Proposal Specialist IV

About AECOM:

Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world. We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description Overview:

AECOM is seeking an experienced Proposal Leader to join our Governments Marketing team, focusing on winning US Federal work globally. This role involves leading key proposals and presentations from pre-RFP positioning through to interviews, supporting our Federal Civilian and DoD Proposal teams, and managing a team of proposal staff. Subject matter expertise can include studies and planning, architecture and engineering design, construction, environmental, program management, and other professional services. The ideal candidate possesses experience with US Federal proposal writing, strong leadership, a keen compliance focus, robust pre-positioning and proposal writing skills, and creative design ideas. This is a hybrid position, allowing for a blend of remote and in-office work, and can be based in Houston, TX, among other locations.

Key Responsibilities:

General Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with regional and business line teams on priority pursuits, including pre-positioning, capture, RFQ/RFP responses, and interview stages.
• Report to the Marketing Team Lead within the Governments Marketing group.

Proposal Management and Development:

• Lead large, complex, priority must-win pursuits from capture through interview stages, potentially involving multiple disciplines/geographies.
• Facilitate workshops to support win strategy development and analyze debriefs to incorporate lessons learned.
• Create detailed annotated outlines, first-draft content, compliance lists, and proposal schedules, adapting to changing requirements.
• Write proposal sections including cover letters, executive summaries, past performance, management approaches, and resumes/staffing.
• Actively participate in Go/No-Go decisions, capture strategies, and greenlight analyses, ensuring compliance with delegation of authority.
• Facilitate color reviews (pink and red team) and apply lessons learned.
• Serve as a reviewer on other priority pursuits, applying institutional knowledge.
• Ensure quality and compliance of all deliverables and support debriefs to gather client feedback for continuous improvement.
• Manage proposal and project filing on secure servers and within CRM systems.
• Maintain familiarity with top IDIQs and associated project managers.
• Contribute to strategic planning, including evaluating marketing intelligence, identifying customer concerns, and developing win strategies.
• Potentially contribute to internal training programs and lead special projects involving business line staff.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Marketing, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• 6+ years of related proposal experience, preferably in US Federal Civilian and/or DoD sectors.
• Working knowledge of the A/E industry, including AECOM’s Federal clients, projects, and competitors.
• Demonstrated success in leading multi-disciplinary or multi-geography proposals valued over $20 million.
• Thorough understanding of effective proposal and presentation best practices, including conveying messages, themes, and responses to evaluation criteria.
• Experience applying industry best practices to support positioning and business development processes.
• Strong proposal writing and editing skills, with excellent grammar and style.
• Proficiency in desktop publishing (Adobe Creative Suite), graphics (InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Photoshop), word processing (Microsoft Word), spreadsheet management (Excel), and presentation software (PowerPoint).
• Working knowledge of collaborative tools like Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, follow up, and complete tasks independently.
• Professional demeanor with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to handle sensitive issues discreetly.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, demonstrating diplomacy and resourcefulness.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Marketing, or a related field with 8+ years of proposal experience in US Federal Civilian and/or DoD sectors.
• APMP/SMPS certification.
• Understanding of CRM, specifically Salesforce experience.

Additional Information:

• US Citizenship is required due to the nature of the work.
• Relocation assistance and per diem are not offered.
• All new employees must attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding.
• Compensation: USD $85,000 - $110,000 annually, based on qualifications and location.

About AECOM (Continued):

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, retirement savings plans, and more. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm with $16.1 billion in FY25 revenue, committed to delivering a better world through innovative and sustainable solutions in water, environment, energy, transportation, and buildings. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work:

Join a global team that supports your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects that shape the future with cutting-edge technology and expert resources. Benefit from award-winning training programs to enhance technical and leadership skills. AECOM fosters a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration, and community, offering opportunities for growth.

Key skills/competency:

• Proposal Management
• US Federal Proposals
• Business Development
• Capture Strategy
• Technical Writing
• Compliance Management
• Team Leadership
• Client Relations
• Project Management
• Marketing Strategy