At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage pitches for high-value African opportunities, collaborating with legal teams.
- Company: DLA Piper is a global law firm with a commitment to diversity and innovative legal solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive culture, training opportunities, and the chance to work on impactful projects.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team focused on strategic bids and make a real difference in Africa's legal landscape.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing complex pitches, excellent communication skills, and bilingual in French and English preferred.
- Other info: This role champions change and supports skill development across the African business.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This newly created role offers an exciting opportunity to join our International bids team with a dedicated focus on Africa. As the Africa Pitch Manager you will work with lawyers across practice groups, sectors and offices to help the firm win new profitable business. You will be responsible for project managing the creation of pitches and presentation materials, developing impactful value propositions that respond to our clients' needs, with an emphasis on strategic, cross-border and high value African opportunities. You will also help to embed marketing systems and best practice bid processes and documentation across our African business, championing change and helping to develop skills. The role reports into the International pitch team – a specialist team that acts as a centre of excellence, leading on our most strategic bid opportunities – working closely with our Africa Marketing & Business Development team.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Advise and challenge legal teams on the decision to respond to pitch opportunities
- Lead pitches in accordance with our best practice pitch process
- Developing the pitch strategy including win themes and value proposition
- Scoping the pitch opportunity to understand client needs and to ensure our proposal is responsive
- Involving subject matter experts, for example the pricing team, to develop our proposition
- Creation and updating of Africa-focused pitch material across key practices and sectors
- Using our pitch automation tool to create first drafts which are then tailored to be compelling and focused on the client
- Briefing contributors to ensure their input is tailored, relevant and received on time
- Finalising and submitting pitches in line with the client's instructions
- Coordinate presentation rehearsals and offer advice and coaching on style, approach, messaging
- Conducting client debriefs to capture feedback
- Coach, mentor and support other Marketing & Business Development colleagues on best practice pitch techniques
- Deliver training to lawyers, secretaries and MBD on pitch best practice and our pitch tools and systems
- Provide recommendations on improving the pitch process
- Take responsibility for additional projects which support the pitch team and broader Africa Marketing & BD team's priorities.
About you
- Experience of working under pressure on complex pitches and proposals
- Effective time and project management skills
- Excellent communication skills and stakeholder management
- Excellent interpersonal skills, able to exercise tact and diplomacy
- Negotiation and influencing skills
- Commercial awareness and acumen
- An ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information
- Experience in dealing with a demanding workload and conflicting priorities
- A collaborative working style, able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Bi-lingual French and English language skills will be looked upon extremely favourably.
About us
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.
Our values
- Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
- Be Collaborative - we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
- Be Bold - we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
- Be Exceptional - we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations
Diversity and inclusion
At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.
Requesting Adjustments
At DLA Piper, we aim to make meaningful progress and build an inclusive culture where anyone affected by disability, neurodiversity or a long-term health condition has an equitable and accessible chance of success. If you think you may need adjustments or additional support to enable you to participate in our recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment team and we will be happy to support you.
Pitch Manager employer: DLA Piper International LLP
Contact Detail:
DLA Piper International LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Pitch Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs and challenges of the African market. Understanding regional nuances will help you tailor your pitch strategies effectively, making you a more attractive candidate for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the legal and business development sectors who have experience in Africa. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals that could strengthen your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your project management skills by discussing any relevant experiences where you've successfully led complex projects under pressure. Highlighting your ability to manage multiple stakeholders will resonate well with the responsibilities of the Pitch Manager role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss how you would implement best practices in pitch processes. Being able to articulate your ideas on improving efficiency and effectiveness in pitch management will demonstrate your proactive approach and strategic thinking.
We think you need these skills to ace Pitch Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Thoroughly read the job description for the Pitch Manager position. Identify key responsibilities and required skills, such as project management, communication, and stakeholder management, to tailor your application accordingly.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience with complex pitches and proposals. Provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed similar projects under pressure, showcasing your time management and negotiation skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a tailored cover letter that addresses how your skills align with the firm's values and the specific needs of the Africa Pitch Manager role. Mention your bilingual abilities in French and English if applicable, as this is highly regarded.
Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit: Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively by providing examples of past teamwork experiences. Highlight how you have coached or mentored others, as well as your approach to building relationships within a team setting.
How to prepare for a job interview at DLA Piper International LLP
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of the Africa Pitch Manager role. Familiarise yourself with project management, pitch strategy development, and how to create impactful value propositions that resonate with clients' needs.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since excellent communication is key in this role, prepare to demonstrate your ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively. Be ready to discuss examples where you've successfully managed stakeholder relationships or influenced decisions.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle complex pitches under pressure. Think of specific scenarios from your past experiences where you successfully navigated challenges, managed conflicting priorities, or led a team to success.
✨Highlight Your Collaborative Approach
This role requires a collaborative working style, so be prepared to discuss how you work within teams. Share examples of how you've coached or mentored colleagues, and how you’ve contributed to a positive team environment.