will take a primary lead with respect to the implementation of our Africa sector programme.
The role will suit an experienced and ambitious Marketing & BD Coordinator looking to take the next step in their career, with a firm that can offer international exposure and development opportunities within an African environment.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPOSIBILITIES
- Marketing & communications : acting as support lead and/or coordinator on the development and delivery of a range of marketing and communication activities that contribute to the delivery of our Africa strategy, with a focus on delivery of our sector programme. This may include:
- events, legal directory and legal award submissions, sponsorships, website & digital content, external and internal communications, integrated campaigns and marketing collateral.
- ensuring that all marketing activities are aligned to the firm’s strategic objectives and that all materials produced reflect DLA Piper’s Africa brand and adhere to our brand guidelines.
- Business Development : working with partners, lawyers and the DLA Piper Africa marketing team to develop business across Africa. This may include:
- working alongside the Africa MBD team based in various locations across the globe to develop and support BD programmes for key sectors and key client accounts;
- providing guidance to our DLA Piper Africa office marketing colleagues on the implementation of client targeting initiatives
- preparation of bids and tenders, including input of Africa related content into global pitches
- helping to ensure our BD messages are consistent across capability statements and proposal content
- undertaking market research to support various targeting initiatives
- working with other marketing colleagues, ensuring BD strategies and messaging is being shared between aligned teams across Africa, across our practice groups and sectors enabling strong and cohesive go to market tactics to be deployed.
- Systems and Process : supporting the implementation and use across Africa of supporting marketing infrastructure and tools including;
- maintaining Africa-related content on the DLA Piper website
- ensuring Africa-related content is kept up to date on our automated pitch systems
- supporting the implementation across Africa of global MBD projects, systems, processes and infrastructure.
- ensuring Africa credentials, awards and proposal content are kept up-to-date both within DLA Piper and on the DLA Piper Africa systems.
- supporting on the preparation of internal reports.
The job holder may be required to undertake additional duties from time to time.
ABOUT YOU
The ideal candidate must:
- be able to demonstrate strong commercial awareness in both approach and delivery
- display a consistently positive attitude and adopt a ‘can do’ approach as well as being able to work well on own initiative and also as part of a wider team; collaborative working style
- possess good project management skills with the ability to provide a high quality service while operating remotely from the end user
- be confident operating on their own initiative, owning projects and seeing them through to conclusion with limited supervision
- possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
- have a sound understanding of professional marketing approaches, new business issues, sales and pitch processes within the legal sector and particularly how these apply to Africa, sector and practice group marketing strategies
- demonstrate a professional approach in terms of commitment and internal client care
- have proven experience working in a virtual team environment
- have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to exercise tact and diplomacy
- be able to demonstrate experience in dealing with a demanding workload and conflicting priorities
- be able to multi-task and work to deadlines, be methodical and logical, as well as thrive in a robust and fast-paced environment
- have the ability to see delegated tasks through to completion at a high standard
- have the ability to stay calm and composed in often demanding situations
- be fluent in English (French language capability woudl be benefit, but is not a must)
- be IT literate – experience of Excel, Word 2010, PowerPoint and Outlook is essential; experience of using InterAction/CRM systems would be beneficial
- hold a degree/CIM Professional Certificate in Marketing (desirable)
- demonstrate an ability to understand and identify with the firm and its objectives and values.
ABOUT US
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.
OUR VALUES
In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:
- Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
- Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
- Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
- Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.
Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.
HYBRID WORKING
We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.
PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING
In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.
5002 | South Africa | Johannesburg
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