Pitches and Proposals Manager (Energy and Infrastructure)

Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm advising on complex disputes and transactions through local knowledge and an integrated international network.  We have a strong sector focus, combining our technical excellence with deep industry knowledge across Energy, Transport and associated Infrastructure.

The firm has achieved rapid expansion and year-on-year growth owed almost entirely to a focused strategy, strong leadership and the quality of its people.  The next stage in the firm’s growth plan is to achieve full-service strength within core sectors across the global platform.

We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values, which rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.

Our global practice is integrated across our offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America delivering consistently high levels of service across borders and locally through a deep understanding of local business customs and culture.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace to attract and retain the most talented people from all backgrounds and cultures.  We believe in celebrating difference and that people from any background can rise to the top, ensuring opportunities to develop and progress are available for all.

The global Business Development and Communications team comprises over 50 business development, communications and marketing professionals based across the jurisdictions where we have an office.  As our route to market is through our global sectors and our clients are international, team members regularly collaborate to deliver cross-border campaigns and global projects.  It is a close-knit and very supportive team with an excellent reputation across the firm.

Working in partnership with key stakeholders in our London office as well as international colleagues, the role focuses on helping the firm win profitable new business and retain existing clients through competitive pitch opportunities and proposals as well as maintenance of key pitch materials and precedents.

The Pitches and Proposals Manager is part of a global team responsible for managing the full life cycle of pitch and proposal opportunities including feedback and reporting, working across practice groups and offices for the benefit of the firm’s Energy and Infrastructure sectors.

This is an exciting time to join the team. The firm’s continued growth and success is leading to increased investment in both of the Energy and Infrastructure sectors and the building out of a wider Global Pitches and Proposals team within the Global Business Development and Communications function.

Vic Cudworth, Senior Pitches and Proposals Manager

Gemma Pascoe, Senior Business Development Manager, Global Energy Sector

Carlton Walker, Business Development Manager, Global Infrastructure Sector

• Managing strategic pitch opportunities (transactional c. 70% and panel c. 30%) regionally and globally, including implementation of the new stop / go process, preparation of pitch documentation, working closely with our pricing team,  coaching teams ahead of presentations and securing independent client feedback to assess quality and value to incorporate future improvements.
• Implementation and delivery of the new pitch strategy within the sectors.
• Ensuring smooth pitch handover to BD sector managers / partners on successful outcomes, including identifying key requirements for future relationship development.
• Identifying and contributing towards pitch best practice including managing and maintaining strategic BD and marketing materials in Pitch Perfect and ensuring compliance in accordance with brand guidelines.
• Ensuring key databases, such as the firm’s pitch database, panels database and deals database are updated in a timely manner.
• Liaising and working with other business function teams in relation to pitch documentation in particular:
• Compliance and the firm’s General Counsel to ensure all RFP and associated client agreements do not present risks to the firm.
• Finance on appropriate pricing strategies and analysis of profitability levels, in line with firm strategy.
• D&I and Sustainability on relevant pitch / input responses and analyse and report on relevant statistics / trends to support our Responsible Business initiatives, accreditations and supply chain objectives.
• Liaising and working with members of the global BD and Communications team and other business functions to improve the co-ordination and delivery of initiatives across the firm, adding value to the business as well as our clients.
• Serving as a mentor, sounding board and role model for junior members of the team and contributing to overall team planning, development and culture.

• Experience of project managing the full life cycle of a pitch opportunity, particularly transactional pitches, from research to seeking feedback, structuring and leading effective meetings, including drafting key elements of the proposal often against short deadlines (six years plus).
• Experience of delivering pitches in the Energy and/or Infrastructure sectors or a strong desire to build sector knowledge to add value to pitch and proposal documentation.
• Confident in guiding internal stakeholders in meeting pitch / firm strategy, including working closely with a pricing / finance function to achieve increased profitability.
• Proactively identify initiatives / projects which will make a positive impact on the team and the ability to take responsibility for and lead projects, often managing multiple at the same time.
• Ability to use data and intelligence to persuade, engage and drive positive change aligned to strategy.
• A high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience of working in legal or other professional services.

• Understanding and demonstration of WFW's core values of respect, sharing, communication and integrity.
• Strong project management, interpersonal and communication skills.
• The ability to present information in an organised and persuasive manner to a high standard.
• The ability to work effectively with and influence partners and other key stakeholders including other business functions.
• A positive and creative role model who meets new challenges with a constructive and open mind and shows enthusiasm for new opportunities and ideas.
• A problem solver that can provide tactical advice and recommends opportunities and solutions.
• The ability to work independently with minimal guidance whilst also being a team player who is confident sharing information across a broader team.
• An interest in developing knowledge of energy and infrastructure sector clients, trends and firm expertise to effectively tailor documentation aligned to WFW’s sector focus.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Respect for different backgrounds and perspectives is at the heart of our firm’s core values and we recognise the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential. This is a key feature of our Global Code of Conduct, which places diversity and inclusion at the centre of our firm’s ways of working.

We believe that exceptional client service can only be delivered by exceptional people. For this reason, we aim to attract, retain and develop the best talent from a wide range of backgrounds. All decisions relating to employment will be objective and based on merit and ability.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are as inclusive and barrier-free as possible. This includes making adjustments for candidates with a disability or long-term health condition.  If you require adjustments to be made at any stage of the recruitment process, we’d encourage you to get in touch with a member of our team who would be happy to discuss options with you.