Proposal Specialist

UNAVAILABLE; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent law firm in London is seeking a Proposal Specialist responsible for developing and coordinating proposals and RFPs. This role demands strong writing skills and collaboration across global offices to create compelling pitch content. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and at least four years of experience in business development or marketing, particularly within professional services. The firm offers a supportive work environment and various benefits, including performance bonuses and health insurance.

Benefits

Annual discretionary performance bonus

33 days paid time off

Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• A minimum of four years working in business development or marketing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with sourcing portals and customer relationship databases.

Responsibilities

• Develop clear, compelling proposals and pitches for clients.
• Manage production of pitch drafts and oversee version control.
• Coordinate and produce pre-qualification submittals.

Skills

Excellent writing and proofreading skills

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint

Strong organizational skills

Strong attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

Sidley in London

We are proud to offer our lawyers and professional staff myriad opportunities to apply their talents toward important, challenging projects on a global stage. Our culture of collegiality attracts people with diverse skills and backgrounds who are dedicated to teamwork, collaboration and superior client service.

Sidley has built an inclusive, collegiate culture firmwide and we maintain an environment focused on teamwork and cooperation. Our London office has a relaxed, down-to-earth friendliness, with lawyers and business professionals at all levels treating each other with genuine respect. We value the skills and knowledge that each team member brings and believe in creating a work environment where everyone thrives.

We are located in a distinctive new development at 70 St. Mary Axe with panoramic views across London. Based in the heart of the City and close to Liverpool Street station with all the area has to offer - fantastic restaurants and bars, shopping and sporting facilities. You’ll find a great social scene within the office, with organised events including sailing and skiing weekends, seasonal parties and charitable team activities.

Inclusion

Sidley is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive culture. We recognise that bringing together individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthens the quality of our legal work and continues to position us as a trusted leader in the legal profession. Our commitment to inclusion not only enriches our workplace but also enhances our ability to fulfill our mission providing the highest quality legal services for our clients.

Role overview

Based in Sidley’s London office, the Proposal Specialist will play a key role in supporting the firm’s proposal, pitch, and RFP initiatives across the London and other European offices, while also contributing to projects that support colleagues in APAC and the U.S. The role focuses on the development, coordination, and delivery of high-quality proposals, pitch responses, RFP materials, and related business development content. Reporting to the Senior Proposal Manager, the Specialist will collaborate closely with colleagues in London and across global offices to deliver high-quality, brand-aligned, and creative proposals, pitches and RFPs that reflect Sidley’s international strengths and client-focused approach.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each Essential Duty and Responsibility (the “Essential Duties”) satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the Essential Duties.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop clear, compelling proposals, pitches, RFPs, and other client-facing materials that align with firm messaging and client needs
• Craft key messages and unique differentiators for target audiences
• Manage production of pitch drafts and oversee version control
• Review, edit, and proofread presentation materials
• Work with members of the firm’s creative team to assimilate artwork, graphics, illustrations, and other visual elements into tailored proposals
• Participate in strategy meetings and in draft review sessions with key stakeholders
• Coordinate and produce pre-qualification submittals/Requests for Information (RFIs)
• Review RFP requirements and develop work plans, timelines, and recommended action steps
• Work in tandem with the firm’s competitive intelligence team to produce research packages for certain pursuits
• Coordinate reporting and data collection from various technology platforms such as Salesforce, Foundation, InterAction, and NetDocs
• Interact with various firmwide departments to respond to specific client inquiries such as Pricing, Knowledge Management, HR, Inclusion, Learning and Development, and the firm’s internal legal department
• Coordinate various logistics, including the delivery of proposals to clients through procurement portals
• Create, update, and track proposal activities in firm’s record management system
• Complete various reporting tasks as needed

Cross-Office Coordination

• Liaise with global colleagues to ensure consistency and alignment in proposal messaging and visual standards across offices
• Provide support to European, APAC, and U.S. business development teams on major cross-border proposal opportunities
• Coordinate with firmwide departments such as Pricing, Knowledge Management, Inclusion, HR, and Learning & Development to respond to specific client needs

Content Management

• Maintain proposal content within firm’s document management system and online content generator
• Archive past proposals and presentations to the appropriate locations
• Maintain content in the team’s RFP Playbook

Marketing Administration

• Track and report metrics on proposal activities using Salesforce and other platforms
• File and organise marketing tools and materials

Qualifications

Candidate profile

The following attributes are essential for success in this role:

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
• A minimum of four (4) years working in business development and/or marketing or communications, with a focus on developing visually compelling content
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills
• A keen eye for aesthetics and details
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint
• Proficiency in other Microsoft Office applications (including Word and Excel) and Outlook

Preferred:

• Marketing or business development experience in a law firm or other professional services organisation
• Working knowledge of sourcing portals such as PERSUIT, SAP Ariba, Scout and customer relationship, pipeline, and experience management databases such as InterAction, Salesforce, and/or Foundation
• Familiarity with relevant company/market research tools, as well as law firm rankings, awards, and league table publications
• Some familiarity with presentation and design tools such as PowerPoint, Canva, Prezi, as well as AI-related tools

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organisational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

Benefits

• Annual discretionary performance bonus
• Non-contributory pension scheme – 5% employer contribution, with an additional 3% matched from you
• 33 days paid time off – inclusive of short-term sickness absence
• Private Medical Insurance
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance – equivalent to four times your salary
• Health club contribution
• Interest‑free season ticket loan
• Free GP service and regular health checks