Business Development Proposal Specialist

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, a powerhouse firm with the heart of a boutique, is seeking a motivated, collaborative Business Development Proposal Specialist to join our Business Development team. This newly created position will play a key role in developing and coordinating RFP responses, proposals, pitches, and other strategic pursuits across the firm’s practices, industries, and offices.Working closely with the Assistant Director of Business Development, members of the Business Development team, attorneys, and other firm professionals, the Business Development Proposal Specialist will develop compelling, tailored, client-focused materials that effectively communicate the firm’s experience and capabilities. The Specialist will independently manage small to mid-sized proposals and pitches from kickoff through submission, while collaborating with the broader team on complex, high-priority, multi-practice, and firmwide opportunities.The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and editor with strong project management and organizational skills, keen attention to detail, and a client-service mindset. The successful candidate will be proactive, collaborative, and responsive, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines while consistently delivering accurate, polished work in a fast-paced environment.This position is located in Washington, DC or New York.Responsibilities include the following, as well as other projects as assigned:Proposal, RFP and Pitch Development: Independently manage proposals and RFP responses from kickoff through submission, ensuring fast, accurate, and responsive delivery in accordance with client requirements and firm standards. Review submission requirements, track updates and deadlines, coordinate required information, and conduct client, industry, and competitive research to help inform proposal strategy and positioning. Support the Director, Assistant Director, Business Development Managers, and other team members on complex proposals, RFPs, pitches, and other strategic business development pursuits across the firm’s practices, industries, and offices, providing timely and accurate support throughout the proposal process. Analyze proposal and RFP requirements; develop work plans, timelines, and compliance checklists; coordinate contributions from attorneys and internal teams; and draft, edit, and tailor content to address client needs and effectively position the firm’s experience and capabilities. Coordinate proposal collateral materials, including attorney biographies, representative experience, matter descriptions, practice capabilities, client-specific materials, presentations, and other requested information, ensuring submissions are complete, accurate, polished, and delivered within required deadlines.Proposal Content and Knowledge Management: Maintain ​a repository of proposal-ready content, including practice descriptions, representative matters, attorney biographies, experience statements, capabilities language, and other frequently used materials. Work with attorneys and Business Development colleagues to identify and capture new matter experience and other information that can strengthen future proposals and pitches. Manage and curate practice-specific AI-enabled knowledge repositories to ensure the content used to generate pitches and proposals is current, accurate, and comprehensive. Help build and maintain the firm’s experience database by identifying relevant matters and experience from recently completed proposals and pitches and capturing that information for future use. Leverage these and other CRM, research, experience-management, and AI-enabled tools to improve the quality, efficiency, and consistency of proposal development and the retrieval and reuse of approved content. Help identify opportunities to improve proposal templates, content libraries, workflows, and processes.Business Development Support: Collaborate ​with Business Development colleagues to support other strategic business development opportunities across assigned practice group(s). Assist in the preparation of research and briefing materials for client and prospect meetings, pitches, and presentations. Assist with tracking proposals, pitches, and RFP submissions, including outcomes, follow-up activities, and related business development information. Coordinate with other departments, including Finance, Research, and other business services teams, as needed to develop accurate and comprehensive submissions. Support other business development projects and initiatives as assigned.Key Skills and Experience RequiredBachelor’s degree required.Minimum of three (3) years of marketing or business development experience in a law firm or other professional services environment.Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and deadlines.Excellent written communication skills with strong attention to detail, accuracy, and quality.Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.Proficiency with CRM, reporting, and technology tools, including AI platforms.Ability to build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively with attorneys, business development colleagues, and other internal teams.Proactive, responsive, and client-service oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for assigned work.Demonstrated commitment to the work and a willingness to take initiative and contribute wherever needed to accomplish team and practice group priorities.Strong follow-through and a results-oriented approach, with the ability to anticipate needs, identify next steps, and see projects through to completion.Flexibility and adaptability to respond to shifting priorities, time-sensitive requests, and evolving business needs.Ability to manage assigned projects with limited supervision while working collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.The salary range displayed is specifically for those potential hires who will work or reside in Washington D.C. or New York. Any offered salary is determined based on internal equity, internal salary ranges, market data/ranges, applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees, and certifications (e.g., JD/technology) for example. Washington D.C. or New York Salary Range: Low: $85,000 High: $ 115,000Please be advised that all communications regarding open positions at our firm will exclusively originate from email addresses ending in @kelleydrye.com. We encourage you to exercise caution and verify the source of any communication claiming to represent our firm.Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).