Business Development Proposals Manager

Job Description

The Role

Clifford Chance has an ambitious global strategy which puts clients at the very heart of everything the Firm does. The Business Development ("BD") function is pivotal in making the Firm strategy a reality. BD teams collaborate strategically with partners, lawyers and other business professional functions to drive sustainable growth. The BD function supports conversion of key client and market opportunities through the development and delivery of targeted business development and marketing plans.

Business Development is structured to support the Firm's strategy through teams aligned to Global Product Groups, clients, sectors and operations. Within that structure, Business Development Operations is a core part of the function, bringing together specialist capabilities that support and strengthen BD activity across the Firm. This includes Global Proposals, which provides proposals expertise, standards and support to improve the quality and effectiveness of client responses, with the aim of increasing win rates and revenue.

Global Proposals professionals operate as part of a global proposals community, sharing common standards, tools and best practice, while also aligning closely with specific business areas to provide targeted support where it has the greatest impact. This role is aligned to the Project Development & Finance Global Product Group, while remaining part of the Global Proposals team and its wider global practice.

Job Purpose

Support the proposal strategy for the Project Development & Finance Global Product Group, helping maximise the Firm's success on strategic opportunities. The role sits within Global Proposals and is aligned to Project Development & Finance, working closely with GPG partners, lawyers and BD colleagues to manage complex proposals and help convert priority opportunities.

The role has a global remit, with a primary focus on proposals in the European market, and will collaborate with Global Proposals colleagues across regions on cross-border Project Development & Finance opportunities. It combines the benefits of being part of a global team of specialist proposals professionals with close alignment to a product group, providing strong partner and client exposure and meaningful scope for development.

Key Responsibilities:

Proposal Delivery

• Work as the Global Proposals lead aligned to Project Development & Finance, supporting the GPG BD team, partners and lawyers on strategic, complex and multi-jurisdictional proposals.
• Manage the end-to-end proposal process, acting as the lead and central point of contact on strategic Project Development & Finance opportunities.
• Provide end-to-end advice, challenge, direction, coaching and support throughout the proposal life cycle to stakeholders at all levels within the Firm.
• Coach, oversee and support junior colleagues through pitch processes, recognising varying levels of experience.
• Draft, review and edit pitch documents to develop compelling, client-centric propositions. Apply deep knowledge of the practice offering to produce tailored proposal documents.
• Manage the submission of proposals requested via online portals and advise on best practice for online reverse auctions.
• Identify creative ways to communicate messages to clients throughout the pitch process and develop new, compelling written content.
• Act as an advocate for the effective use of the Firm's marketing technologies, ensuring relevant processes are followed and supporting the management of standard pitch content, pipeline reporting and capability statements.
• Deliver proposal training sessions to lawyers and Business Development teams.
• Conduct win/loss debriefs for global proposals and pitches.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Proposal Best Practice

• Work closely with partners and Business Development management to create and maintain momentum in winning new business.
• Build strong working relationships with Project Development & Finance partners, lawyers and BD colleagues, developing a clear understanding of the GPG's strategic priorities, client base and market propositions.
• Build strong relationships and collaborate closely with a wide range of Business Professionals across the Firm, including Commercial Pricing and Document Production, to drive the pitch process.
• Work with teams to develop strong propositions at all stages of the RFP process.
• Support the development and sharing of world-class proposals best practice and delivery. Equip the Firm and Business Development colleagues with the tools, techniques and infrastructure required for excellence and efficiency in proposals development, including by supporting the design of proposal training courses.
• Act as the key point of liaison for Project Development & Finance with the Global Proposals team in relation to global panel pitches, proposal pipeline tracking, reporting and RFP outcome analysis.

Qualifications

Your Experience

You will have:

• Extensive experience of working on competitive proposals and pitches, ideally within the professional services market
• Extensive experience working across functions in an international, regional, and local context
• Experience working at a senior level in a partnership
• Proven ability to build strong working relationships with senior management
• Proven ability to lead staff at all levels and delegate effectively
• Proven ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism and act discreetly when required

In addition, you will possess:

• The ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders quickly
• Excellent listening, oral, and written communication skills
• A high level of self-awareness and the ability to flex working style to different situations
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Highly developed analytical skills and a passion for problem solving
• Strong IT literacy: proficiency with Microsoft Office and exposure to web portals used for managing RFP processes
   

Additional Information

Equal Opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we forge an inclusive culture, where all perspectives are recognised and valued. It’s a culture where everyone has equal access to opportunities to thrive and succeed, irrespective of background. We are guided by our values-based Code, which sets high standards of conduct and has a principle focused on being inclusive.

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide consideration to all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We comply with the law and regulations in every location where we operate and across all aspects of employment, from recruitment and selection to development, progression, and day-to-day working life.  

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.