Proposal Specialist III

AECOM•Houston, TX

2d•Remote

About The Position

AECOM is seeking a highly talented Proposal Specialist III to work in collaboration with the West Region business development and operations team on pursuits. This role involves partnering in the preparation of formal and informal client solicitations, including expressions of interest (EOI), requests for qualifications (RFQ), requests for proposals (RFP), and pre-qualification efforts. This will be a remote position that can be based in, but not limited to, Houston, TX. The Proposal Specialist III will lead medium to large proposals and presentations, supporting from capture through to the interview stage. They will also support capture managers in developing win strategies, creating annotated outlines, and providing recommendations to technical teams on section structures. This role may involve serving as the lead writer and editor for tailored resumes, past performance sections, executive summaries, and management approaches. The specialist will facilitate color reviews (Pink and Red team), quality reviews, and apply lessons learned to enhance proposals. They will manage the implementation of proposal and presentation revisions based on review team feedback. Additionally, the role involves participating in go/no-go and greenlight analyses, capture planning, and positioning activities related to proposal preparation. The specialist will complete internal debriefs for proposals they lead and leverage past pursuit debrief information. They will also support team win/loss debriefs and gather client feedback to ensure continuous improvement. In some cases, this role may support marketing or pursuits strategy and content development related to clients/markets, marketing communications, campaigns, account managers, and business lines. The Proposal Specialist III will also coach entry-level proposal team members and perform self-checks of their work before submission.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree plus four years of relevant experience working collaboratively within a marketing team to lead and support proposal activities for key clients and strategic pursuits aimed at securing new business, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
A developed understanding of effective proposal and presentation strategy development and compliance and writing and production.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of experience in proposal writing and management, with a proven track record of successful submissions
Advanced proficiency in proposal writing, editing, and project management
Strong analytical skills for RFP/RFQ analysis and data-driven decision making
Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Experience with proposal management software and data visualization tools
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines
Experience in a relevant industry (e.g., government contracting, consulting, technology)
APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) certification preferred
Understanding of government contracting processes (if applicable)
Experience with TxDOT proposals
Knowledge of industry-specific regulations and standards
Willingness to work extended hours during peak proposal periods when necessary

Responsibilities

Leads medium to large proposals and presentations, and supports from capture through to interview stage, with support as required.
Supports capture managers in development of the win strategy during capture through interview preparation.
Creates annotated outlines and content plan and provides recommendations to technical teams on section structures.
May serve as lead writer and editor for tailored resumes, past performance sections, executive summaries, and/or management approaches for proposals.
Facilitates color reviews (Pink and Red team), quality reviews, and applies lessons learned to add value to proposals.
Manages the implementation of proposal and presentation revisions based on direction from review teams.
Participates by providing recommendations in go/no-go and greenlight analyses in compliance with delegation of authority guidelines, capture planning and positioning activities as they pertain to preparation for the proposal.
Completes internal debriefs for proposals they lead, leverages past pursuit debrief information.
Supports team during win/loss debriefs and gathering of client feedback on proposals to ensure and demonstrate continuous improvement.
May support marketing or pursuits strategy and content development related to clients/markets, marketing communications, campaigns, account managers (CAMs) and business lines, as necessary.
Coaches entry level proposal team members
Performs a self-check of work prior to submitting to others for review/approval