Senior Proposal Specialist

GFT•Mechanicsburg, PA

2d•Remote

About The Position

GFT is hiring a Senior Proposal Specialist for its BD&M team in the MidAtlantic. The role supports GIS pursuits and may support one or more regional business lines or a global business line. It combines proposal leadership, capture planning, interview development, client service, and opportunities to mentor junior staff and improve business development processes. GFT’s Shared Services teams support the company’s global operations and its infrastructure consulting and design work. The Senior Proposal Specialist leads the planning, development, and delivery of compelling, compliant, client-focused proposals, qualifications, and presentations. The position collaborates with technical teams, subject matter experts, marketing resources, and BD leadership to create pursuit materials and apply consistent best practices. It also supports client management activities, BD systems and process improvements, and the use of approved AI tools for writing, research, and proposal efficiency. The role is listed for Mechanicsburg, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Towson, Owings Mills, Fairfax, and Richmond, and the posting describes a remote work environment. Core business hours are 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. The salary range is $80,000–$95,000, dependent on experience and geographic location.

Requirements

A four-year degree in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or an applicable field is normally required.

Nice To Haves

At least five years of combined prior proposal experience in geospatial and/or information technology proposals in the AEC industry.
Experience leading, coordinating, planning, and developing proposals and qualifications, including section writing.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to work with some degree of independence to execute the proposal lifecycle.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM tools.
Experience with Adobe InDesign.

Responsibilities

Lead standard- and strategic-level pursuit capture planning, including kickoffs, follow-up meetings, and early positioning discussions.
Research clients, competitors, and markets to inform win themes and pursuit strategies.
Draft pre-RFP content and determine resource needs for assigned pursuits.
Collaborate with BD leadership to implement best practices consistently.
Manage complex proposals from initial request through final submission.
Analyze SOQs and RFPs to prepare compliance matrices, schedules, and outlines.
Facilitate or participate in kickoff meetings, milestone reviews, and client debriefs.
Develop client-focused proposal content, including cover letters, executive summaries, personnel biographies, project descriptions, firm overviews, and subconsultant qualifications.
Edit technical approaches for clarity, structure, and alignment with visual messaging.
Partner with graphic designers to develop custom visuals and infographics that reinforce win themes.
Coordinate interview teams, including scheduling, content preparation, and rehearsals.
Track opportunities and deliverables in CRM.
Support Tier I client management activities with BD Client Service Leaders and serve as BD Partner for Tier II/III clients.
Research client contract awards, budgets, press coverage, and events to inform pursuit strategies.
Prepare client meeting materials, capabilities briefings, and targeted marketing collateral.
Participate in or lead working groups to improve BD systems, processes, and tools.
Use approved AI tools for writing, research, and proposal efficiency, and collaborate with leadership on new use cases.
Manage communications, delegate tasks, and monitor progress to meet deadlines.
Mentor junior BD staff through feedback and coaching.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that values quality, consistency, and best practices.