Description

The Employment Law Alliance (ELA) is the world’s largest network of labor, employment, and immigration lawyers, with member firms in over 100 countries throughout the world and in all 50 U.S. states. Our mission is to deliver seamless, world-class legal services to multi-jurisdictional employers through collaboration, shared expertise, and our unparalleled global reach.

The Director of Business Development (BD) will be a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for driving growth across the ELA. This individual will design and implement initiatives to expand business opportunities both internally (among member firms) and externally (with network clients and prospects) through referral-generating strategies, innovative branding, and marketing. Given that the ELA is a global organization, this individual must be able to manage and implement multiple initiatives across numerous time zones ensuring execution and alignment with strategic goals. 

This position requires both strategic vision and executional capability — someone who can conceptualize large-scale growth initiatives while personally managing campaigns, systems, and partner relationships. This individual must be highly organized, proactive and a self-starter, and be able to react promptly and manage reactive requests alongside longer-term projects. 

Key Responsibilities

1.   Strategic Business Development Leadership

Develop and execute a multi-year business development strategy aligned with the ELA’s mission and growth objectives. Help set and monitor progress in achieving growth objectives. Identify new business opportunities and initiatives to expand referral activity and increase the visibility of member firms. Partner with the CEO and the Board to define KPIs, metrics, and reporting structures.

2.   Internal Growth and Referral Activation

Develop and implement strategy to increase both intra- and inter-regional referrals among ELA member firms, and drive member firms to collaborate and expand multi-jurisdictional opportunities. Identify untapped synergies among firms, practice groups, and regions to create new referral pipelines. Look for opportunities to generate business outside of employment law by working with the ELA’s specialty groups and the international capabilities of member firms. Develop systems to track and measure intra-network business generation.

3.   External Marketing, Branding, and Outreach

Oversee global branding, marketing, and thought leadership campaigns to elevate the ELA’s reputation as the premier global employment law network. Lead all internal marketing and business development initiatives, ensuring integration across web, email, social media, events, podcasts, and webinars. Lead and collaborate with internal staff to align ELA initiatives with each firm’s positioning, geographic reach, and client base. Evaluate what outside events and industry groups the ELA should participate in to maximize branding and referrals, and how to maximize such participation.

4.   Events and Client Engagement

Develop and execute client-facing events (virtual and in-person) to generate awareness and foster new client relationships. Support the ELA’s annual meetings and regional events, ensuring that sessions promote existing BD initiatives and drive tangible business outcomes. Create business development toolkits for member firms to use during events and client meetings.

5.   Data, Analytics, and Performance Tracking

Manage systems and processes for tracking referrals, marketing ROI, and client engagement metrics across the network. Produce quarterly BD performance dashboards and growth reports for leadership and members. Oversee implementation and optimization of the ELA’s integrated business development platform, ensuring seamless coordination across CRM, email marketing, analytics, and reporting tools. Ensure accurate data capture and utilization to support proactive outreach and data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in business development, marketing, or client growth roles within a professional services or legal environment (global law firm or legal network preferred).
• Proven ability to drive measurable business growth through referrals, partnerships, and strategic marketing.
• Strong understanding of global law firm operations and cross-border collaboration.
• Demonstrated success in building trusted relationships with senior partners and C-level clients.
• Hands-on proficiency with CRM, analytics, and marketing automation tools — preferably an integrated platform such as Microsoft or Salesforce (CRM, Campaigns, Analytics, Projects, and Desk).
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• High professional standards. 
• Entrepreneurial mindset — strategic, yet pragmatic, with a willingness to roll up sleeves and deliver results directly.
• Ability to travel internationally as required. 

Key Attributes

• Strategic thinker and doer: Equally comfortable defining vision and executing tactics.
• Connector mindset: Builds relationships that lead to collaboration and referrals.
• Innovative marketer: Embraces technology and creative campaigns to build visibility.
• Analytical: Uses data to inform decisions and measure success.
• Collaborative leader: Thrives in a matrixed, relationship-driven global environment.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include health coverage, paid time off, and travel opportunities for ELA global meetings and events. Salary range is $150,000 to $175,000 with bonus opportunity based on performance.