Senior Competitive Intelligence Manager

Location: Dallas, Houston, Chicago, New York or Washington, DC
Schedule: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
FLSA: Exempt
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Senior Competitive Intelligence Manager in the Marketing department, reporting to the Chief Business Development Officer.

The role can reside in the Dallas, Houston, Chicago, New York or Washington, DC office with hybrid work capabilities and will be a key member of the firm’s Strategy, Growth and Revenue functions responsible for delivering actionable intelligence and strategic insights that support the firm’s growth strategy and client development. Working closely with senior business professionals leaders, lawyers, and the Business Development, Client Value and Practice Management teams, the Senior Manager will 1) monitor, identify, analyze and communicate developments across clients, industries, peer and competitor firms and the broader legal market to help inform business decisions and uncover opportunities; and 2) drive strategic research to support the priorities of firm leadership, such as new offer development, geographic expansion, and competitive analysis.

The Senior Manager will oversee competitive intelligence and market intelligence efforts to support firm growth by integrating external research with internal firm data, including client relationship, experience, matter and business development information. In this role, the Senior Manager will identify, analyze and communicate relevant and actionable information to aid the firm’s business development, client retention and overall business strategies while also ensuring the firm’s core values and culture are upheld. The Senior Manager will also develop and enhance processes, systems, tools and techniques that transform data and intelligence into actionable business insights.

Key responsibilities of this position include:

• Drive competitive and market intelligence efforts, providing timely analysis of legal market developments, industry trends, competitor activity, client priorities and emerging opportunities.
• Monitor and analyze research across global markets, industries, peer/competitor firms, key firm clients and prospective firm clients, with a particular focus on business issues that may impact legal strategies, lateral partner strategies and client retention or expansion strategies.
• Produce and deliver intelligence briefings, market analyses, client-focused insights and strategic reports that enhance the firm’s understanding of competitive dynamics and emerging opportunities.
• Work with Business Development, Practice Management and Client Value to leverage internal firm data sources, including Salesforce and Foundation, to identify buying patterns, uncover opportunities, and connect information across practices, industries and offices.
• Develop systems for monitoring and highlighting publications and other content channels for topics, trends and developments that impact the legal industry, the firm’s clients and/or potential clients.
• Authenticate, analyze and distribute data cross-departmentally and design and create visual, actionable dashboards for end-users.
• Communicate proactively on developments impacting the firm’s business/matters and clients, guiding and advising the firm leadership and lawyers on a regular basis; anticipate internal and external business challenges and/or regulatory issues.

Other Core Competencies:

• In-depth understanding of the legal market and ability to work closely with teams to ensure reports and advice align with overarching global financial market trends/themes, political and economic landscape.
• Understanding of the firm’s structure, practice areas, key clients and knowledge of potential issues impacting the firm and its clients (economic, political, regulatory, etc.) to be responsive to lawyer needs/requests.
• Ability to communicate in a compelling, concise, practical way and produce objective and responsive reports, presentations and information that drive action in a forward-thinking manner.
• Analytical ability to issue spot and provide credible, thoughtful solutions and decision support analysis to practice group leaders and other lawyers.
• Monitor and maintain familiarity with emerging intelligence, analytics and AI-enabled technologies and vendors and evaluate new tools, data sources, products and platforms in the market.
• Flexibility to work with various data sources and information sets.
• Ability to provide information in a variety of ways, such as creative data visualizations; and to produce work products with the “big picture” objectives of the firm in mind.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively and execute on project plans (project manage).

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field is required. A Master’s Degree and/or additional certifications a plus.
• 7-10 years of relevant experience in a financial institution, investment management, or law firm environment.
• Superior written and oral communication skills
• Logical and critical thinker; able to identify and apply relevant qualitative and quantitative data
• Strong service orientation, work ethic and attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills, with excellent business acumen
• Excellent interpersonal skills and sensitivity to the complexities of a global partnership with multiple offices and practice groups
• Ability to develop and mentor junior professionals while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team environment
• Advanced working knowledge of MS Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, and ability to work in various software applications as needed
• Proficiency with research databases, such as Lexis, Bloomberg, Lex Machina and ALM Legal Compass
• Familiarity with SQL, Python, R, Power BI, Alteryx or other statistical package
• Knowledge of research methodologies
• Ability to prioritize, manage heavy workload and adjust to changing priorities; work independently and as a member of a team, manage multiple projects with specific deadlines, and complete tasks under time pressure as necessary
• Ability to quickly and proactively identify and analyze problems, develop solutions and deliver results
• Ability to use initiative and judgment to accomplish results
• Ability to incorporate feedback to improve work product and performance
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality of all information, and adhering to the firm’s core values
• Commitment to professional growth and development

The anticipated base salary range for this position in Chicago is $195,000 to $230,000.
The anticipated base salary range for this position in New York is $215,000 to $250,000.
The anticipated base salary range for this position in Washington, DC is $205,000 to $250,000.
The actual salary offered will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, years of relevant experience, certifications or other professional licenses held, job-related knowledge and skills, business needs, and the location from which the work will be performed.Additionally, salary or hourly wages may be only part of the total compensation package, which may also include a full range of health and other insurance benefits, financial and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility), a discretionary bonus, and various paid time off benefits.Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here.

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