Senior Proposal Specialist (Federal Market)

Senior Proposal Specialist (Federal Market)

CDM Smith is expanding the marketing team within our Federal Services Unit and is seeking a proven Senior Marketing Specialist with strong proposal experience supporting environmental remediation, civil works, and water resilience contracts.

In this role, you will support business development efforts for multimillion-dollar U.S. government opportunities, both nationwide and overseas, collaborating with technical, management, and marketing professionals across the firm.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct research on federal contract opportunities, competitors, and potential teaming partners, as well as review and analyze FedBizOpps synopses, requests for proposals, and related solicitation documents.
• Direct the federal pursuit strategy by handling pre-positioning, capture planning, evaluating opportunities, and supporting Go/No-Go decisions.
• Use AI-powered tools and analytics platforms to analyze trends, automate opportunity tracking, streamline research, identify patterns, and gain actionable insights into competitor positioning and teaming strategies to enhance decision-making throughout the pursuit process.
• Oversee comprehensive proposal development for federal projects of diverse scale and complexity, managing the process from initial capture to submission and presentation.
• Develop proposal strategies, key themes, and compelling win messages that align with solicitation requirements and highlight company differentiators.
• Organize and facilitate all proposal-related activities and reviews, including kickoff sessions, strategic meetings, color evaluations, and final production.
• Maintain compliance and high quality in proposals through thorough solicitation analysis, creation of compliance matrices, detailed reviews, and oversight of final submissions.
• Collaborate across technical teams, proposal staff, and subconsultants to craft unified and consistent submissions.
• Assign proposal resources efficiently, anticipate workload demands, and guide proposal coordinators and contributors through mentorship.
• Engage in client debriefs and lessons-learned exercises to drive ongoing improvements in pursuit and proposal efforts.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 6 years of related experience.
• Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.
• Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience developing proposals for U.S. federal government clients.
• Experience developing proposals for environmental remediation, civil works, and/or water resilience contracts strongly preferred.
• Location near a major CDM Smith office preferred.

EEO Statement:

We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, childbirth and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression), national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Why CDM Smith?: Check out this video and find out why our team loves to work here! (

Join Us! CDM Smith where amazing career journeys unfold. Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co-workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where it's a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family.

Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.

Job Site Location: United States - Nationwide

Amount of Travel Required: 10%

Assignment Category: Fulltime-Regular

Visa Sponsorship Available: No - We will not support sponsorship, i.e. H-1B or TN Visas for this position

Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, including use of styles and templates.
• Familiarity with established business development methodologies (e.g., Miller?Heiman, Shipley).
• Ability to coordinate work and communicate effectively with geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong editing and proofreading skills for narrative content authored by technical professionals.
• Proven ability to manage multiple, concurrent deadlines in a fast?paced environment.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite.

Background Check and Drug Testing Information:

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as "CDM Smith") reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.

Pay Range Minimum: $78,478

Pay Range Maximum: $129,459

Additional Compensation: All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Work Location Options: Fully Remote or Hybrid Work Options may be considered for successful candidate.

Massachusetts Applicants: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.