Lead, Corporate Business Development Specialist

Requisition ID: 110189 Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued. People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.About American WaterAmerican Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.Position Details:Posted Range: $83,550-$137,380The base salary range represents a good faith salary range for this position. This position is eligible for annual incentive pay and has the opportunity for continued salary growth. If you are hired at American Water your base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as market, geography, skills, education and/or experience. At American Water, we are committed to pay equity. In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k),Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more! American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally! Primary Role:The Lead, Corporate Business Development Specialist serves as a key strategic contributor responsible for independently coordinating, communicating, and advancing acquisition initiatives aligned with American Water’s growth objectives. This role leads the development, writing, and management of complex RFP and bid responses, ensuring all submissions are persuasive, compliant, and delivered with minimal supervision. Additionally, the position produces high‑quality external communications that strengthen American Water’s market presence, support strategic priorities, and effectively position growth opportunities across target audiences.This role will be Hybrid with 3 days in the office and 2 days work from home.Key Accountabilities:Serve as the primary writer for high‑quality, persuasive, and fully compliant bid and proposal responses, letters of intent, and related materials—consistently delivering polished content with minimal oversight. Develop and refine bid response templates to streamline future submissions.Lead continuous improvement efforts by independently identifying opportunities to enhance processes, templates, and workflows, and by implementing best‑practice standards for the bid and proposal function.Write, edit, and produce quarterly external newsletters for American Water’s regulated states, regularly achieving engagement rates that exceed industry benchmarks.Support State Business Development growth initiatives by independently creating strategic, deal‑specific collateral—including one‑pagers, educational content, presentations, and talking points—that effectively position American Water as a trusted solutions provider.Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with acquisition and origination stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and alignment on key priorities.Manage partnerships across assigned business areas, ensuring timely delivery of high‑quality projects and continually driving improvements in content development and communication processes.Proactively identify risks, issues, or improvement opportunities and escalate them with clear, concise recommendations.Perform additional writing, communication, and project responsibilities as needed, demonstrating agility and the ability to operate with limited supervision.Knowledge/Skills:Deep knowledge of end to end proposal development (intake, compliance matrices, win themes, storyboarding, color reviews, production, submission).Working knowledge of pipeline management, opportunity qualification, competitive analysis, pricing narratives, and value proposition design.Understanding of the regulatory environment impacting acquisitions and service delivery preferred.Familiarity with confidentiality, conflict of interest, and data handling protocols; ability to maintain audit ready documentation.Understanding of brand architecture, tone of voice, and message discipline across channels.Advanced written and excellent verbal communication skills, including proficiency in drafting RFP responses and developing presentations.Excellent interpersonal skills (e.g., persuasion, listening, cooperation, diplomacy, problem solving, and internal consulting).Strong project management skills (e.g., planning, organizing, directing, monitoring, and reporting on project activities).Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.Ability to work both individually and within a team environment.Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint, Word, and SharePoint.Demonstrated ability to prioritize and re-prioritize quickly, multi-task, and meet strict deadlines while maintaining high-quality standards.Experience/Education:Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, English or related field.Relevant work experience in lieu of degree may be considered. With a bachelor’s degree, 8+ years’ experience in communications or marketing.Without a bachelor’s degree, 14+ years’ experience in communications or marketing.Proven experience in developing bid/proposal responses and managing complex projects.Experience working in a regulated industry or utility sector preferred.This role involves regular written communication. As part of the recruitment process all finalist candidates will be asked to submit a writing exercise.Travel Requirements:Less than 20%, as required.Work Enviroment:Standard indoor office environment. Compentencies:Champions safetyCustomer obsessedCultivates innovationDrives ResultsNimble learningCollaborates#LI-LZJoin American Water...We Keep Life FlowingAmerican Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.