Pitches and Proposals Manager

Business Development & Communications, London

Main information

Term type:

Permanent

Department:

Business Development & Communications

Location:

London

The firm

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is a sector-focused international law firm with extensive expertise and industry insight across its core sectors of energy, infrastructure and transport. Through its network of 19 offices, the firm advises clients on complex, high-value transactions and disputes – matters requiring precise legal execution and a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.

The firm’s success is driven by its people. It fosters a collaborative, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow, share ideas and make an impact. Guided by its values –We are experts, We are united and We care – the firm delivers exceptional service through strong relationships and teamwork. The firm is committed to clear career paths, championing diversity and investing in its people so they can thrive.

The department

The global Business Development and Communications team comprises over 60 business development, communications and marketing professionals based across the jurisdictions where we have an office. As our route to market is through our global sectors and our clients are international, team members regularly collaborate to deliver cross-border campaigns and global projects. It is a close-knit and very supportive team with an excellent reputation across the firm.

Role overview

Working in partnership with key stakeholders including international colleagues, the role focuses on helping the firm win profitable new business and retain existing clients through competitive pitch opportunities and proposals as well as maintenance of key pitch materials and precedents.

The Pitches and Proposals Manager is part of a global team responsible for managing the full life cycle of pitch and proposal opportunities including feedback and reporting, working across practice groups, all three sectors (Energy, Transport and Infrastructure) (with a focus on transport (aviation and maritime)) for the benefit of the firm.

The firm’s continued growth and success is leading to increased investment in building out a wider Global Pitches and Proposals team within the Global Business Development and Communications function.

Key activities/responsibilities

• Managing pitch opportunities (both transactional and panel) regionally and globally, where required, including applying the new stop / go process, where applicable, preparation of pitch documentation, working closely with our pricing team, coaching teams ahead of presentations and securing independent client feedback to assess quality and value to incorporate future improvements.
• Develop win strategies in collaboration with partners and sector leadership teams.
• Facilitate bid kick-off meetings and manage proposal timelines, responsibilities and governance.
• Ensure proposals clearly articulate client needs, market context and the firm's differentiators.
• Drive best practice in pitch planning, storyboarding and proposal writing.
• Ensuring smooth pitch / client handover to BD sector managers on larger pitch opportunities and following panel appointments.
• Working closely with our senior key account manager on the cross-over between pitch successes and client management, to support the key client account programme.
• Identifying and contributing towards pitch best practice including managing and maintaining strategic BD and marketing materials in the firm’s pitch technology and ensuring compliance in accordance with brand guidelines.
• Ensuring key databases, such as the firm’s pitch database and panels database are updated in a timely manner, capturing win/loss intelligence and feed insights into future pursuits.
• Liaising and working with other business function teams in relation to pitch documentation in particular:
• Compliance and the firm’s General Counsel to ensure all RFP and associated client agreements do not present risks to the firm.
• Finance on appropriate pricing strategies.
• Responsible Business and IT on relevant pitch input / responses.
• Liaising and working with members of the global BD and Communications team and other business functions to improve the co-ordination and delivery of initiatives across the firm, adding value to the business as well as our clients.
• Contributing to overall team planning, development and culture.

Skills and experience – desired

• Proven experience of project managing the full life cycle of a pitch opportunity, particularly transactional pitches, from research to seeking feedback, structuring and leading effective meetings, including go / no go decision and drafting key elements of the proposal, often against short deadlines.
• A strong desire to build sector knowledge to add value to pitch and proposal documentation.
• Build strong relationships with Transport partners, in particular, and practice leaders.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, communications and business development teams.
• Engage with lawyers across multiple jurisdictions when developing multinational proposals.
• Influence senior stakeholders and challenge constructively to improve proposal quality.
• Confident in guiding internal stakeholders in meeting pitch / firm strategy, including working closely with a pricing / finance function to achieve increased profitability.
• Ability to take responsibility for and lead projects, often managing multiple at the same time.
• Ability to use data and intelligence to persuade, engage and drive positive change aligned to strategy.
• A high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience of working in legal or other professional services.

Personal skills/attributes

• Understands and demonstrates WFW's core values of We Are Experts, We Are United and We Care.
• Strong project management, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proactive, resilient and collaborative.
• Ability to present information in an organised and persuasive manner to a high standard with strong attention to detail.
• The ability to work effectively with partners and other key stakeholders including other business functions.
• A positive and creative individual who meets new challenges with a constructive and open mind and shows enthusiasm for new opportunities and ideas.
• Able to balance creativity with process discipline.
• Curious about industry trends and client challenges.
• Works independently with minimal guidance whilst also a team player who is confident sharing information across a broader team.
• Interest in developing knowledge of other sector clients, trends and firm expertise to effectively tailor documentation aligned to WFW’s sector focus.
• Plays a full part in making WFW a firm they would recommend to others to work in, and respects diversity and acts fairly and inclusively.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

Additional information

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Equal opportunities

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm’s strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment. As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact .

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