Senior Proposal Specialist

Job Title:

Senior Proposal Specialist

Location:

Sarasota, FL (preferred), or Houston, TX;
Brooklyn Park, MN. (In office, 5 days/week)

Reports to:

Proposal & Marketing Manager Compensation Range: $110,000 - $120,000 annually (depending on location, experience, skills, and qualifications)
Other Compensation:
Eligible for discretionary bonus, etc.

Benefits:
Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off and travel opportunities

The Ceres Commitment Ceres Environmental Services is a leader in crisis management, rapid response, and disaster recovery, committed to rebuilding stronger, safer communities. Founded in 1976, Ceres has secured more than $3.2 billion in government-funded contracts, reflecting decades of trust in bringing hope during times of need.

We specialize in emergency response, environmental services, planning, and consulting, including debris removal, blue roofs, logistics, debris management, demolition, recycling, forest management, and coastal and marine restoration. As a licensed general contractor, we offer unparalleled expertise to restore stability where it’s needed most.

Driven by Purpose, Powered by People At Ceres, we believe you’re more than just an employee; you’re part of a team with a purpose and a meaningful mission. Whether in management, field operations, or behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in restoring hope, helping communities recover and rebuild.

We value initiative, respect diversity, and give our people the freedom to lead. We offer competitive pay, travel opportunities, and a culture built on resilience and teamwork. If you show up with compassion, share the commitment, react with urgency, and deliver solutions, you’ll fit right in. We don’t just respond to challenges; we rise to them.

What We Are Looking For We’re hiring a Senior Proposal Specialist to support high-priority, high-complexity pursuits across federal, state, and local government clients. This role plays a critical part in Ceres' growth strategy by leading proposal development efforts that transform technical, operational, and executive input into compelling, compliant, and competitive submissions.

As a senior contributor, you will do far more than write and edit proposals. You will shape proposal strategy, mentor junior writers, and partner closely with subject matter experts and leadership to deliver win-ready submissions under aggressive timelines.

Success in this role requires the ability to rapidly assess solicitation requirements and develop tailored responses by drawing from Ceres' existing proposal content, past performance narratives, lessons learned, and institutional knowledge, while developing original content where it will strengthen the response.

You will serve as both a strategist and storyteller—asking critical questions early, identifying gaps and risks, and ensuring every proposal presents a clear, compelling, and consistent value proposition.

Why this role matters:
Behind every successful proposal is an opportunity to help communities recover faster. Your work directly contributes to Ceres' ability to provide critical disaster response and recovery services when they are needed most.

What You Will DoProposal Development & Strategy Develop complex, high‑value proposals for federal, state, and local government solicitations.

Translate capture strategy and technical solutions into clear, persuasive proposal content.

Analyze solicitations to identify key requirements and evaluation criteria.

Ensure proposals are compliant, compelling, and aligned with customer priorities and evaluation criteria.

Develop compliance matrices to ensure full coverage of RFP requirements.

Draft and refine executive summaries, capability statements, past performance narratives and work plans.

Interact with subject matter experts to gather relevant information for proposals.

Collaborate with graphic designers to create tailored visuals and infographics that support key messaging.

Quality & Mentorship Review and edit proposal content for quality, compliance, and messaging consistency.

Incorporate feedback from internal review cycles.

Mentor junior proposal…