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Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP · 1 day ago

Business Development and Proposals Manager

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$110K/yr - $140K/yr

5+ years exp

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP (RSHC) is a national, client-centered law firm recognized for its commitment to excellence, diversity, innovation, and integrity. The Business Development and Proposals Manager plays a strategic and hands-on role in advancing the firm’s business development goals through the identification, evaluation, and management of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), and panel submissions.

ConsultingLegalProfessional Services

Responsibilities

Proactively monitor public and private RFP platforms, client procurement sites, and industry sources to identify upcoming RFP opportunities

Collaborate with practice leaders and business development colleagues to evaluate potential opportunities and lead the “go/no-go” decision process, ensuring alignment with firm strategy, profitability, and resource capacity

Maintain a centralized pipeline of pending and forecasted RFP opportunities, tracking deadlines, status, and outcomes

Provide market intelligence and competitive insights to inform pursuit decisions

Manage the complete RFP lifecycle — from opportunity qualification and strategy development through submission and post-mortem analysis

Coordinate internal kickoffs to define client needs, win themes, and differentiators

Draft, edit, and format responses to ensure accuracy, compliance, and brand consistency

Gather and integrate content from attorneys and administrative teams (pricing, finance, IT/security, HR, DEI, risk)

Oversee proposal production, including final review, approvals, and timely submission

Create, organize, and maintain the firm’s comprehensive RFP content library, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and ease of access for all business development materials

Identify and collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs) within the firm to develop and validate technical, practice-specific, and firmwide content

Maintain and continuously enhance the firm’s RFP content library, including standard narratives for firm overview, DEI, cybersecurity, insurance, and other firmwide information

Develop and curate representative matters, case studies, and attorney experience summaries for litigation and transactional practices

Partner with marketing colleagues to ensure consistency across RFPs, pitches, and credential materials

Track proposal volume, success rates, and client feedback; prepare regular reports for the Chief Marketing Director and firm leadership

Conduct post-submission debriefs and identify process improvements to increase efficiency and competitiveness

Contribute to business development initiatives, client presentations, and panel renewals as needed

Develop customized and responsive content for RFPs, pitches, and presentations, including practice area and attorney experience and case history, company research, coordinating collateral, proofreading, and assembling materials

Monitor, collect, and disseminate (to RSHC Practice Teams) news items related to attorneys, clients/potential clients, and industries that appear in various news and industry publications

Understands and identifies the most applicable content, edits existing content, and drafts new content for proposals and pitches

Advance the Firm’s RFP/pitch content development and management process by working closely with internal clients & colleagues and Firm professionals across various administrative departments, including Practice Teams, Finance, Billing, Information Services, Human Resources, Attorney Professional Development, and the firm’s General Counsel, among others, to create, update and manage approved practice and industry descriptions, experience information, tailored content and other standard response language used for pitches and RFP responses

Develops and promotes best practices for the Firm’s RFP/pitch process including proactively identifying issues and proposing solutions with colleagues in internal clients and Finance as well as the Outside Counsel Guidelines Administrator to track pertinent information related to preferred provider RFP responses, and ensure timely information updates in experience management platform for panel appointments

Develops and hosts workshops for internal clients & colleagues and proposal contributors by creating a forum to share RFP/pitch best practices and tools updates, and collect feedback to generate new ideas

Lead or assist with special projects or initiatives, as assigned

Qualification

Proposal developmentBusiness researchProject managementCRM toolsWriting skillsTeam buildingCommunication skillsAttention to detailStrategic thinking

Required

Experience creating and preparing pitches, presentations, and RFP responses

Demonstrated business research skills

Excellent writing and proofreading skills

Ability to prepare focused and specialized written materials

Demonstrated ability to prioritize and balance competing demands and meet deadlines in a fast-paced professional environment

Strong organizational, team building, and communication skills

Proficient in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint; experience with CRM or proposal tools and database applications a plus

Dependable team player who works collaboratively and cooperatively with others in a team-oriented environment

Must have superior attention to detail and an ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

High degree of motivation, with driving sense of responsibility, accountability, and responsiveness

Flexible and willing to work hours needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position

Strategic thinker that focuses on short and long-term goals for the department

Ability to coach attorneys regarding best practices business development

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university

Five or more years of proposal development experience in a law firm or other professional services organization with a strong track record at the manager level preferred

The ability to produce a high-level of quantitative and qualitative work in a fast-paced legal environment

Personal/Professional References Required

Preferred

Law firm or professional services experience preferred

Project management certification and/or other relevant business-related certifications desired

Ability to submit the following portfolio items for consideration: Redacted writing samples demonstrating the ability to develop RFPs, RFIs, business plans, and pitches