Position Summary:
The Pursuit Specialist will lead in the management of qualifications, marketing proposals, and interview prep for assigned market(s). This position will support firm qualifications and proposal pursuits, which include working closely with technical staff and external partners to gather appropriate material/information needed to meet the requirements of each submittal by the designated deadlines. This includes assembling and packaging proposals/ documents from inception through final product. The Pursuit Specialist will support the Pursuit Manager with proposal development activities, team communications, document and data control, and logistics to help manage the proposal development process. This position will ensure qualifications and compliance requirements are met while driving the production schedule for accurate and timely completion of each proposal. The successful candidate will be part of an energetic and creative team and will have visibility at all levels within the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities:
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Collaborate with internal teams and external customers (as appropriate) to respond to requests for Letters of Interest (LOI), Requests for Qualifications (RFQ), Requests for Proposal (RFP), Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), and any pursuit-related interviews
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Lead and enforce proposal milestones schedule such as review dates, kickoff meetings, planning sessions, drafting and review, and delivery dates ensuring (i) full understanding of business requirements and strategy, (ii) a smooth production process, (iii) an intelligent, professional, accurate, and compelling final product; and (iv) timely delivery of the finished product
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Schedule and facilitate proposal meetings including kick-offs and debriefs, compile and distribute meeting notes, action items, and review comments from all proposal meetings
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Independently manage the proposal development process and gather information for each proposal
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Responsible for documentation requirements, completeness of proposal content, and proposal appearance – ensuring compliance with RFP requirements
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Attend monthly business development meetings for assigned market(s) to gain awareness of completed projects, market trends, and other intel within assigned market(s)
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Organize client intelligence into strategic concepts for proposals
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Develop tailored proposal and qualification submittals, providing leadership with outlined deliverables and schedule expectations, driving the process, and ensuring quality control
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Develop, execute, and produce competitive proposals and qualifications aligned with strategic business goals and in compliance with best practices
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Execute the proposal team strategy and meet production schedule to ensure a timely response
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Lead teams through the proposal production process and interview preparation
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Responsible for documenting and resolving project team review comments, and communication among the proposal development team
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Draft non-technical sections of proposals, including but not limited to company introductions, executive summaries, project descriptions, and resumes, while ensuring a consistent tone and style throughout
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Support timely data entry into the firm’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) databases to maintain project information, resumes, final submittals, marketing resources, visuals, and other materials
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Maintain proposal records and ensure that closeout processes are completed, including archiving proposals for future use
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Actively develop content through writing and editing
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Conceptualize visual design elements and implement them through basic graphic design, coordinating with our in-house Creative Specialist
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Accurate use of corporate brand standards, templates, instructions, manuals, and documents
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Partner with team members and management to drive schedules, milestones, and priorities
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Proof and edit technical and non-technical documents for accuracy and consistency
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Other projects and responsibilities may be added at the company’s discretion
Special Knowledge, skills and abilities:
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Knowledge of procurement and RFP/SOQ processes
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Possess strong prioritization skills and the ability to manage tasks within established timelines and deadlines
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the Adobe Creative application InDesign
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Experience with Client Relationship Management (CRM) software preferred
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strong grasp of grammar, punctuation, clarity, readability, and content consistency
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Values building internal and external professional relationships
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Self-starter who requires little to no supervision to meet assigned deadlines
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High energy, positive, professional attitude, takes pride in work, superior attention to detail
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Team oriented, collaborative work style
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Excellent written and verbal communicator
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Strong interpersonal/communication skills and experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams
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Ability to create grammatically sound, customized, technical, written content with maximized readability and a customer focus
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Ability to execute a lean, quality pursuit process and participate in strategy sessions
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Strong business acumen with an understanding of industry practices and new developments (construction process, delivery models, contract types)
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Quick learner, able to keep up in a fast-paced environment, and asks questions to develop a deep understanding of the industry and organization
Education and Experience:
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Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Journalism, Business Communications, or related field or equivalent relevant experience required
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Minimum two (2) years of proposal experience within the A/E/C industry preferred.
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Strong writing background
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Previous experience with proposal or grant writing for AEC or consulting background preferred
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Strong working knowledge of proposal fundamentals and best practices
License and Certification:
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Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) foundation certification, Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) certification or equivalent is preferred.
Work Environment:
PEC values a healthy work environment, and we focus on working efficiently and collaboratively to ensure quality and productive work as well as quality time away from the office. The work environment is business casual, friendly, respectful, and team oriented with daily peer interactions regarding work progress, client needs and project-specific technical issues. We strive to create an enjoyable work environment with support and opportunities for positive career growth. Much of the work will be conducted within an office setting with frequent sitting, reaching and manipulation of objects, tools and/or controls. The position requires mobility. Duties involved require moving materials that weigh up to 10 pounds on a regular basis and up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Manual dexterity and coordination are required over 50% of the work period while operating equipment such as computer keyboard, mouse, calculator and similar machines. At times, bending, reaching, standing, and walking may be required.
Supervisory Responsibilities (if there are no supervisor responsibilities, put N/A):
PEC is an AA/EEO/Veteran/Disabled employer.
