Senior Proposal Specialist

ISHE; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Mercer seeks a Senior Proposal Specialist to join the Strategic Bid Center in a hybrid role with three days in the office at a US Mercer location. You will manage end-to-end RFPs, craft compelling content, and coordinate with consultants, sales professionals and creatives to drive winning proposals.

The role emphasizes strategic storytelling, rigorous project management, and collaboration with stakeholders while leveraging AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency and impact.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in business, journalism, marketing, English, or communications.
• Minimum 5 years in marketing, sales or related field.
• Proficient with Microsoft 365, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams.
• Strong project management, writing and editing skills.
• High accountability and self-motivation.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Attention to detail with the big picture in view.
• Comfort with ambiguity and change; collaborative mindset.
• Willingness to be driven by group feedback.

Responsibilities

• Writes persuasive proposal content and executive summaries aligned with readers' needs.
• Reviews RFPs to ensure full understanding of submission requirements.
• Identifies major strategic opportunities within proposals.
• Shapes opportunity strategy with Client Managers and consulting teams.
• Allocates research and information requests as needed.
• Collaborates with design to create optimal proposal visuals and storyboards.
• Manages proposal development for small to large, complex projects.
• Thrives using AI and technology-enabled tools.

Skills

Proposal writing

Content development

Editing

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication skills

Education

BA/BS in business, journalism, marketing, English, or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365 suite

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Teams

Job description

We are seeking a talented Senior Proposal Specialist to join our Strategic Bid Center at Mercer. This role is a hybrid role requiring 3 days in the office and be based within one of our US Mercer office locations.

Senior Proposal Specialists

Senior Proposal Specialists play a critical role in the pursuit of major sales opportunities by creating unique, compelling value propositions for prospective clients. Working with consultants, sales professionals, and creatives, proposal specialists manage the RFP/bid/tender response process from beginning to end - formulating the pitch strategy, developing persuasive content, producing sophisticated documentation and supporting sales presentations. A Senior Proposal Specialist makes an impact as a seasoned, professional individual contributor, ready to manage projects, work independently, help teammates thrive and collaborate with stakeholders across the company.

We will count on you to:

• Writes persuasive proposal/presentation content and executive summaries that is geared toward readers' needs and level of knowledge and that follows company best practice approach.
• Reviews Requests for Proposals for complete understanding of proposal submission requirements.
• Identifies major strategic opportunities within proposals to help team extract and create more value for/from clients.
• Facilitates opportunity strategy formulation, working closely with Client Managers/consulting team to help identify client/prospect business-drivers, and creates the optimal proposal communication strategy, corresponding theme and graphic approach.
• Determines research needs, delegates or performs as appropriate.
• Identifies internal points of contact to request practice- and project-specific information when information cannot be found in knowledge management system.
• Works actively with design team to create optimal design approach/concept, including storyboarding, for opportunity and facilitates design review process.
• Manages the proposal/presentation development process, assuming total responsibility for management of the proposal/presentation development process for small/low complexity projects and major responsibility for large/complex projects.
• Thrive and be motivated by an environment that embraces AI and technology-enabled tools

What you need to have:

• BA/BS (preferably in business, journalism, marketing, English, communication, public relations); or
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in marketing, sales or a related field (professional services or consulting industry a plus!)
• Proficient in Microsoft 365, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Teams
• Strong project management, writing and editing skills
• High sense of personal accountability and self-motivation
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and adapt to shifting priorities
• Close attention to detail, without losing sight of the bigger picture
• Comfort with ambiguity and frequent change
• Ability to work collaboratively and be driven by group feedback

What makes you stand out?

• APMP or project management certification

Why join our team:

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.

Mercer is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information about Mercer, visit mercer.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, veteran status (including protected veterans), or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by contacting [e-mail].

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one "anchor day" per week on which their full team will be together in person.

The applicable base salary range for this role is $88,500 to $177,000.

The base pay offered will be determined on factors such as experience, skills, training, location, certifications, education, and any applicable minimum wage requirements. Decisions will be determined on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the base salary, this position may be eligible for performance-based incentives.

We are excited to offer a competitive total rewards package which includes health and welfare benefits, tuition assistance, 401K savings and other retirement programs as well as employee assistance programs.