Proposal Strategist - Management & Support (South Central Region)

Burns & McDonnell; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell in Houston, TX seeks a Proposal Strategist to lead pursuit development from pre-positioning through submission. You will partner with business development and project teams to shape strategy, craft client-focused content, and deliver compelling visuals within brand standards.

Responsibilities include creating win themes, managing proposal timelines, and coaching teams for interviews. The role emphasizes collaboration across marketing, technical, and BD functions and may involve

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, business administration, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in marketing, business development, or sales within a professional services firm; A/E/C industry experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (including InDesign) strongly preferred.
• Experience using AI-based tools for content development is preferred, with the ability to adapt to new technologies.
• APMP certification (or equivalent) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support sales teams in pre-positioning efforts by shaping strategy, messaging, and capture plans ahead of RFP release.
• Lead the development of qualifications packages and responses by collaborating with sales and technical teams to tailor content, highlight relevant experience, and align messaging with client priorities.
• Develop and lead proposal and opportunity management plans, including drafting storyboards, defining win strategies, and delegating pursuit team assignments.
• Facilitate go/no-go decisions, proposal kickoff meetings, and ongoing team alignment discussions.
• Drive collaboration across technical, business development, and marketing teams to shape proposal direction and messaging.
• Write and develop client-focused proposal content, including win themes, cover letters, executive summaries, project descriptions, and resumes.
• Incorporate company standards and tailor messaging to align with client needs and evaluation criteria.
• Utilize AI-based tools, where appropriate, to support drafting, editing, and enhancing proposal content.
• Translate complex technical information into clear, compelling graphics and visual content.
• Develop proposal layouts in Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign, complying with Burns & McDonnell brand standards.
• Proactively lead the creation of client-facing presentations, shaping messaging, coaching presenters, and ensuring alignment with win strategy for account meetings.
• Lead color team reviews with a focus on client benefits and win strategy.
• Incorporate feedback and refine materials to improve clarity, quality, and competitiveness.
• Uphold best practices related to content management, quality control, collaboration, and file organization.
• Manage proposal schedules and ensure timely delivery of compliant, high-quality submissions.
• Package and submit proposals in accordance with client requirements, including coordination of digital submissions and hard copy production when required.
• Support shortlist interview preparation, including coaching teams and developing presentation materials.
• Facilitate debriefs and capture lessons learned to strengthen future pursuits.
• Assist with submissions for industry awards (e.g., ACEC, ENR) and trade publications.
• Support conferences and trade shows by coordinating logistics, securing sponsorships, and preparing presentation and thought leadership materials.
• Occasionally assist with booth setup and on-site event support.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Time management

Problem solving

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, business administration, or related field

APMP certification (or equivalent) preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Creative Suite

AI content tools

Job description

Description

Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Proposal Strategist to support pursuit development in Houston, Texas. This role is responsible for leading the development of proposals from initial Request for Proposal/Information/Qualifications (RFP/RFI/RFQ) from pre-positioning through submission and shortlist interview, when applicable.

The Proposal Strategist partners with business development and project management leadership to develop distinctive value propositions that strengthen our competitive position, win work, and build lasting client relationships. This individual is a resourceful, collaborative professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is motivated to continuously improve processes and outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Support sales teams in pre-positioning efforts by shaping strategy, messaging, and capture plans ahead of RFP release.
• Lead the development of qualifications packages and responses by collaborating with sales and technical teams to tailor content, highlight relevant experience, and align messaging with client priorities
• Develop and lead proposal and opportunity management plans, including drafting storyboards, defining win strategies, and delegating pursuit team assignments.
• Facilitate go/no-go decisions, proposal kickoff meetings, and ongoing team alignment discussions.
• Drive collaboration across technical, business development, and marketing teams to shape proposal direction and messaging.

Content Development & Messaging

• Write and develop client-focused proposal content, including win themes, cover letters, executive summaries, project descriptions, and resumes.
• Incorporate company standards and tailor messaging to align with client needs and evaluation criteria.
• Utilize AI-based tools, where appropriate, to support drafting, editing, and enhancing proposal content.

Visual Communication & Design

• Translate complex technical information into clear, compelling graphics and visual content.
• Develop proposal layouts in Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign, complying with Burns & McDonnell brand standards.
• Proactively lead the creation of client-facing presentations, shaping messaging, coaching presenters, and ensuring alignment with win strategy for account meetings.

Review & Quality Management

• Lead color team reviews with a focus on client benefits and win strategy.
• Incorporate feedback and refine materials to improve clarity, quality, and competitiveness.
• Uphold best practices related to content management, quality control, collaboration, and file organization.

Production & Delivery

• Manage proposal schedules and ensure timely delivery of compliant, high-quality submissions.
• Package and submit proposals in accordance with client requirements, including coordination of digital submissions and hard copy production when required.

Post-Submittal & Business Development Support

• Support shortlist interview preparation, including coaching teams and developing presentation materials.
• Facilitate debriefs and capture lessons learned to strengthen future pursuits.
• Assist with submissions for industry awards (e.g., ACEC, ENR) and trade publications.

Events & Marketing Support

• Support conferences and trade shows by coordinating logistics, securing sponsorships, and preparing presentation and thought leadership materials.
• Occasionally assist with booth setup and on-site event support.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, business administration, or related field.
• Applicable years of experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in marketing, business development, or sales within a professional services firm; A/E/C industry experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messaging.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (including InDesign) strongly preferred.
• Experience using AI-based tools for content development is preferred, with the ability to adapt to new technologies.
• APMP certification (or equivalent) preferred.

Key Attributes

• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Proactive problem-solving skills and ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with teams.
• Takes initiative to ask direct, strategic questions that clarify expectations and improve outcomes.
• Attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality work.

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job

Business Development/Sales

Primary Location

US-TX-Houston

Other Locations

US-TX-Austin

Schedule

Full-time

Travel

Yes, 10 % of the Time

Job Hire Type

Experienced #M&S