Proposal Specialist

Proposal Specialist

McMillen, Inc. is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and highly organized Proposal Specialist to join our growing Marketing team.

The Proposal Specialist leads complex proposal efforts, qualifications packages, presentations, interview materials, and other pursuit-related marketing collateral. The role partners with Business Development, technical staff, Operations, Communications, and Marketing leadership to develop compelling, compliant, and client-focused proposals that support McMillen's strategic growth objectives.

The Proposal Specialist operates with a high degree of independence and serves as a technical proposal resource within the Marketing Department. This position leads complex pursuits, supports proposal strategy development, facilitates pursuit activities, and contributes to continuous improvement of proposal tools, processes, and systems.

McMillen, Inc. designs and builds solutions that shape the future of water resources. As an employee-owned firm, we take pride in every project because we know our work truly matters. Our people thrive on solving complex challenges, pushing boundaries, and refining their craft. We don't look for the complacent or the comfortable. We seek problem solvers, innovators, and experts who are always striving to be better.

We support continuous learning, cutting-edge technology, and a balanced work-life environment so our employees can build careers they're proud of.

We are focused in the dams, energy, fisheries, natural resources, and infrastructure markets. Our people integrate engineering, environmental, and construction expertise to deliver practical, results-driven outcomes. From concept to completion, projects are guided through feasibility studies, permitting, design, construction, and commissioning, ensuring technical precision and real-world functionality.

Responsibilities:

• Leads the development, coordination, production, and delivery of complex proposals, qualifications packages, presentations, interview materials, and other pursuit-related marketing collateral.
• Manages multiple concurrent pursuits while maintaining schedules, compliance requirements, deadlines, and production quality.
• Facilitates proposal kickoff meetings, establishes schedules, coordinates contributors, and drives accountability throughout proposal development.
• Collaborates with Business Development, Operations, technical staff, and Marketing leadership to develop win themes, differentiators, and client-focused messaging.
• Analyzes RFQs, RFPs, SOQs, and procurement documents to identify compliance requirements, evaluation criteria, and pursuit risks.
• Coordinates content development from technical staff, teaming partners, subcontractors, and pursuit stakeholders.
• Writes, edits, proofreads, and formats proposal content while strengthening clarity, responsiveness, and strategic messaging.
• Develops proposal layouts, presentations, and pursuit materials while ensuring consistency with McMillen brand standards.
• Supports interview preparation through presentation development, rehearsal coordination, and production of interview materials.
• Serves as a technical resource to Proposal Coordinators and Senior Proposal Coordinators regarding proposal best practices, compliance, production, and content development.
• Maintains proposal assets including resumes, project descriptions, photography, and pursuit content within Cosential/Unanet CRM.
• Participates in pursuit debriefs and continuous improvement efforts to strengthen future proposal performance.
• Identifies opportunities to improve proposal workflows, templates, tools, systems, and AI-assisted processes.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required.
• Ability to get along and work effectively with others.

Qualifications:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, English, Business, Public Relations, or a related field; or five to seven years of progressively responsible proposal development, marketing, or communications experience within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Experience:

• Demonstrated experience managing complex proposals from kickoff through final submission, including strategy development, compliance management, content development, scheduling, production, and delivery.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent pursuits and coordinating multidisciplinary teams in a deadline-driven environment.
• Strong proposal strategy, writing, editing, proofreading, facilitation, organization, and project management skills.
• Experience developing client-focused messaging, win themes,…