Proposal Specialist III

AECOM•Chicago, IL

5h•$92,700 - $118,450•Remote

About The Position

AECOM is seeking a Proposal Specialist III to collaborate with the West Region business development and operations team on pursuits and prepare formal and informal client solicitations, including expressions of interest, requests for qualifications, requests for proposals, and pre-qualification efforts. The role is remote and can be based in a variety of U.S. locations where AECOM has an office. The position supports business development and operations in winning work. It leads responses to client requests for information, qualifications, and proposals, applying standard pursuit processes to ensure schedule efficiency and bid compliance. The role is responsible for print, electronic, and oral proposal deliverables and provides market research, competitive intelligence, and data-supported input for proposal strategy and business planning. The Proposal Specialist III leads medium to large proposals and presentations and supports pursuits from capture through interview. Responsibilities include helping capture managers develop win strategies, planning proposal content, writing and editing proposal sections, facilitating reviews, managing revisions, and contributing to go/no-go and greenlight analyses. The role also supports debriefs and continuous improvement, may assist with marketing and pursuit strategy, and coaches entry-level proposal team members.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and at least 4 years of relevant experience working collaboratively within a marketing team to lead and support proposal activities for key clients and strategic pursuits, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Developed understanding of effective proposal and presentation strategy, compliance, writing, and production.
Advanced proficiency in proposal writing, editing, and project management.
Strong analytical skills for RFP/RFQ analysis and data-driven decision-making.
Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, including InDesign and Acrobat, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Experience with proposal management software and data visualization tools.
Excellent organizational skills and 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.
Knowledge of industry-specific regulations and standards.
Willingness to work extended hours during peak proposal periods when necessary.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of experience in proposal writing and management, with a proven track record of successful submissions.
Experience in a relevant industry, such as government contracting, consulting, or technology.
APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) certification.
Understanding of government contracting processes, if applicable.
Experience with TxDOT proposals.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with West Region business development and operations teams on pursuits, including preparation of EOIs, RFQs, RFPs, and pre-qualification efforts.
Lead responses to client RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs, applying standard pursuit processes to support schedule efficiency and bid compliance.
Manage print, electronic, and oral proposal deliverables.
Lead medium to large proposals and presentations and support pursuits from capture through interview.
Support capture managers in developing win strategies and preparing for interviews.
Create annotated outlines and content plans and recommend section structures to technical teams.
Write and edit tailored resumes, past performance sections, executive summaries, and management approaches as needed.
Facilitate Pink Team, Red Team, and quality reviews; apply lessons learned and manage revisions directed by review teams.
Provide recommendations for go/no-go and greenlight analyses and participate in capture planning and positioning activities.
Complete internal debriefs for proposals led, use past pursuit debrief information, and support win/loss debriefs and collection of client feedback.
Provide market research and competitive intelligence and use data systems and tools to support proposal strategy and business planning.
Support marketing or pursuit strategy and content development for clients, markets, campaigns, account managers, and business lines as needed.
Coach entry-level proposal team members.
Perform a self-check of work before submitting it for review or approval.