Writing Specialist

Newsletter Jobs; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange Barrel Media (OBM) is seeking a Writing Specialist to research, write, and manage RFP responses with the Development team, shaping how OBM/IKE is presented. You’ll craft copy for sales materials and ensure accuracy and on-brand storytelling across proposals.

You will partner with the Development team to translate technical details into compelling narratives, manage boilerplate libraries, and keep multiple deadlines on track in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in proposal/RFP writing and sales/marketing copy.
• Experience in out-of-home, media, construction, advertising, or real estate is a plus.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to adapt tone and style.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a proven ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Familiarity with RFP/proposal processes and formatting requirements; comfortable with both technical and creative stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace; Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CMS platforms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and proofread RFP responses and proposal materials for the Development team, ensuring accuracy and alignment with requirements.
• Translate technical project details, qualifications, and team bios into clear, compelling narratives.
• Help maintain a library of boilerplate, case studies, and past project narratives for faster submissions.
• Track RFP calendars and deadlines, coordinating input from stakeholders to keep submissions on schedule.
• Write and edit copy for sales marketing materials in partnership with the Communications & Creative Content Manager.
• Proofread and quality-check proposal documents and marketing materials for grammar, formatting, and consistency.
• Keep writing on-brand and on-tone, shaping OBM/IKE's story across proposals and marketing materials.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Proofreading

Storytelling

Deadline management

Education

Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

CMS platforms

Job description

About The Role

The Writing Specialist will be responsible for researching, writing, and managing Request for Proposal (RFP) responses in partnership with the Development team and will shape how Orange Barrel Media (OBM) & IKE is presented to the outside world. Some of which will include writing and shaping copy for sales marketing materials as needed.

Reporting to the Communications & Creative Content Manager, this role blends the precision of proposal writing with the creativity of brand storytelling and is well suited to a detail-oriented writer who thrives on juggling multiple concurrent deadlines.

What You'll Do

• Draft, edit, and proofread RFP responses, and proposal materials for the Development team, ensuring content is accurate, persuasive, and aligned with each solicitation's requirements and deadlines
• Partner with Development team to translate technical project details, qualifications, and team bios into clear, compelling proposal narratives
• Help manage & maintain a library of proposal boilerplate, case studies, and past project narratives to speed up future RFP submissions
• Track RFP calendars and deadlines, coordinating input from Development, leadership, and other contributors to keep every submission on schedule
• Write and edit copy for sales marketing materials (e.g., sales sheets, brochures, presentations, and collateral) in partnership with the Communications & Creative Content Manager as needed
• Proofread and quality-check proposal documents and marketing materials for grammar, formatting, and consistency prior to submission or publication
• Keep all writing on-brand, on-tone and strategically aligned with how OBM/IKE should be perceived by outside stakeholders and partners
• Shape how OBM/IKE's story gets told across proposals and marketing materials, sharpening it as the business evolves

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field
• 2–4 years of experience in proposal/RFP writing, and sales/marketing copywriting or brand storytelling
• Experience in out-of-home, media, construction, advertising, or real estate is a plus
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to adapt tone and style across persuasive proposal writing and brand-driven marketing copy as well as shaping a clear, compelling narrative
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a proven ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with RFP/proposal processes and formatting requirements preferred; comfortable working with both technical stakeholders (Development) and creative/marketing stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace; familiarity with design or content tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CMS platforms) is a plus
• Eager to grow within a collaborative writing and communications team, reporting to the Communications & Creative Content Manager
• A portfolio or writing samples that demonstrate both persuasive proposal writing and brand or marketing storytelling

Company Overview

Orange Barrel Media (OBM) creates and operates iconic urban media displays that advertisers ask for by name in top U.S. markets. Since our founding in 2004, OBM has pioneered a community-oriented model of outdoor media development and is nationally recognized by cities and real estate owners alike seeking to implement premier media programs that add to the character of urban places. In the advertising community, OBM is widely recognized as the owner of the highest impact and most memorable advertising locations in the cities where it operates.

The OBM team is also a leader in smart city infrastructure, launching the Interactive Kiosk Experience (IKE) platform in concert with cities across the U.S. through the company IKE Smart City. IKE is a best-in-class public engagement platform that helps cities communicate with the public, enliven the pedestrian experience, and tell the story of their city. The core pillars of the IKE platform are public benefit and social equity, values that we seek to maximize in every IKE market to achieve city objectives and exceed community expectations.

We are a place where people are inspired to achieve success, genuinely like each other, and have endless opportunities to grow.

Learn more at www.obm.com and www.ikesmartcity.com.