Senior Proposal Specialist

GFT•Philadelphia, PA

4d•$80,000 - $95,000•Remote

About The Position

GFT is seeking a Senior Proposal Specialist to join its BD&M team within the MidAtlantic. The role supports GIS teams and one or more regional or global business lines. It combines proposal leadership, capture planning, interview development, and client service, with opportunities to mentor junior staff, improve processes, and contribute to business development efforts. The position can be based in Mechanicsburg, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Towson, Owings Mills, Fairfax, or Richmond. The Senior Proposal Specialist leads the planning, development, and delivery of compelling, compliant, client-focused proposals, qualifications, and presentations. The role involves collaborating with technical teams, subject matter experts, marketing resources, BD leadership, and graphic designers. It also supports client management, BD systems and process improvements, and the development of junior staff.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

At least five years of combined prior proposal experience in geospatial and/or information technology proposals in the AEC industry, including leading, coordinating, planning, and developing proposals and qualifications and writing proposal sections.
Experience with Adobe InDesign.

Responsibilities

Lead standard- and strategic-level pursuits, including capture kick-offs, 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 ensure consistent implementation of best practices.
Manage complex proposals from initial request through final submission.
Analyze SOQs and RFPs to prepare compliance matrices, schedules, and outlines.
Facilitate and participate in kick-off meetings, milestone reviews, and client debriefs.
Develop client-focused proposal sections, including cover letters, executive summaries, personnel bios, project descriptions, firm overviews, and subconsultant qualifications.
Edit technical approaches for narrative clarity, structure, and alignment with visual messaging.
Partner with graphic designers to create custom visuals and infographics that reinforce win themes.
Coordinate and prepare 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.
Conduct client research, including 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 ensure deadlines are met.
Mentor junior BD staff through feedback and coaching.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that values quality, consistency, and best practices.

Benefits

Remote work environment.
Comprehensive benefits package.
Wellness programs.
Parental leave.
Pet insurance.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Disability and life insurance.
Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
Competitive paid-time-off accrual.
Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
Professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support for participation in professional organizations.
Incentive compensation for eligible positions.