Contractual Senior Proposal Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Company Description
Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and consultancy company. As a foundation-owned people company, founded in Denmark, we believe that the purpose of sustainable change is to create a thriving world for both nature and people. So, that's where we start - and how we work. Our history is rooted in a clear vision of how a responsible company should act and being open and curious is a cornerstone of our culture. Ramboll in the Americas has thousands of experts working across more than 70 offices. Ramboll experts deliver innovative solutions across Environment & Health, Water, Energy, and Planning & Urban Design.
Senior Proposal Consultant
Job location - This position can be a remote or hybrid in the United States, with preference for candidates based in the mid-Atlantic area to facilitate collaboration with the regional team. Ramboll maintains offices across the Americas, and flexibility is offered to support virtual engagement with colleagues across the geography.
We invite you to bring your strategic mindset to help Ramboll Americas develop and win new business. As a Marketing/Proposal Consultant, you will join the Clients & Sales and Water teams, working within a collaborative, inclusive environment that values innovation and client-focused solutions. In this role, you will lead or support major pursuits and collaborate with business development colleagues, subject matter experts, and senior leadership to develop strategies and prepare materials for moderate to highly complex proposals, presentations, qualifications, and questionnaires. You will also contribute to market initiatives that strengthen business plans and position Ramboll for success in competitive markets.
Job Description
Your new role
As our new Senior Proposal Consultant, you are recognized as a proposal expert and strategic contributor, independently leading large and complex pursuits from capture planning through submission and interview. You own the pursuit development process, driving strategy, content, coordination, and quality while partnering closely with technical, market, and business development leaders to shape compelling, client-focused narratives and win themes.
This role combines advanced proposal management, storytelling, and content leadership, with accountability for delivering compliant, differentiated, and high-quality submissions. In addition to mentoring others and elevating pursuit quality and consistency, you contribute to governance and system improvements, share lessons learned and best practices, and influence how pursuits are positioned, prioritized, and executed to support sustained business development success.
Qualifications
Key Responsibilities:
• Independently lead end-to-end development of proposals and qualifications for mid-sized to large, complex pursuits, from capture planning through submission, interview and debriefs.
• Own pursuit planning and execution, including facilitating kick-off meetings and strategy sessions that define win themes, positioning, schedules, roles, and submission requirements.
• Partner with market leaders, business development, and subject matter experts to shape accurate, compelling, and client-focused responses, proactively driving alignment and decision-making.
• Develop strategic narratives, value propositions, and differentiators aligned with client goals, evaluation criteria, and win strategies.
• Serve as lead writer for non-technical sections and integrate multi-discipline content into cohesive, compliant, and persuasive submissions.
• Coordinate and guide contributors, tailoring content to client requirements while ensuring quality, consistency, and compliance.
• Oversee proposal quality control, including QA/QC reviews for accuracy, compliance, and brand alignment.
• Mentor Consultants and Coordinators on proposal strategy, writing, processes, and best practices.
• Maintain accurate and timely opportunity, pursuit, and client data within CRM systems, using data to support pursuit tracking, reporting, and post-pursuit insights.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of proposal templates, tools, standards, and pursuit materials.
• Provide feedback and insights to Market and Clients & Sales leadership on pursuit performance, client trends, and process improvements.
• Conduct market and client research to inform positioning, messaging, and pursuit strategy.
About you
From the moment you start at Ramboll, we will support your personal and professional development so that you can continue to grow with the company. While we look forward to supporting your continued learning and development, for this role we have identified some qualifications, skills, and capabilities that will set you up for success.
These include:
• Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree 7+ years of relevant experience in proposals, pursuits or professional services marketing (or Master's 5+).
• Proposal Leadership: Demonstrated ability to independently lead proposals and qualifications for AEC professional service or similar technical consulting services, with a strong understanding of delivery models, teaming structures, and client procurement processes.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong ability to interpret RFPs and RFQs, develop compliance strategies, identify win themes, and translate client needs into clear, compelling narratives.
