Manager: Proposal Center

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Business Development and Marketing department in our Chicago office, as a Manager: Proposal Center.

The Manager: Proposal Center leads the development of compelling proposals and targeted pitch and presentation materials for some of the firm’s most visible, strategic opportunities, helping shape how the firm competes and wins. The Manager operates effectively in a deadline‑driven professional services environment and serves as a strategic advisor to partners and leaders across the firm. The role emphasizes delivering high‑impact writing and advancing business development, driving continuous improvement of pursuit processes and outputs, and bringing a proactive point of view to every meeting and touchpoint.

During a period of purposeful change for the Proposal Center, the Manager partners with leadership to modernize processes, adopt smart automation, and codify best practices. The Proposal Center invites creative problem‑solvers to help define its next chapter. Over time, the Manager translates early wins into a roadmap that expands the Proposal Center’s impact across pursuits, processes, and enablement, with the goal of uncovering additional value for the firm. 

The ideal candidate thrives in a hybrid work environment based in Chicago, collaborating effectively both on-site and remotely to support partners and teams.

Essential Functions:

• Leads end-to-end responses to pitches and proposals, with a primary focus on complex, multi-practice panel RFPs
• Management of key client account proposal/pitch requests and responses
• Facilitates and drives pursuit meetings, including kickoff meetings, interim touchpoints, and strategy sessions
• Synthesizes viewpoints from diverse stakeholders and translates them into cohesive written narratives
• Drafts executive summaries and other original content using concise, client-focused language, and tailors existing materials to the specific needs of each opportunity
• Incorporates design and visual elements to enhance storytelling in collaboration with design resources, as appropriate
• Produces final submission documents, ensures compliance with all RFP requirements, and submits by the required deadlines
• Applies the firm’s style guide and brand standards to all materials and provides quality control for Proposal Center deliverables
• Coordinates cross-functional inputs with partners, Business Development and Marketing (BD&M); Pricing; Content and Knowledge Management; and other stakeholders to align messaging and value propositions
• Uses approved generative AI (GenAI) and related tools to enhance efficiency and insight across the pursuit lifecycle, in accordance with firm governance
• Oversees the daily operations of the US proposal team, including supervision and training of junior team members
• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives

Education/Training/Certifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, English or another liberal arts discipline required.

Professional Experience: 

• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated success in a business development or marketing role involving proposal writing for legal services or in a comparable professional services environment (e.g., accounting or consulting), required; prior experience in a law firm, preferred.
  
  

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 is required; experience with proposal generation systems and online RFP portals (e.g., PERSUIT) preferred; knowledge of iManage, and Foundation a plus; strong research skills and familiarity with public and proprietary data sources.

Performance Traits:

• Demonstrates exceptional project management, writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with a strong client-centric orientation.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with teammates, partners, and professionals across BD&M and other firm functions.
• Prioritizes effectively and manages multiple concurrent pursuits under deadline pressure.
• Responds quickly to shifting demands and navigates ambiguity with sound judgment.
• Embraces the use of GenAI and automation to streamline routine and repetitive tasks, enabling greater focus on strategy, messaging, and other higher-value activities, in accordance with firm governance.
• Possesses, or is eager to develop, an understanding of legal market trends and the competitive landscape, and shows curiosity about economic, legal, and political developments globally.
• Collaborates effectively in a professional services environment, exercising discretion and maintaining confidentiality.
• Interacts with all levels of the firm and outside vendors in a professional manner.

Management Accountabilities:

• Coaches and develops junior team members, including at least one direct report, to elevate team performance.
• Manages processes for direct reports in regards to performance appraisals, annual compensation, goal setting and performance counselling
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
• Operational budget analysis and recommendations
• Conducts analysis of staffing levels and participation in the recruitment process
• Able to determine and implement change processes to improve workflow efficiencies
• Process- and service-oriented with strong leadership and project management skills
• Able to set priorities and delegate in an efficient manner

The typical pay scale for this position is between $127,000 and $168,000, although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate’s education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified. 

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

Thank you for your interest in Mayer Brown. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request a reasonable accommodation related to the application process and/or job interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

#LI-HYBRID #LI-PT1