Senior Proposal Manager

Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. 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

Requirements

10+ years of experience in proposal management, business development writing, or a related field; 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

Nice to have

Bachelor's degree preferred; law firm environment experience preferred

Benefits

Discretionary year-end merit bonus based on performance; highly competitive salary and benefits package