Lead Proposal Developer – Water & Environment

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee intricate, multidisciplinary, and strategically vital RFQ, RFP, and statement of qualifications submissions from the initial planning phase to the final submission and shortlist interviews.

• Collaborate with Sales and technical leaders to define client priorities, evaluate competitive positioning, and establish winning themes and differentiators.

• Examine solicitation requirements, evaluation criteria, and addenda.

• Create compliance matrices, annotated outlines, timelines, and task assignments.

• Conduct Blue Team strategy sessions, kickoff meetings, progress meetings, and Shipley color reviews.

• Manage simultaneous pursuits, coordinate contributors and teaming partners, and foresee content, resource, and scheduling risks.

• Direct shortlist interview strategies, storyboarding, presentation development, rehearsals, and mock Q&A sessions.

• Research and draft proposal content, including executive summaries, cover letters, project descriptions, qualifications, and technical narratives.

• Interview technical personnel and convert complex engineering and environmental data into compelling responses.

• Execute technical editing, copyediting, and proofreading tasks.

• Design and create proposal layouts, interview presentations, custom graphics, process diagrams, organizational charts, timelines, and infographics.

• Oversee version control, final production, approvals, and submission processes.

• Provide mentorship to proposal professionals through coaching, paired assignments, and constructive feedback.

• Develop and deliver training, guidance, and sample materials for proposal staff and technical contributors.

• Assess AEC pursuit trends and proposal practices, translating lessons learned into actionable guidance.

• Lead or assist in initiatives related to proposal workflows, quality standards, templates, content, training, and tools.

• Collaborate with Sales, Technical Services, Marketing, and technology teams to enhance processes.

• Assist in evaluating and piloting approved automation and AI tools while ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability for final deliverables.

• Conduct pursuit debriefs, utilizing client feedback and performance data to suggest enhancements.

• Advise Proposal leadership on pursuit efforts, resource needs, recurring risks, and opportunities for improvement.

⛳️ Requirements

• An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, marketing, graphic design, technical communication, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in proposal development and management within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry or a related technical professional services area.

• Proven experience in independently leading complex proposals and preparing for interviews.

• Expertise in technical writing, technical editing, proofreading, and graphic design.

• Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

• Familiarity with Excel, Teams, and SharePoint.

• Strong command of structured proposal development, compliance, and color reviews.

• Ability to apply Ulteig’s Shipley process and guide others in its application.

• Experience in facilitating multidisciplinary teams, influencing senior stakeholders, exercising independent judgment, and resolving competing priorities with limited oversight.

• Experience mentoring colleagues, reviewing peers’ work, and significantly contributing to process, training, content, or tool enhancements.

• Must possess authorization for permanent work in the United States.

• Preferred: experience supporting water and environmental engineering pursuits and participating in public-sector qualifications-based selection processes.

• Preferred: experience in implementing improvements across teams or markets.

• Preferred: formal Shipley training, APMP certification, or active involvement in an AEC or proposal professional organization.

• Preferred: familiarity with CRM systems, Bluebeam/Adobe, proposal content governance, or approved automation and AI tools.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible Workplace

• Employee Ownership

• Competitive Pay

• Comprehensive Benefits Package

• Collaborative Environment

• Innovative Culture

• Flexible working schedule

• Options for remote, hybrid, or in-office work

• Drug-Free Workplace