Job Description

The Opportunity:

SME is seeking a dynamic Proposal + Marketing Specialist to lead the development of high-impact proposals and support the broader marketing team in delivering a range of marketing initiatives. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys balancing proposal management with creative marketing tasks.

While the primary focus of this position is leading the development of proposals and qualifications packages, the Proposal + Marketing Specialist will also play a key role in supporting the marketing team with a variety of deliverables, from collateral creation and social media support to event coordination and internal communications. This hybrid role offers the opportunity to contribute broadly to SME’s marketing initiatives while honing expertise in proposal strategy and execution.

Responsibilities:

Proposal Leadership:

• Lead the preparation, writing, and production of formal and informal client solicitations, including RFQs, RFPs, and pre-qualification packages.

• Coordinate proposal content, schedules, templates, compliance, and production, ensuring timely and accurate submissions.

• Serve as lead writer/editor for resumes, project profiles, and past performance sections.

• Design and layout proposals using InDesign and other creative tools, ensuring visual and technical excellence.

• Facilitate proposal reviews, apply lessons learned, and manage revisions based on team feedback.

• Conduct internal debriefs and review client feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Marketing Team Support:

• Collaborate with marketing, business development, and operations teams to develop and update marketing collateral, case studies, project sheets, and capability summaries.

• Support the creation of graphics, presentations, and other marketing deliverables as needed.

• Assist with market research, content planning, and campaign execution to advance SME’s strategic marketing goals.

• Provide guidance and mentorship to entry-level proposal and marketing team members.

• Participate in go/no-go meetings and capture planning activities.

Generalist Contributions:

• Flexibly support the marketing team with additional tasks such as event coordination, social media content, internal communications, and other marketing projects as assigned.

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of SME’s quality procedures, approval processes, and brand standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or related field.

• 3+ years of experience in proposal development and marketing support, preferably in the A/E/C industry.

• Ability to drive proposal process from leads through submission / interview / decision / follow-up.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud.

• Strong writing, editing, and project management skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with initiative and attention to detail.

• Experience with collaborative tools (Teams, SharePoint) and data analytics is a plus.

Preferred Attributes

• Creative thinker with a passion for storytelling and visual communication.

• Team player who can work independently and collaboratively.

• Commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth.

Benefits:

At SME, we believe that taking care of our employees is the cornerstone of our success. Our commitment to your well-being goes beyond a job- it is about helping you thrive both personally and professionally. We offer a benefits package that is not simply meeting expectations, but a key component of your overall job satisfaction. The following list highlights many of the benefits SME offers its employees.

• SME provides Medical, Dental, and Vision after 30 days of employment.
• SME covers the premium cost of medical insurance so that you and your families never have to worry about the costs of healthcare.
• 401k match
• Yearly profit sharing that goes directly into your 401k
• Yearly performance bonuses
• Yearly wage evaluations
• Flexible Spending Account
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• Volunteer Time Off