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.
The firm is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and high-performing Senior Manager, Pitches and Proposals to lead a team of five professionals and help advance the firm's pitch and proposal capabilities. As a key leader within a growing, high-impact function, you will be responsible for developing talent, driving operational excellence, and helping to shape the future direction of the team while ensuring the delivery of compelling, client-focused RFP responses and pitch materials.
In this role, you will oversee the strategy, execution, and quality of the firm's most important pitch and proposal opportunities, partnering closely with lawyers, Client Growth colleagues, and cross-functional stakeholders across the firm. As a working manager, you will maintain direct responsibility for a designated portfolio of practice areas and industry sectors, personally leading and developing strategic pitches, proposals, and other business development deliverables while also guiding the work of your team. You will oversee the full proposal lifecycle, establish priorities, allocate resources, manage workloads, and ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality, persuasive materials that reflect the firm's strengths and competitive advantages.
Beyond leading day-to-day proposal efforts, you will play a critical role in the continued development of the Pitches and Proposals function. You will identify opportunities to enhance processes, strengthen content and knowledge management, implement best practices, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. As a manager and mentor, you will invest in the professional growth of your team, helping individuals expand their skills, increase their strategic contributions, and advance their careers.
Your experience in proposal strategy, storytelling, project leadership, and team management will help elevate the sophistication, consistency, and effectiveness of the firm's business development efforts. This role is ideal for a proactive leader who enjoys managing high-performing teams, driving change, balancing strategic oversight with hands-on execution, and delivering work that directly contributes to the firm's growth objectives. Success in this position requires the ability to seamlessly transition between leading people, managing complex pursuits, and serving as a trusted advisor to lawyers and business development professionals across the firm.
Pitch and Proposal Center of Excellence
Client Growth Team Practice and Industry Growth Leads
Practice Area Leaders and Lawyers
Matter Planning and Pricing Team
Conflicts Department
Partner closely with the Director, Brand Marketing and Communications, to execute strategic initiatives, drive operational excellence, and advance the firm's business development objectives.
Develop deep knowledge of the firm's practice areas, industry sectors, client base, and competitive differentiators to effectively position the firm's capabilities in the marketplace.
Lead the strategy, development, and execution of assigned pitches, proposals, and RFP responses, ensuring a compelling, client-centric approach that aligns with pursuit objectives.
Apply proposal management best practices and sound judgment to drive consistency, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness across all submissions.
Apply critical thinking and sound business judgment to evaluate pursuit opportunities, identify strategic advantages, and provide recommendations that strengthen messaging, sharpen value propositions, and enhance the firm's likelihood of success.
Collaborate with lawyers, Client Growth colleagues, and other stakeholders to analyze client objectives, anticipate competitive dynamics, develop pursuit strategies, and coordinate contributions across practices, industries, and US offices.
Draft, customize, and refine persuasive content that addresses client needs, demonstrates the firm's experience and capabilities, and clearly articulates its competitive advantages.
Manage complex proposal workflows, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring projects remain on track and all submission requirements are met accurately and on schedule.
Ensure strict adherence to RFP instructions, firm standards, and Pitch and Proposal Center of Excellence policies and procedures.
Partner with Matter Planning, pricing, and client teams to support fee strategy development, proposal pricing responses, and broader client relationship initiatives.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of pitch and proposal professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture that values critical thinking, strategic problem-solving, quality, accountability, and continuous growth.
Encourage a consultative, critical-thinking approach to proposal development, challenging assumptions, identifying opportunities to strengthen the firm's position, and proactively recommending solutions that improve pursuit outcomes.
Manage team capacity, workflow prioritization, and resource allocation to ensure timely delivery of high-quality work across multiple concurrent pursuits.
Establish and promote best practices, quality standards, and consistent processes that strengthen the effectiveness and scalability of the firm's pitch and proposal function.
Provide coaching and strategic guidance on complex pursuits, serving as a resource for team members and helping elevate the overall quality of deliverables.
Identify opportunities to enhance proposal processes, content management, technology utilization, and reporting capabilities to improve team performance and business outcomes.
Undergraduate degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, English, or Business preferred
Skills and Experience
Proven experience drafting RFP responses and developing compelling pitch materials for a global law firm environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including strong Word, PowerPoint, and Excel capabilities.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts clearly and persuasively.
Strong organizational abilities, with a demonstrated track record of managing multiple deadlines and priorities effectively.
Ability to articulate a clear value proposition and differentiate practice strengths, particularly in competitive proposal scenarios.
Advanced analytical and critical-thinking skills to support strategic decision-making and problem-solving.
Experience mentoring or guiding team members within a business development or proposal environment.
Familiarity with Saturno WebBack application a plus.
Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat, including the ability to produce polished, visually engaging client-facing materials.
Compensation Salary $128,993 - $257,984 / 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.
ABOUT THE FIRM
K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located 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.
Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.
Please be advised that this position requires successful completion of a background check. In accordance with the Washington State Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act, and applicable law qualified California and Washington State applicants with criminal history records will be considered. A criminal history will not categorically exclude a candidate from employment, and the Firm will consider relevant factors before making employment decisions based on criminal history information.
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:
- Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)
- Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge
- Pre-tax Commuting Benefits
- 401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Sharing
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
- Short- and Long-term Disability Protection
- Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)
- Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)
- Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance
- Parental Leave (18 weeks of which 6 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)
- Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service
- Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employees also may be eligible to receive bonuses and certain expense reimbursements
- Employee Assistance Program
- Professional Development and CLE Credit Opportunities
- Employee Referral Program
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Programs
- All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law
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 [email protected].
