Director, Pitches & Proposals CE

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.

K&L Gates is seeking an experienced and innovative Director of Pitches & Proposals Center of Excellence (“Director”) to lead a strategic team focused on developing high-impact pitch materials and RFP responses. This role is vital to our client growth efforts and requires a leader who is deeply attuned to client expectations—both internal and external—and who embraces the transformative potential of AI in business development.

The Director works closely with Global Client Growth leadership and cross-functional teams, playing a key role in generating new business for the firm. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with the drive and capability to leverage technology, improve processes, and deliver efficiencies across the pitch and proposal lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategy, development, and execution of pitches and proposals across all practice areas and industries.
• Collaborate with lawyers, Client Growth team members, and firm leadership to understand client needs and tailor messaging accordingly.
• Champion the use of AI tools and technologies to enhance proposal efficiency, personalization, and innovation.
• Manage the proposal gating process, working closely with stakeholders to qualify opportunities, gain approvals, and advise on next steps.
• Maintain proposal libraries, tracking databases, and sales enablement tools.
• Ensure team access to resources and adherence to documentation protocols.
• Maintain strong knowledge of firm practices, industry groups, and trends in legal services and proposal best practices.
• Coach lawyers and Client Growth team members on winning approaches to proposal materials and pitch presentations.
• Manage and mentor proposal team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee post-pitch debriefs and apply feedback to improve future materials and processes.
• Track and analyze proposal outcomes, using data to inform future strategy and improve win rates.
• Develop and monitor KPIs to measure the effectiveness and impact of pitch and proposal efforts.
• Collaborate across Client Growth to ensure brand integrity and responsiveness to lawyer and client expectations.
• Establish and enforce quality control standards and timely delivery of work product.
• Execute firm-wide initiatives and participate in special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Experience leading and managing a national or global proposal operation within a professional services firm.
• Proven success developing complex, persuasive proposals and pitches for professional services.
• Outstanding writing, editing, and proofreading skills with a sharp eye for detail.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to meet tight deadlines and manage team performance under pressure.
• Familiarity with the Saturno WebBack proprietary Content Management System (CMS) is a plus.
• Comfort with and enthusiasm for integrating AI tools into daily workflows.
• Strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Flexibility to work outside standard hours as needed to meet deadlines.

Compensation Salary $145,372 - $290,758 / year

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

In accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants for our Los Angeles and San Francisco offices with arrest and conviction records will be considered.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. 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 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.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

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

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

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 will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local 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 prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.