Pursuit Specialist - Federal Market

Pursuit Specialist

Join a team where design meets purpose. At RLF, our mission is to create high-performing environments that inspire and nurture the human spirit. For over 90 years, we have been a nationally recognized architecture, engineering, and interior design firm. With a focus on healthcare and federal projects, we deliver impactful, innovative spaces that shape communities and improve lives. We create exceptional places for extraordinary people.

We're a passionate, collaborative team that values excellence, relationships, and fun. If you're looking to make a difference through meaningful work, let's build something great together.

RLF is seeking a full-time Pursuit Specialist to join our team and play a key role in advancing the firm's business development efforts. Reporting to the Director of Marketing, this position will help to develop compelling proposals that support the firm's strategic growth objectives. In addition to leading proposal development, the Pursuit Specialist contributes to a variety of marketing initiatives designed to strengthen thought leadership, elevate brand awareness, and expand RLF's presence in targeted markets.

This role is focused on supporting RLF's federal practice, including NAVFAC, USACE, and VA pursuits. Working closely with capture and marketing leaders, you'll contribute throughout the pursuit lifecycle. We take a selective, quality-driven approach to pursuits, emphasizing thoughtful strategy over volume.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the firm's strategic pursuit process, focusing resources on high-value opportunities that align with our goals, maximize competitiveness, and support our strong capture and win rates.
• Lead proposal development efforts by crafting tailored content, coordinating input from internal stakeholders, and maintaining consistency with the firm's brand and strategic messaging.
• Analyze solicitations to assess compliance and requirements, contributing to Go/No-Go decisions and SWOT analyses.
• Balance persuasive storytelling with strict compliance, producing content that is both compelling and fully responsive to the solicitation.
• Support Capture Managers in planning and kick-off coordination and format proposal templates using InDesign to meet opportunity-specific requirements.
• Develop customized content by collaborating with technical staff to gather information and manage external coordination with subconsultants.
• Ensure proposals align with client requirements and win themes through compelling content and graphics.
• Own the quality control of proposals and marketing deliverables, including content and formatting.
• Support capture efforts for future opportunities through client, competitor, market, and industry research that provides actionable intelligence and informs pursuit strategy.
• Strengthen and expand our pursuit resources between opportunities by developing project narratives and documenting newly completed work, ensuring high-quality content is readily available for future pursuits.
• Maintain the Client Relationship Management (CRM) system (Deltek Vantagepoint) and proposal database throughout the pursuit lifecycle.
• Serve as a strategic partner to technical staff, contributing to marketing strategies that align with the firm's objectives.
• Support the Marketing Team in public relations, trade shows, special events, advertising, and social media to strengthen brand awareness.
• Participate in community functions, pre-proposal meetings, conferences, and related events.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors for the production of promotional materials, conference and career fair giveaways, and the printing and binding of proposal deliverables.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, English, Marketing, Business, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education, training, and professional experience considered.
• Minimum two years of relevant experience. Experience with AEC proposals is preferred; experience with SF330 federal proposals is a plus.
• Strong dedication to continuous professional development and growth.
• Proficiency in writing, editing, and proofreading.
• Layout and formatting design skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and emotional intelligence skills.
• A creative and strategic mindset, with the ability to analyze client challenges, identify win themes, and develop persuasive pursuit strategies that support successful outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to remain composed, organized, and detail-oriented while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Effectively work with internal project teams to deliver creative solutions that exceed client expectations.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to develop winning pursuit strategies, capture plans, and client-focused solutions.
• Proficiency using InDesign Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office Suite, and Bluebeam.
• Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) and/or APMP (Foundation)…