• Writing & Storytelling: Advanced writing, editing, and content development skills, with the ability to produce client-focused, persuasive content and guide others in doing the same.
• Tools & Systems: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe InDesign; familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, SharePoint, Power BI, and CRM systems (Microsoft Dynamics or similar) is a plus.
• CRM & Research Acumen: Experience maintaining accurate pursuit and client data and using CRM and targeted market or client research to inform positioning, tracking, and post-pursuit insights.
• Project & Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to manage multiple large pursuits simultaneously, coordinate diverse contributor teams, and drive progress to deadline without direct authority.
• Professional Attributes: Proactive problem-solver with strong organizational and interpersonal skills; detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and comfortable making decisions in dynamic pursuit environments.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Motivated by mentoring others, providing constructive feedback, and contributing to continuous improvement across proposal processes and governance.
Additional Information
What we can offer you
• Meaningful Work: The opportunity to contribute to projects that create sustainable solutions and make a positive impact on society.
• Collaboration & Expertise: Work alongside some of the best and brightest professionals in the industry, sharing knowledge and learning every day.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Options for remote or hybrid work to support your work-life balance.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive health, wellness, and retirement plans, plus generous paid time off.
• Professional Growth: Investment in your development through training, mentoring, and career progression opportunities.
Where People Flourish
Our mission is to create sustainable societies where people and nature flourish. This means that a culture of inclusion is embedded in everything we do. Our people bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to the company, enabling us to deliver innovative and forward-thinking solutions to our clients. We also know how important it is to achieve the right balance of where, when, and how much you work. At Ramboll, we offer flexibility as part of our positive and inclusive approach to work. We are committed to equal employment opportunity, regardless of age, disability or medical condition, gender identity, marriage and domestic partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, military service and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Ramboll wants to ensure opportunities are accessible to candidates with disabilities. So, please let us know if there are any changes we could make to the application process to make it more comfortable for you. You can contact us at job.advert.accessibility@ramboll.com with such requests.
Ramboll in Americas
Founded in Denmark, Ramboll is a people company that has over 2,000 experts working across more than 60 offices in the Americas applying their passion to deliver innovative solutions across Buildings, Transport, Energy, Environment & Health, Water, Management Consulting, and Architecture and Landscape. As a company, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact, contributing to a cohesive society with equal rights and opportunities for all, and fostering a culture of excellence, enjoyment, and equal opportunities for all our employees. We invite you to contribute to a sustainable future working in an open, collaborative, and empowering culture.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
Responsible business conduct and sustainable practices have been part of Ramboll's DNA since the company's inception. Today these principles are an integral part of Our Mission and services and are formalized through our systematic work with the UN sustainable development goals. We are dedicated to taking a leading role in sharing best practices and creating value for clients by delivering solutions that are environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. We have also committed to ambitious targets to maximize our own sustainability performance and set the industry benchmark.
Where People Flourish
Our mission is to create sustainable societies where people and nature flourish. This means that a culture of inclusion is embedded in everything we do. Our people bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to the company, enabling us to deliver innovative and forward-thinking solutions to our clients. We also know how important it is to achieve the right balance of where, when, and how much you work. At Ramboll, we offer flexibility as part of our positive and inclusive approach to work. We are committed to equal employment opportunity, regardless of age, disability or medical condition, gender identity, marriage and domestic partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, military service and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Ramboll wants to ensure opportunities are accessible to candidates with disabilities. So, please let us know if there are any changes we could make to the application process to make it more comfortable for you. You can contact us at job.advert.accessibility@ramboll.com with such requests.
Salary Transparency
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $68,000 - $95,000 annually and does not include bonuses, overtime or other forms of compensation or benefits. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.
Ready to join us?
Please submit your application. Be sure to include all relevant documents including your CV and a cover letter connecting your background to the responsibilities of the position. Please note, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. No sponsorship is available for this position.
Thank you for taking the time to apply, we look forward to receiving your application!