Senior Proposal Specialist

GFT; Owings Mills (MD); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Wellness programs

Parental leave

Pet insurance

401(k)

Paid time off (PTO)

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Job summary

GFT is seeking a Senior Proposal Specialist to lead the planning, development, and delivery of compelling, compliant proposals for our MidAtlantic BD&M team. You will collaborate with technical experts and marketing to win against transportation and buildings projects.

You will mentor junior staff, support process improvements, and help shape our business development efforts across regional lines. Remote work options and a strong benefits package accompany this role.

Qualifications

• What you bring: a 4-year degree in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or applicable field.
• Experience with PennDOT, MDOT (SHA/MDTA/MTA), SEPTA, Amtrak, or City of Philadelphia is required.
• Minimum 5 years of combined proposal experience leading, coordinating, and developing proposals and qualifications.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work with some independence.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM tools; Adobe InDesign is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, development, and delivery of compliant proposals and presentations.
• Collaborate with technical teams and marketing to craft win-focused materials.
• Coordinate interview teams, schedules, and content preparation.
• Analyze RFPs/SOQs to prepare compliance matrices, schedules, and outlines.
• Mentor junior BD staff and drive process improvements.

Skills

Proposal leadership

Capture planning

Client management

CRM tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe InDesign

Education

4-year degree in English/marketing/journalism/communications or applicable field

Tools

CRM systems

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

What You Will Do:

GFT is seeking a Senior Proposal Specialist to join our BD&M team within the MidAtlantic! In this role, you will apply strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and strong organizational skills to support pursuits for our Transportation, Construction Services, and Buildings & Places teams. The position can be based in Mechanicsburg, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Towson, and Owings Mills !

Would prefer experience with MDOT (SHA, MDTA, MTA), Virginia DOT, District of Columbia DOT, and/or DelDOT agencies.

This role blends proposal leadership, capture planning, interview development, and client service —and offers opportunities to mentor junior staff, contribute to process improvements, and help shape the future of our business development efforts.

GFT Shared Service Services team, which includes Human Resources, Legal, Accounting & Finance, IT Services and Marketing & Communications, are essential for managing and supporting the company's global operations. Shared Services are part of a broader strategy to transform the business and improve efficiency. The support of this amazing team of professionals, is the backbone of our ability to deliver infrastructure consulting and design services.

What youll be challenged to do:

The Senior Proposal Specialist manages proposals and presentations, provides capture support, and may assist with client management support. The position supports one ormore regional business lines or a global business line.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

The Senior Proposal Specialist will lead the planning, development, and delivery of compelling, compliant, and client-focused proposals, qualifications, and presentations. You will collaborate with technical teams, subject matter experts, and marketing resources to craft materials that win.

Capture Planning

• Lead standard- and strategic-level pursuits, driving capture kick-offs, follow-up meetings, and early positioning discussions.
• Conduct research into clients, competitors, and markets to inform win themes and pursuit strategies.
• Draft pre-RFP content to support strategic positioning.
• Determine resource needs for assigned pursuits.
• Collaborate with BD leadership to ensure consistent implementation of best practices.

Proposal Management

• Lead complex proposals from initial request to final submission.
• Analyze SOQs/RFPs to prepare compliance matrices, schedules, and outlines.
• Facilitate and participate in kick-off meetings, milestone reviews, and client debriefs.
• Develop client-focused proposal sections including cover letters, executive summaries, personnel bios, project descriptions, firm overviews, and subconsultant qualifications.
• Edit technical approaches for narrative clarity, structure, and alignment with visual messaging.
• Partner with graphic designers to develop custom visuals and infographics that reinforce win themes.
• Coordinate and prepare interview teams, including scheduling, content preparation, and rehearsals.
• Track all opportunities and deliverables in CRM.

Client Service Team Support

• Support Tier I client management activities in collaboration with BD Client Service Leaders; serve as BD Partner for Tier II/III clients.
• Conduct client research (contract awards, budgets, press coverage, events) to inform pursuit strategies.
• Prepare client meeting materials, capabilities briefings, and targeted marketing collateral.

BD Data, Processes & Innovation

• Participate in or lead working groups focused on improving BD systems, processes, and tools.
• Use approved AI tools for writing, research, and proposal efficiency; collaborate with leadership on new use cases.

Collaboration & Mentorship

• Manage communications, delegate tasks, and monitor progress to ensure deadlines are met.
• Mentor junior BD staff, providing feedback and coaching to support their professional growth.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that values quality, consistency, and best practices.

Education | Experience:

What you will bring to our firm:

• Normally a 4-year degree required in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or applicable field is required
• Must have experience with PennDOT, MDOT (SHA, MDTA, MTA), SEPTA, Amtrak, or City of Philadelphia

What we prefer you bring:

• Minimum of 5 years of combined prior proposal experience is required and preferred in the AEC industry leading, coordinating, planning, and developing proposals and qualifications, including section writing experience.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Able to work with some degree of independence to execute proposal lifecycle
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM tools; experience with Adobe InDesign preferred.

Compensation: The salary range for this role is $80,000 - $95,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location. Featured Benefits: Remote work environment. Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan. Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual. Tuition reimbursement for continued education. Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Company Overview:

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – thats why were the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industrys brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a centurys experience, together were building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location: Mechanicsburg, PA ; Philadelphia, PA ; Valley Forge, PA ; Towson, MD ; Owings Mills, MD ; Fairfax, VA ; Richmond, VA
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time

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