Job Title

The Role: The Specialist, Proposals & Pursuits is a key member of the firms national Client & Business Development Department, helping practice groups, industry teams and lawyers qualify, pursue and win high value opportunities with new and existing clients. They are responsible for the writing, coordination and execution of various business development tasks in support of new business opportunities, including the creation of content for requests for proposal (RFP, RFI, RFQ), client pitch materials, and presentations. The successful candidate must be able to articulate clear value propositions, deliver persuasive written content tailored to the opportunity, and exhibit the flexibility and creativity to respond productively to individualized needs of lawyers. This individual also enjoys working independently, applies a project management mindset to their work, and demonstrates a desire to win. Essential Functions: Manage credentials and proposal development requests from start to submission, including: reviewing and interpreting client RFP requirements, requesting/conducting initial research, coordinating with lawyers and CBD Team members for strategic analysis and go/no go decision, drafting and customizing proposal materials, coordinating schedules and deadlines, production of hard copies, and coordinating delivery Act as point person for complex RFPs, and coordinate the contributions of proposal team members including lawyers and CBD Team members, as well as finance, pricing, knowledge management, competitive intelligence and IT professionals, where appropriate Review and edit proposal materials to ensure accuracy, compliance with RFP requirements and responsiveness to client needs/expectations Coordinate the selection, editing and maintenance of frequently used content, such as representative experience descriptions, value propositions, differentiators, pricing structures, custom lawyer biographies and RFP Q&A in the firms Foundation content and experience management database, and ensure compliance with the CBD writing style guide. In particular, this individual ensures that new or updated information developed in proposal processes is appropriately captured in the Foundation database, working with relevant database administration colleagues as appropriate Track pitch and proposal activity in the firms Asana project tracking database and follow-up with lawyers to track success and coordinate client debriefs, as appropriate Coordinate and collaborate with other areas of the Client and Business Development team to ensure relevant information is being captured and updated based on proposal development materials, including practice descriptions, experience descriptions, website content and lawyer bios Support with key Client & Business Development initiatives as required. As experience, capability and capacity allows, this individual may be given opportunities to provide expanded business development support to practice groups and industry teams Qualifications: Passionate about creating and consistently improving compelling B2B proposal and sales material Post-secondary education in Business, Public Relations, Communications or related field. LL.B./J.D. an asset 4+ years experience in business writing, with a strong understanding of effective proposal and business development strategies, preferably in the legal or other professional services industry Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills Demonstrated critical thinking skills to write strategically with a grasp of legal subject matter and client expectations Strong oral communications skills and ability to build credibility with lawyers and work with other internal stakeholders Ability to manage competing priorities and effectively deliver quality work under tight deadlines Strong attention to detail and a quick learner Proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Word and PowerPoint. Proficiency with graphic design software such as InDesign and working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite would be an asset Experience with content management software (Foundation) and project management tools (Asana) would be an asset