Proposal Strategist - Management & Support (South Central Region)

Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Proposal Strategist to support pursuit development in Houston, Texas. This role is responsible for leading the development of proposals from initial Request for Proposal/Information/Qualifications (RFP/RFI/RFQ) from pre-positioning through submission and shortlist interview, when applicable.

The Proposal Strategist partners with business development and project management leadership to develop distinctive value propositions that strengthen our competitive position, win work, and build lasting client relationships. This individual is a resourceful, collaborative professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is motivated to continuously improve processes and outcomes.

• Support sales teams in pre-positioning efforts by shaping strategy, messaging, and capture plans ahead of RFP release.
• Lead the development of qualifications packages and responses by collaborating with sales and technical teams to tailor content, highlight relevant experience, and align messaging with client priorities
• Develop and lead proposal and opportunity management plans, including drafting storyboards, defining win strategies, and delegating pursuit team assignments.
• Facilitate go/no-go decisions, proposal kickoff meetings, and ongoing team alignment discussions.
• Drive collaboration across technical, business development, and marketing teams to shape proposal direction and messaging.

• Write and develop client-focused proposal content, including win themes, cover letters, executive summaries, project descriptions, and resumes.
• Incorporate company standards and tailor messaging to align with client needs and evaluation criteria.
• Utilize AI-based tools, where appropriate, to support drafting, editing, and enhancing proposal content.

• Translate complex technical information into clear, compelling graphics and visual content.
• Develop proposal layouts in Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign, complying with Burns & McDonnell brand standards.

• Proactively lead the creation of client-facing presentations, shaping messaging, coaching presenters, and ensuring alignment with win strategy for account meetings.

• Lead color team reviews with a focus on client benefits and win strategy.
• Incorporate feedback and refine materials to improve clarity, quality, and competitiveness.
• Uphold best practices related to content management, quality control, collaboration, and file organization.

• Manage proposal schedules and ensure timely delivery of compliant, high-quality submissions.
• Package and submit proposals in accordance with client requirements, including coordination of digital submissions and hard copy production when required.

• Support shortlist interview preparation, including coaching teams and developing presentation materials.
• Facilitate debriefs and capture lessons learned to strengthen future pursuits.
• Assist with submissions for industry awards (e.g., ACEC, ENR) and trade publications.

• Support conferences and trade shows by coordinating logistics, securing sponsorships, and preparing presentation and thought leadership materials.
• Occasionally assist with booth setup and on-site event support.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, business administration, or related field.
  • Applicable years of experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in marketing, business development, or sales within a professional services firm; A/E/C industry experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messaging.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (including InDesign) strongly preferred.
• Experience using AI-based tools for content development is preferred, with the ability to adapt to new technologies.
• APMP certification (or equivalent) preferred.

• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Proactive problem-solving skills and ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with teams.
• Takes initiative to ask direct, strategic questions that clarify expectations and improve outcomes.
• Attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality work.

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