Marketing Specialist

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture seeks a Marketing Specialist to support the development of proposals, qualifications, presentations, and marketing materials that showcase the firm’s expertise and help drive growth.

You will collaborate with Marketing, Business Development, Communications, and Graphic Design professionals across studios and market sectors to win design work and advance business opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Marketing, Communications, English, journalism, graphic design, business, or related field.
• 1-5 years of marketing, proposal coordination, or business development experience, preferably in AEC industry.
• Experience developing proposals, qualifications packages, RFQ/RFP responses, and client presentations.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign) and PowerPoint.
• Experience with CRM, ERP, or marketing database platforms (Hubspot, OpenAsset, VantagePoint, Cosential, Salesforce) preferred.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling marketing content.
• Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and production of proposals, qualifications, RFQ/RFP responses, SF330s, and interview materials.
• Partner with technical staff, studio leaders, and business development team members to create compelling, client-focused pursuit content.
• Write and customize project narratives, resumes, cover letters, and executive summaries tailored to pursuit requirements.
• Manage proposal schedules, coordinate deliverables, and ensure compliance with client requirements, firm standards, and brand guidelines.
• Support continuous improvement of proposal processes, templates, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain marketing materials including project sheets, qualifications packages, resumes, presentations, brochures, and award submissions.
• Write and edit content that effectively communicates the firm's expertise, experience, and differentiators.
• Maintain marketing assets, project information, and content libraries while ensuring branding consistency.
• Assist in the development of pursuit strategies, interview presentations, and client-facing materials.
• Coordinate presentation content, graphics, and rehearsal materials to support successful interviews and shortlisted pursuits.
• Maintain accurate opportunity, client, and contact information within CRM and marketing systems.
• Track pursuits, business development activities, and key marketing metrics.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Project management

Communication

Deadline management

Collaboration

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, English, journalism, graphic design, business

Tools

InDesign

PowerPoint

HubSpot

OpenAsset

VantagePoint

Cosential

Salesforce

Job description

Description

Are you a strategic, detail-oriented marketer who enjoys crafting compelling content, managing deadlines, and supporting winning pursuits? We are seeking a Marketing Specialist to join our team and play a key role in the development of proposals, qualifications, presentations, and marketing materials that showcase our expertise and help drive business growth.

McMillan Pazdan Smith is one of the nation’s Top 20 architecture firms. We are in growth mode, with a lot of exciting things to come, and our Marketing team seeks a dynamic team member to help our architects win design work. As part of our team, you'll work alongside a talented group of professionals who support multiple studios, market sectors, and business development initiatives across the firm. We pride ourselves on being a highly collaborative, supportive, and close-knit team that values knowledge sharing, professional growth, and working together to deliver exceptional results.

Why Join Our Team?

• You’ll work alongside experienced Marketing, Business Development, Communications, and Graphic Design professionals who care about you and your professional development.
• You’ll help positively shape communities throughout the Southeast and beyond.
• You’ll be part of a culture that encourages innovation, continuous improvement, and sharing ideas.
• You’ll gain exposure to a wide variety of market sectors, clients, and project types across an expanding architecture practice.
• You’ll be part of a supportive, fun Marketing team where everyone is valued and celebrated.

Key Responsibilities

Proposal & Pursuit Development

• Lead the development and production of proposals, qualifications, RFQ/RFP responses, SF330s, and interview materials.
• Partner with technical staff, studio leaders, and business development team members to create compelling, client-focused pursuit content.
• Write and customize project narratives, resumes, cover letters, and executive summaries tailored to pursuit requirements.
• Manage proposal schedules, coordinate deliverables, and ensure compliance with client requirements, firm standards, and brand guidelines.
• Support continuous improvement of proposal processes, templates, and best practices.

Marketing Content & Collateral

• Develop and maintain marketing materials including project sheets, qualifications packages, resumes, presentations, brochures, and award submissions.
• Write and edit content that effectively communicates the firm's expertise, experience, and differentiators.
• Maintain marketing assets, project information, and content libraries while ensuring consistency of branding and messaging.

Presentations & Interview Support

• Assist in the development of pursuit strategies, interview presentations, and client-facing materials.
• Coordinate presentation content, graphics, and rehearsal materials to support successful interviews and shortlisted pursuits.

CRM & Marketing Systems Management

• Maintain accurate opportunity, client, and contact information within CRM and marketing systems.
• Track pursuits, business development activities, and key marketing metrics.
• Support the organization and maintenance of marketing databases, project information, resumes, and related resources.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, English, journalism, graphic design, business, or related field.
• 1-5 years of marketing, proposal coordination, or business development experience, preferably within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.
• Experience developing proposals, qualifications packages, RFQ/RFP responses, and client presentations.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign required) and PowerPoint.
• Experience with CRM, ERP, or marketing database platforms (Hubspot, OpenAsset, VantagePoint, Cosential, Salesforce, or similar systems) preferred.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical professionals and translate complex information into clear, compelling marketing content.
• Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement.

McMillan Pazdan Smith is committed to providing employees with a team environment where we teach each other to improve and reimagine what is possible while creating a shared commitment to earning the trust of our clients and communities. McMillan Pazdan Smith is also committed to providing employees with a comprehensive benefits plan to meet their current and future needs. Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage, a PTO plan, an employer‑provided life insurance with both long‑ and short‑term disability, health savings account with certain medical plan enrollment, dependent care flexible spending accounts, paid professional membership dues and relevant exam fee reimbursement among other benefits.

Physical Demands and Workplace Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to grasp objects; reach with hands and arms; balance, stop, kneel, or crouch; speak or listen. The employee must occasionally lift and/or carry up to twenty‑five pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee may occasionally be exposed to hazardous working conditions in conjunction with construction site visits. The noise level in the construction zone may be loud. While performing the duties of this job in the office work environment, the employee will not be exposed to hazardous working conditions. The noise level in the office work environment is usually moderate.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.