Proposal Lead
$85,000–$95,000 year
On-siteOrange, California, United States
Job Summary
Lead proposal kick-off meetings, strategy sessions, and interview preparation for RFQs, RFPs, and design competitions. Develop pursuit strategies, outlines, content plans, and assignment matrices to ensure efficient execution. Coordinate with leadership, design teams, and marketing staff to align messaging, visuals, and project narratives with client goals. Manage pursuit timelines and deliverables, ensuring all submissions are completed accurately and on schedule. Conduct post-submission and interview debriefs to identify lessons learned and continuously improve proposal performance and win rates. Plan, write, edit, and deliver persuasive, visually engaging proposal packages that reflect the firm's brand. Monitor procurement portals and industry publications to identify new opportunities and evaluate pursuit requirements. Research clients, competitors, and market trends to strengthen proposal strategies and highlight firm differentiators. Coordinate cross-functional pursuit teams, including architects, designers, consultants, and firm leadership. Establish clear responsibilities, deadlines, and expectations for all contributors throughout the pursuit process. Ensure quality, accuracy, consistency, and adherence to branding and documentation standards across all proposals and marketing materials.
Required Qualifications
- 100% onsite in our Orange, CA office
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, English, Architecture, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in proposal management, marketing, communications, business development, or related functions, preferably within architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), design, or real estate development industries
- Demonstrated experience leading complex pursuit efforts and coordinating multiple stakeholders under tight deadlines
- Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills
- Strong understanding of branding, marketing strategy, and business development principles
- Ability to translate technical and design-focused information into compelling narratives tailored to diverse audiences
- Knowledge of industry trends and market drivers influencing the built environment
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Analytical mindset with strong research, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities
- Highly collaborative, proactive, and detail-oriented with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement
- Proven ability to work independently while effectively managing cross-functional teams and projects
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams)
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Experience with OpenAsset
- Experience with WordPress
- Experience with Mailchimp
- Experience with social media platforms, including LinkedIn and Instagram
- Experience with video editing software
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