Proposal Specialist

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.  Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

Working under the direction of senior Business Development leaders, the Proposal Specialist will work to expand our firm's impact by playing a key role in generating new business across one or more practices and industries. The Proposal Specialist will work as a part of a cross-functional team and be responsible for developing compelling, clear and thoughtful proposals and customized pitch materials. Successful candidates will possess excellent written and oral communications skills, project management abilities, the ability to interpret and apply client and lawyer preferences on materials, and will be able to implement strategic directives and coordinate marketing functions needed to support the pursuit process. The Specialist will see proposals, pitches and related projects through from concept to delivery and follow-up. A commitment to provide and foster a positive client experience to internal stakeholders is essential.

*this position is eligible to be housed in any of our east coast offices
 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The Specialist works closely with lawyers, the client growth team, and firmwide personnel to prepare high quality, compelling statements of qualifications, pitches and proposals (including RFP responses), to address client needs which may include -

• Conducting research on prospective clients to understand the nature of the opportunity and the business issues the prospective client is facing, and add value throughout the proposal process;

• Meeting with team members and lawyers to coordinate and co-lead proposal kickoff meetings, discuss strategic approach to winning the opportunity, identify appropriate team and resources needed;

• Assessing and complying with RFP requirements;

• Developing and project-manage the production timeline and task assignments;

• Acquiring, developing and drafting original content and adapt pre-formulated content, researching and consolidating information and input from various stakeholders to formulate clear, accurate and effective responses;

• Assembling draft documents and providing review, proofing, formatting, and editing support, ensuring final formatting and layout of proposals for production and coordinate delivery as needed;

• Creating presentations for new business pitches or final state meetings as needed;

• High emphasis on proactive communication throughout, including setting and managing expectations for delivery and timelines, communicating with stakeholders during entire proposal development process, and providing status on progress of deliverables;

• Project manage multiple proposals, pitches and presentations simultaneously with minimal direction to the satisfaction of internal clients;

• Maintain proposal libraries, databases and other sales enablement tools, and provide team with access to resources as needed, following electronic archiving, access and documentation protocols;

• Maintain a strong knowledge of assigned practice/industry groups, including the firm’s representative experience and clients, business trends and competitive landscape for legal services, specifically trends in best RFP practices;

• Developing new, innovative approaches to the development of our pitches and proposals and support and execute those practices;

• Coach lawyers on best practices and winning approaches to proposal material and presentations;

• Occasionally assist in the training of business development, marketing and administrative staff;

• Follow up with lawyers on outcomes and conduct debriefings as assigned and apply feedback to improve future proposal, pitch and presentation materials and processes;

• Coordination with other functions such as Conflicts, Matter Planning, Library, Accounting, Finance and Legal Counsel to gain approvals of documentation and information needed to complete proposal responses;

• Collaborate with firm wide marketing staff to assure integrity of the firm brand;

• Adhere to quality control methods and department processes required for quality work product and timely delivery of deliverables;

• Serve as a member of K&L Gates’ firm wide marketing team.  Execute firm wide initiatives as assigned.  Participate in special projects at the behest of the CMO; undertake other projects as assigned.

EXPERIENCE SKILLS REQUIRED

• Three to five years of experience developing complex proposals and pitches to support business development efforts in a professional services firm or closely-related work environment.

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the entire proposal development process, including ability to produce responsive, compliant and persuasive proposals for complex RFPs for legal, accounting or other professional services preferred.

• Outstanding communication skills including writing, editing, and proofreading with a sharp eye for detail and excellent organizational skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with individuals at all levels with a team-oriented approach.

• Proven track record to consistently meet tight deadlines.

• Ability to work independently while managing and communicating with stakeholders.

• Excellent stress and time management abilities needed to accomplish goals and meet tight deadlines while working under pressure.

• Outstanding project management skills and the ability to juggle competing, shifting priorities.

• Flexibility regarding schedule and workload and a willingness to work overtime, as needed, to meet all deadlines.

• Experience collaborating with graphic designers to develop elements needed for deliverables.

• Power user of the MS Office suite including Word, Power Point, Excel and Adobe Acrobat and proficient using graphics tools within these applications.

• Experience using Saturno Experience and Proposal Center a plus.

• Prior experience with or working knowledge of the financial services and/or energy industries preferred

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with approximately 2,000 lawyers across five continents. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world.  We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered in the past five years emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

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Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

BENEFITS

We offer a dynamic work environment and excellent benefits.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices shall not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of unlawful harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is sexual, racial, age-related, disability-related or ethnic background-related.