Senior Proposal Manager

Wilson Sonsini; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 163,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilson Sonsini, the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and growth companies, seeks a Senior Proposal Manager who can own end-to-end RFP responses and pitches. This role blends copywriting, project management, and visual storytelling to differentiate the firm.

Hybrid work schedule; you will write persuasive proposals, craft executive summaries and experience write-ups, mentor colleagues, and collaborate across offices to maintain a high-quality content library for future pursuits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in proposal management or BD writing, preferably in a law firm.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Exceptional copywriting and editing skills—able to craft clear, persuasive prose under deadline pressure.
• Advanced PowerPoint expertise; build decks with narrative flow, not just templates.
• Skilled at interviewing attorneys and distilling complex legal work into client-ready narratives.
• Advanced project management: timelines, multiple RFPs, cross-department coordination, version control.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of RFP responses and competitive pitches—from intake to drafting, attorney review, final production, and submission tracking.
• Write and edit business development materials—narrative RFP responses, executive summaries, capability statements, and experience descriptions with a consistent voice reflecting the firm’s brand.
• Build and maintain matter narratives and experience write-ups in the firm’s experience management platform, ensuring content is accurate, searchable, and pitch-ready.
• Monitor active matters to identify and capture relevant experience for future pitches and RFPs.
• Partner with practice/industry leads on targeted pitch strategy, messaging, and materials for key pursuits and panels.
• Collaborate with communications/marketing on website content, directory submissions, and collateral.
• Contribute to process improvements: templates, playbooks, and content libraries to raise quality and efficiency.
• Mentor junior Pursuit & Proposals team members.

Skills

Copywriting

PowerPoint

Proposal management

Project management

Editing

Interviews with attorneys

Discretion

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm has approximately 1,100 attorneys in 17 offices: 13 in the U.S., two in China, and two in Europe. Our broad spectrum of practices and entrepreneurial spirit allow exceptional opportunities for professional achievement and career growth.

The firm seeks a Senior Proposal Manager who is, first and foremost, an exceptional writer and storyteller. This role sits at the intersection of copywriting, project management, and visual communication - owning the end-to-end production of RFP responses and pitch materials from kickoff through final delivery. The ideal candidate writes with clarity and persuasion, commands PowerPoint as a narrative medium (not just a formatting tool) and drives complex proposal processes with the discipline of a seasoned project manager. This person will partner closely with attorneys and business development professionals across offices and practice areas to craft compelling, client‑ready submissions that differentiate the firm. The role reports to the Director of the Pursuits & Proposals team within the Business Development Group.

This position offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of RFP responses and competitive pitches—from intake and kickoff through drafting, attorney review cycles, final production, and submission tracking.
• Write and edit a broad range of business development materials—narrative RFP responses, executive summaries, capability statements, and experience descriptions—applying a consistent, compelling voice that reflects the firm’s brand.
• Build and maintain high-quality matter narratives and experience write‑ups in the firm’s experience management platform, ensuring content is accurate, searchable, and pitch ready.
• Monitor active matters across practice groups to identify and capture relevant experience for use in future pitches and RFPs.
• Partner with leads of practice/industry groups and client teams on targeted pitch strategy, messaging, and materials for key client pursuits and panel opportunities.
• Collaborate with communications and marketing colleagues on website content, directory submissions, and other marketing collateral as needed.
• Contribute to and often lead process improvement initiatives, including developing proposal templates, playbooks, and content libraries that raise the overall quality and efficiency of the BD function.
• Mentor junior colleagues of the Pursuit & Proposal team.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in proposal management, business development writing, or a related field, preferably in a law firm environment.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Exceptional copywriting and editing skills—able to craft clear, persuasive, and polished prose under deadline pressure across a variety of formats and audiences.
• Advanced PowerPoint expertise, including the ability to build decks from scratch that tell a coherent visual story—not just populate templates, but design slides that guide the reader through a narrative arc.
• Skilled at interviewing attorneys and distilling complex legal work into compelling, client‑facing narratives in both written and slide formats.
• Advanced project management skills: setting and enforcing proposal timelines, managing multiple concurrent RFPs, coordinating contributors across departments, and maintaining version control under pressure.
• High degree of discretion, sound editorial judgment, and the initiative to drive proposals forward without waiting to be managed.

The primary location for this job posting is in Palo Alto, but other locations may be listed. The actual base pay offered will depend upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, level of education, professional certifications and licenses, and work location. The anticipated pay range for this position is as follows:

Palo Alto, New York, San Francisco: $163,200 - $220,800 per year.Boston, Washington, D.C.: $147,050 - $198,950 per year.

The compensation for this position may include a discretionary year‑end merit bonus based on performance. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package.

Benefits information can be found here. Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).