Proposal Specialist

Southland Industries, Inc.; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with 50% company match

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Annual bonus program

Paid parental leave

Paid holidays, vacation, and personal,

Professional development opportunities

Wellness benefits

Job summary

Southland Industries, Inc. is seeking a Proposal Specialist to lead the development of proposals, RFQ/RFP responses, and interview materials for engineering and construction opportunities.

You will collaborate closely with technical staff, business development leaders, and the marketing team to craft clear, client-focused content that showcases our expertise and value. The role requires strong writing and editing skills, proficiency in Adobe InDesign, and the ability to manage multiple projects

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, or Business Administration, or equivalent work experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and produce professional proposals in response to RFPs and RFQs using Adobe InDesign.
• Review solicitation documents to identify requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions to ensure compliant proposals.
• Coordinate with business development, operations, and technical teams to gather information and develop client-focused messaging.
• Plan and manage proposal schedules, outlines, and content assignments to ensure milestones are met.
• Assist in writing, editing, and organizing proposal narratives for accuracy and alignment with brand standards.
• Collaborate with marketing and graphic design resources to develop layouts and visuals that support proposal content.
• Manage final review and production process to ensure timely submissions.
• Assist in preparing for client interviews and presentations with slide content and materials.
• Develop and maintain proposal resources such as resumes and project descriptions.

Skills

Proposal development

Editing

Communication

Collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications, GraphicDesign, or Business Administration

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Office 365

Unanet

Asana

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Join Southland’s team of Proposal Specialists and play a key role in supporting our business development efforts. In this role, you will lead the development of proposals, qualifications packages, and interview materials for engineering and construction opportunities. Working closely with technical staff, business development leaders, and marketing team members, you will help create clear and compelling pursuit materials that showcase Southland’s expertise and value to our clients. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys collaborating across teams, managing a variety of projects, and developing high-quality, engaging content in a fast-paced environment.

• Develop and produce professional proposals in response to Requests for Proposals and Requests for Qualifications (RFP/RFQ) for engineering and construction opportunities using Adobe InDesign.
• Review solicitation documents to identify requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions to ensure compliant proposals.
• Coordinate business development, operations, and technical teams to gather information and develop clear, client-focused messaging.
• Plan and manage proposal schedules, outlines, and content assignments to ensure milestones are met.
• Assist in writing, editing, and organizing proposal narratives to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with company messaging and brand standards.
• Collaborate with marketing and graphic design resources to develop layouts and visuals that support proposal content.
• Manage the final review and production process to ensure proposals are complete, accurate, and submitted on time.
• Assist in preparation for client interviews and presentations by developing slide content, printed materials, and supporting practice sessions.
• Develop and maintain proposal resources such as resumes, project descriptions, and standard content to support pursuits. Assist with various marketing and business development activities as needed.
• Collaborate closely with a national team of proposal specialists to support continued growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing,Communications,GraphicDesign, or Business Administrationrequired, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience.
• Proficiency in writing, editing, and researching to prepare documents, presentations, and marketing materials, including proposals.
• Proficiency in using Adobe InDesign to develop professional proposal and marketing materials.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Experience with Unanet and Asana as a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to develop clear, persuasive content.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when managing complex documents and deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments and manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective collaboration skills with the ability to work across marketing, business development, and technical teams.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills with a proactive, solution-focused approach.
• AEC industry experience preferred but not required.

As a 100% employee-owned company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package for you and your family:

• 401(k) plan with 50% company match (no cap) and immediate 100% vesting
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% paid for employee)
• Annual bonus program based upon performance, achievement, and company profitability
• Term life, AD&D insurance, and voluntary life insurance
• Disability income protection insurance
• Pre-tax flexible spending plans (health and dependent care)
• Paid parental leave
• Paid holidays, vacation, and personal time
• Training/professional development opportunities and company-paid memberships for professional associations and licenses
• Wellness benefits

About Southland Industries

As one of the nation's largest MEP companies, Southland Industries is built on the foundation of great people. Since 1949, we have put our people first, enabling growth, professional achievement, and innovation.

Southland Industries and all its subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity Employerand prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing our employees with a safe work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Southland Industries are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, family care or medical leave status, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Southland Industries will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Pay:Final pay is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data. For Virginia this ranges from $70,000.00 - $82,000.00 plus annual incentive, benefits, and retirement program as outlined above.

Contingent Employment:All employment offers are contingent upon successful drug tests, background checks, and professional reference checks. Roles that include driving as an essential job duty will be required to have a successful Motor Vehicle Record check (MVR). We are not able to offer sponsorship of employment at this time.

External Agency Announcement: Its Southland Industries' policy not to accept candidate submissions from recruiting agencies without an active and authorized work order. Candidate ownership can only be established after a bona fide work order is issued by a member of the Southland Industries Talent Acquisition team and the candidate is appropriately submitted through our Applicant Tracking System (ATS).