Proposal Specialist

The Proposal Specialist combines strategic communication, visual design, and project management to help drive the company's growth and success. This role leads the development of compelling proposals, qualifications packages, and client interview presentations that showcase the KLJ’s expertise in competitive pursuits. 

Working closely with technical experts, project managers, and business leaders, the Proposal Specialist transforms complex information into persuasive content and engaging visual communications. Through strong writing, graphic design, branding, and storytelling skills, this individual develops high-impact deliverables that communicate value, strengthen client connections, and support winning business opportunities. 

The ideal candidate is both creative and detail-oriented, with a passion for design, visual storytelling, and collaboration. They are comfortable managing multiple deadlines, developing strategic messaging, creating graphics and presentation materials, and bringing ideas to life through visually compelling marketing and business development materials. 

Essential Functions   

• Sets, enforces, and maintains timelines for successful completion of proposals
• Drafts responses to RFPs and other client deliverables as assigned, writes content and coordinates graphics for a completed proposal that accurately reflects RFP requirements
• Designs proposal layouts, infographics, charts, maps, and visual content that communicate technical information clearly and effectively
• Utilizes effective written and oral communication
• Translates complex engineering concepts into visually engaging graphics and presentations

 Responsibilities   

• Interviews and gathers information to customize RFP responses with input from business line leaders and/or subject-matter experts
• Provides copywriting for proposal content including scope of services, project approaches, customized project roles and bios, etc.
• Provides quality control review, proofing and editing of all proposal and presentation material, and oversees final production and delivery of proposals

 Qualifications   

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, graphic design, journalism, English, business, or a related field; equivalent experience considered
• Proficiency with computers

Preferences   

• Experience with Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat
• Experience creating infographics, presentations, and branded marketing collateral
• Knowledge of visual communication, page layout, typography, and graphic design principles
• Experience developing PowerPoint presentations and presentation graphics

 Skills   

• Using the guidelines provided, apply judgment and interpretation skills to complete duties.

 Abilities   

• Management does not exist or is limited in scope
• Use common courtesy while interacting with people to satisfactorily perform the job
• Activities allow the individual to provide a recommendation used by others when making decisions
• Complete assignments independently and obtain guidance for unfamiliar tasks, problems and situations

At KLJ, we have a vested interest in the personal, financial, and professional goals of our employees. The salary for this position is expected to range between $45,000 - $62,000. Factors that may be used to determine actual salary include education (or applicable experience), training, job location, competencies relevant to the role, and internal equity. We offer a competitive full suite benefit package including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, performance bonus, 401k, employee stock ownership program and a flexible work environment that gives you options to support excelling both professionally and personally. The options available for the current year are described at www.kljeng.com/careers/benefits.   

Hours and Travel
This position requires the individual work 40 hours per week with 100% of time spent in the office.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.
The Employee Is Regularly Required To   

• Sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, twist, crouch and crawl
• Use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms
• Talk or hear and communicate clearly

 The Employee Must   

• Frequently lift and move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Other Duties
This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive or restrictive and other duties may be assigned. It is a description of the job as presently defined, and is subject at any time to revision. This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities, as needed.