Proposal Manager

What You Will Do We are seeking a Proposal Manager to support strategic growth across Florida by leading the development of high-quality, compliant, and compelling proposals within our Transportation, Construction Services, and Buildings & Places markets. This role is ideal for a skilled AEC proposal professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and brings a balance of proposal leadership, capture support, and partnership with client service teams. You will play a key role in managing complex pursuits, shaping win themes, and translating technical input into clear, persuasive messaging that aligns with client priorities and procurement requirements. With experience supporting FDOT and municipal pursuits across Florida, you will partner closely with capture managers, technical teams, and business development leaders to drive pursuit excellence from pre-positioning through interview delivery. This position may also include mentoring junior staff and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and high-performance across the BD & Marketing team. While this position will be most remote, we would like the person to sit closer to one of the following offices – Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville. What You’ll Be Challenged To Do The Proposal Manager expands their complex proposal and interview skills while continuing to build on capture planning and client service skills. The Proposal Manager role may include people management. Principal Responsibilities And Essential Functions Capture Planning Working closely with the capture manager/team to facilitate kick-off and update meetings, identify and validate win themes and strategic messaging, and lead the development of pre-RFP proposal sections. Supporting teaming efforts by coordinating with internal and external partners and contributing to strategy development through active participation in major-level pursuits, including IFBP meetings, client relationship mapping, and content drafting. Determining the level of effort for the pursuit team. Estimating own workload and task durations to support effective resource planning and execution. Proposal Management Managing major and priority-level pursuits, serving as Proposal Manager. Ensuring full RFP compliance by verifying and documenting adherence across all proposal elements. Overseeing standard and agile-level pursuits, particularly those involving cross-team coordination with other BD units. Leading multi-level category proposals and contributing to proposal excellence through peer compliance reviews, not only for own pursuits but also for those of other teams. Assisting with teaming outreach and relationship development, strengthening both internal and external connections. Developing and maintaining detailed proposal plans and assigning or reviewing tasks for team members. Participating in client-held pre-proposal meetings and debriefs to inform future strategy and enhance proposal effectiveness. Mentoring junior BD staff; reviewing their work, and offering constructive feedback to support their growth and the success of the overall team. Writing Lead author for major-level proposals. Crafting executive summaries and non-technical sections that articulate the firm’s strengths and align with client goals. Developing detailed content outlines and storyboards for technical sections, integrating win themes and strategic messaging identified during capture planning and kick off sessions. Editing and refining technical approaches, providing input on layout, graphics, callouts, and key messaging to ensure clarity and consistency. Developing core content such as firm histories, qualifications, cover letters, personnel bios, project descriptions, and subconsultant qualifications. Interview Development Leading interview strategy and development for major-level pursuits. Guiding the proposal team in presenting win themes and messages throughout the presentation process. Working closely with graphic designers to visually translate proposal strategies into impactful, on-brand presentation materials. Client Service Team Support Serving as the Client Service Team’s BD Partner for one or more Tier I clients, working alongside a strong Client Service Leader. Supporting and analyzing pipeline and client data, coordinating with operations staff to ensure accuracy and alignment. Researching client history, contract awards, CIPs, budget documentation, and industry news to provide strategic insights for CST planning. Supporting the development of client meeting materials, capability briefings, and targeted marketing campaigns—coordinating with the MarCom team to ensure alignment with broader strategic initiatives. Representing the firm at client-focused industry outreach events. Business Development & Marketing Collaborating with the MarCom team during capture planning and supporting marketing efforts that target clients, markets, and sectors. Attending business development conferences and industry events on behalf of the firm or specific business groups to support brand presence and relationship development. BD Data/Processes/Practices Ensuring opportunity records in CRM systems are maintained. Leading BD&M working groups focused on enhancing systems, processes, and best practices. Training colleagues in proposal management, interviews, and the broader BD process. Using approved AI tools such as ChatGPT to support writing, research, and proposal efficiency, and collaborating with others to explore and implement new use cases for AI that enhance business development performance. Communication/Collaboration/Culture This role demands high-level collaboration and interpersonal leadership. Resolving project-related conflicts and facilitating solutions across proposal types and teams. Managing relationships with a wide range of internal stakeholders—including capture managers, BD staff, and CSLs—as well as external teaming partners. Overseeing cross-functional efforts for proposals ranging from agile to complex, ensuring transparent communication and efficient task coordination. Contributing to performance evaluations for team members they have supervised, identifying development opportunities and advocating for the necessary resources to support team success. Possibly including formal people management responsibilities, including the direct supervision and development of Assistant Proposal Specialists and/or Proposal Specialists I. Education | Experience Normally, a 4‑year degree in English, Marketing, Journalism, Communications, or an applicable field – or comparable experience – is required. 8 years of practical working experience preferred. Additional Notes Other duties may be assigned. Office work environment. Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time. Must be able to independently travel and be physically present in the office when needed. Compensation The salary range for this role is $105,000 - $120,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location. Featured Benefits Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment. Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, pet insurance, medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Tax‑deferred 401(k) savings plan. Competitive paid‑time‑off accrual. Tuition reimbursement for continued education. Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations. Incentive compensation for eligible positions. Company Overview At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more. Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives. GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law. GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions. Location Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville. Core Business Hours 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Employment Status Full-Time. #J-18808-Ljbffr