Proposals & Pursuits Specialist

Honigman LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401K & profit sharing

APL program

Well-being programs

Learning & development

Job summary

Honigman LLP in Chicago, IL seeks a Proposal & Pursuits Specialist to lead the firm’s client pursuit efforts. You will oversee RFP responses from intake to submission, work with lawyers and professionals, and craft compelling messaging aligned with the firm's brand.

You will also provide copywriting for campaigns and play a key role in go-to-market strategy, collaborating across departments to win opportunities.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in English or related discipline.
• Must possess strong writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to translate legal/business jargon into clear content.
• Detail-oriented with high proofreading standards.
• Experience in client service and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Oversee drafting, editing, and coordination of RFP responses with lawyers and staff.
• Manage the lifecycle of an RFP from intake to submission and post-analysis.
• Track response status and report outcomes to firm leadership.
• Create templates and playbooks for market-differentiating proposals.
• Provide copywriting for marketing collateral and client development campaigns.
• Write executive summaries and brand-aligned messaging.
• Collaborate with Finance, Pricing, and other teams on RFQs and related requests.
• Coach lawyers and teams on go-to-market messaging and opportunity positioning.

Skills

Writing skills

Verbal communication

Attention to detail

Client service orientation

Multitasking

Executive presence

Leadership

Adaptability

Discretion

Translate legal/business jargon

Education

Undergraduate degree in English

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Honigman is a premier business law firm, based in Michigan with an international practice. Honigman is consistently recognized as one of the 101 Best and Brightest Places to Work, we earned this recognition by recruiting attorneys and staff members with outstanding credentials. Currently, we are looking for a Proposal & Pursuits Specialist in our Detroit, MI or Chicago, IL Office. In addition to our Corporate Detroit Office, we have offices in Grand Rapids, Bloomfield Hills, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Washington D.C. With more than 350 attorneys working in 60 different areas of concentration, Honigman provides timely and cost-effective counsel to clients in numerous industries.

JOB SUMMARY

The Proposal & Pursuits Specialist is responsible for leading the firm’s efforts to obtain and retain clients via formal Request for Proposals (RFPs), targeted client pursuits, and campaigns, and must win pitch opportunities.

This role will oversee the proposal lifecycle from intake to final submission for all RFPs, participate as a trusted advisor to the Business Development team on day-to-day bespoke pitch opportunities, and be an integral team member on defined pursuit campaigns targeting client growth situations. Additionally, this role will provide copywriting for defined marketing campaigns, collateral, and messaging for client development and brand messaging. This position requires a highly proactive person with an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to take initiative, innovate, and independently and collaboratively lead the firm’s proposal function.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the proposal and RFP responses including drafting, editing, and coordination in collaboration with lawyers and business professionals.
• Manage the lifecycle of an RFP from intake to submission to post analysis.
• Track status of existing opportunity responses, conduct data analysis and report to firm leadership on outcomes.
• Establish best practices, playbooks, and templates to create compelling and market differentiating proposals, presentations, and pitches.
• Participate in defined client pursuits including must win pitches, presentations, and client campaigns.
• Provide copyrighting for the firm’s marketing collateral, website, and client development campaigns.
• Capture, shape, and synthesize information to reflect a cohesive message, written in one voice.
• Write executive summaries and business development materials that articulate strategic messaging in a compelling, persuasive manner, consistent with firm branding.
• Participate in all RFQs, RFIs, compliance surveys, and related information requests from clients in a cross-department collaborative manner including Finance, Pricing, etc.
• Work cross-functionally with business development team members and related business professional teams (LPM, practice innovation, practice management, etc.) as needed to deliver exemplary final submissions.
• Provide coaching and strategic guidance when necessary, including lawyers and professional services teams on the go-to-market process and on the opportunity positioning and messaging.
• Maintain and update a proposal content library for efficient future use.
• Analyze proposal data/opportunities and provide strategic recommendations.
• Uses AI appropriately and proactively to create efficiencies work product creation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree in English, journalism, communications, humanities, liberal arts, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills. Must be persuasive and demonstrate active listening skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to translate spoken or written legal information and business jargon into clear, consistent, grammatically correct content.
• Ensure consistency, clarity, and adherence to voice and style guidelines.
• Proofread and ensure high-quality and consistent work product.
• Excellent customer service skills with strong client service orientation, including the ability to professionally communicate with a wide variety of individuals and respond to inquiries in a timely, professional manner.
• Ability to multitask, adapt to shifting priorities, problem-solve, proactively address issues, and act with a sense of urgency in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong executive presence. Ability to effectively work within our environment and engage the departments, practice groups, and individual attorneys to increase the value delivered to clients and the firm.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, set priorities, deliver results, and advise at all levels of an organization with a matrix structure.
• Knowledge of business planning and targeting programs at the department, practice group, and individual partner level.
• Must demonstrate adaptability and flexibility to innovative ideas and to new approaches.
• Candidates must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with the ability to learn new technologies.
• Must have strong overall technology skills and demonstrate a willingness to learn new applications as they become commercially available.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with appropriate level of discretion.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Range and Compensation Package

Honigman provides a generous total compensation package, which includes comprehensive health and well-being benefits, as well as 401k and profit sharing. The anticipated annual pay range for this role is $70,000 to $90,000 (exempt). The actual offered pay rate will be determined based on various factors, including qualifications, experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and internal equity considerations.

Benefits & Additional Information

Successful candidates will enjoy an exceptional career opportunity within a welcoming environment. Eligible employees can also take advantage of Honigman’s comprehensive benefits program, highlights of which are below:

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• 401K and profit sharing
• Generous All Purpose Leave (APL) program that increases with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g., mental health services, medical resources, and more)
• Learning and development programs

Honigman is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or any other category prohibited by applicable local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, and termination.