Job Title: Senior Proposal Specialist
Location: Sarasota, FL (preferred), or Houston, TX; Brooklyn Park, MN. (In office, 5 days/week)
Reports to: Proposal & Marketing Manager
Compensation Range: $110,000 - $120,000 annually (depending on location, experience, skills, and qualifications)
Other Compensation: Eligible for discretionary bonus, etc.
Benefits: Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off and travel opportunities
The Ceres Commitment
Ceres Environmental Services is a leader in crisis management, rapid response, and disaster recovery, committed to rebuilding stronger, safer communities. Founded in 1976, Ceres has secured more than $3.2 billion in government-funded contracts, reflecting decades of trust in bringing hope during times of need.
We specialize in emergency response, environmental services, planning, and consulting, including debris removal, blue roofs, logistics, debris management, demolition, recycling, forest management, and coastal and marine restoration. As a licensed general contractor, we offer unparalleled expertise to restore stability where it’s needed most.
Driven by Purpose, Powered by People
At Ceres, we believe you’re more than just an employee; you’re part of a team with a purpose and a meaningful mission. Whether in management, field operations, or behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in restoring hope, helping communities recover and rebuild.
We value initiative, respect diversity, and give our people the freedom to lead. We offer competitive pay, travel opportunities, and a culture built on resilience and teamwork. If you show up with compassion, share the commitment, react with urgency, and deliver solutions, you’ll fit right in. We don’t just respond to challenges; we rise to them.
What We Are Looking For
We’re hiring a Senior Proposal Specialist to support high-priority, high-complexity pursuits across federal, state, and local government clients. This role plays a critical part in Ceres' growth strategy by leading proposal development efforts that transform technical, operational, and executive input into compelling, compliant, and competitive submissions.
As a senior contributor, you will do far more than write and edit proposals. You will shape proposal strategy, mentor junior writers, and partner closely with subject matter experts and leadership to deliver win-ready submissions under aggressive timelines.
Success in this role requires the ability to rapidly assess solicitation requirements and develop tailored responses by drawing from Ceres' existing proposal content, past performance narratives, lessons learned, and institutional knowledge, while developing original content where it will strengthen the response.
You will serve as both a strategist and storyteller—asking critical questions early, identifying gaps and risks, and ensuring every proposal presents a clear, compelling, and consistent value proposition.
Why this role matters: Behind every successful proposal is an opportunity to help communities recover faster. Your work directly contributes to Ceres' ability to provide critical disaster response and recovery services when they are needed most.
What You Will Do
Proposal Development & Strategy
-
Develop complex, high‑value proposals for federal, state, and local government solicitations.
-
Translate capture strategy and technical solutions into clear, persuasive proposal content.
-
Analyze solicitations to identify key requirements and evaluation criteria.
-
Ensure proposals are compliant, compelling, and aligned with customer priorities and evaluation criteria.
-
Develop compliance matrices to ensure full coverage of RFP requirements.
-
Draft and refine executive summaries, capability statements, past performance narratives and work plans.
-
Interact with subject matter experts to gather relevant information for proposals.
-
Collaborate with graphic designers to create tailored visuals and infographics that support key messaging.
Quality & Mentorship
-
Review and edit proposal content for quality, compliance, and messaging consistency.
-
Incorporate feedback from internal review cycles.
-
Mentor junior proposal writers and specialists, providing guidance on best practices and standards.
-
Contribute to continuous improvement of proposal tools, templates, processes, and storytelling approaches.
Execution & Accountability
-
Manage multiple concurrent proposals with competing priorities and tight deadlines.
-
Perform thorough compliance, formatting, and quality checks to ensure submission readiness.
-
Maintain Ceres’ brand voice, tone, and quality standards across all submissions.
-
Support post‑submission debriefs and lessons learned to improve future performance
Required Qualifications
-
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Marketing, Business, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in proposal development, technical writing, or business communications, preferably supporting government contracts.
- Demonstrated success leading complex, multi‑discipline proposals from kickoff through submission.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with strong attention to detail and compliance.
- Ability to operate independently, exercise judgment, and influence senior stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in English, Creative Writing, Marketing, or related field.
- Experience supporting construction, environmental services, disaster response, or infrastructure programs.
- Experience mentoring proposal staff or serving as lead writer on high‑value pursuits.
- Proficiency with SharePoint and proposal collaboration tools.
What to Expect
This is a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven role where priorities shift quickly based on active pursuits and client timelines. As a Senior Proposal Specialist, you will juggle multiple proposals simultaneously, some with compressed turnaround times, and be expected to step in early, critically evaluate information, ask strategic questions, and independently drive content to completion. You will work closely with Business Development, Operations, Estimating, Finance, and executive leaders, often translating incomplete or evolving technical input into clear, compliant, and compelling narratives. Your work will be highly visible and directly tied to win decisions, which means high standards, direct feedback, and accountability for quality and accuracy. Success requires comfort with ambiguity, strong judgment, attention to detail under pressure, and a willingness to take ownership of outcomes not just assignments.
Physical Requirements and Environment
Ceres provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants with sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. The physical requirements listed below reflect the essential functions of this role. If you need accommodation to perform these functions, please inform us during the application process.
Why Join Ceres?
At Ceres, you won’t just have a job, you’ll have a mission. Your work will directly impact the speed and strength of community recovery after disasters.
We offer:
- A collaborative, mission-driven culture.
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
- The chance to make a lasting difference for communities across the U.S.
Ceres Environmental is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability status, or protected veteran status.
E-Verify: We comply with Federal law by verifying employment eligibility.
