Senior Pursuit Specialist - Architecture

HDR; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking an Architectural Pursuit Specialist to drive marketing submittals and interview materials for our Civic market sector.

You will coordinate with market sector leaders, business developers, project teams, writers and graphic designers to translate client priorities into compelling proposals and materials. The role requires strong organization, an eye for design, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines across regions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years relevant industry experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including InDesign.
• Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight.
• Cover letter stating interest in specific job position.
• Experience with State and/or Federal SF-330 forms.

Responsibilities

• Leads a pursuit from initiation through qualifications, proposal, interview, and selection phases, including all submittals whether print or electronic.
• Able to manage large pursuit teams and high-pressure deadlines with diligence.
• Understands the required experience, knowledge, and project types required of the program.
• Works directly with the project manager and marketer/business developer and coordinates with sub consultants and subject matter experts.
• Involves frequent collaboration with additional internal staff, such as writers and graphic designers.
• Evaluates content, both technical and non-technical and can edit proposal sections.
• Completes client forms, questionnaires and qualifying statements.
• Gathers information on past project experience and develops personnel resumes.
• Maintains accurate pursuit status reports in CRM system.
• This role will require a valid US Driver's License.

Skills

Written & verbal comms

Self-starter

Team leadership

Attention to design/layout

Deadline management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign)

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We are compelled to improve the communities where we live, work and play. To do that, we need a talented individual who is interested in driving marketing submittals for a range of building types for our architecture practice. You will be successful because you love to manage multiple deadlines and teams, layout or help write beautiful documents or presentations, act as a knowledge manager, and most importantly, work with a nationally focused, like-minded team who love what they do. Working collaboratively with our business developers and marketers, you are responsible for managing the pursuit process from premarketing through interview and will direct the development, organization, and production of marketing materials. If you are highly organized and detail-oriented, with an eye for creativity and design, this job might be for you.

This position will support HDR’s Civic market sector, partnering with market sector leaders, business developers and project teams to develop compelling proposals and interview materials. The sector’s projects include courthouses, government (municipal, state, federal) buildings, cultural and community facilities, arts centers, libraries, and public works operations and maintenance facilities. You will help translate client priorities and our architectural expertise into clear, tailored pursuit messaging that supports the sector’s business development goals.

Our team of Architectural Pursuit Specialists is organized and thorough; and when it comes to submittals, our team prods, pushes, and polishes our responses from initiation through the decision. Like you, your team members are results-driven, accountable, and take pride in their follow-through. You will work directly with marketing leadership, market sector leadership, principals, managing principals and other leaders in various offices and regions.

Responsibilities

• Leads a pursuit from initiation through qualifications, proposal, interview, and selection phases, including all submittals whether print or electronic.
• Able to manage large pursuit teams and high-pressure deadlines with diligence.
• Understands the required experience, knowledge, and project types required of the program.
• Works directly with the project manager and marketer/business developer and coordinates with sub consultants and subject matter experts.
• Involves frequent collaboration with additional internal staff, such as writers and graphic designers.
• Evaluates content, both technical and non-technical and can edit proposal sections.
• Completes client forms, questionnaires and qualifying statements.
• Gathers information on past project experience and develops personnel resumes.
• Maintains accurate pursuit status reports in CRM system.
• This role will require a valid US Driver's License.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in A/E/C Industry
• Bachelor's degree
• A unique blend with an eye for design (layout, graphic design) and the ability to manage complex and concurrent projects
• Experience with State and/or Federal SF-330 forms
• Shows initiative when taking on new pursuits and challenges.
• Able to work well with different personalities and professional styles, and with all levels of staff.
• Ability to travel and work unscheduled overtime, sometimes on tight deadlines.
• Cover letter stating interest in specific job position.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years relevant industry experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including InDesign
• Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.)

Denver, CO and Chicago, IL: $60,599.00 - $86,570.00 Los Angeles, CA and Sacramento, CA: $63,354.00 - $90,505.00 San Francisco, CA: $71,617.00 - $102,310.00

Primary Location:United States-Nebraska-Omaha

Other Locations:United States-Arizona-Phoenix, United States-California-Los Angeles, United States-California-San Francisco, United States-Georgia-Atlanta, United States-Florida-Tampa, United States-Texas-Dallas, United States-Colorado-Denver, United States-California-Sacramento, United States-Illinois-Chicago

Industry:Marketing/Communications

Schedule:Full-time

Employee Status:Regular

BusinessClass:Marketing and Admin

Job Posting:Oct 30, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.