Development Writer Jobs in Portland, ME (NOW HIRING)

Do you enjoy transforming complex technical information into clear, compelling, and compliant proposal responses?

BerryDunn is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented, and motivated Proposal Writer to join our growing Business Development team. In this role, you will lead the development of proposals from initiation through submission, partnering with business development professionals and subject matter experts to create compelling, compliant, and persuasive content that reflects BerryDunn's expertise, value, and culture.

Our ideal candidate is a strong writer who can quickly understand complex subject matter and translate technical concepts into clear, client-focused messaging. You are organized, adaptable, and comfortable managing multiple deadlines and competing priorities while maintaining a high standard of quality, accuracy, and attention to detail. Success in this role requires the ability to analyze solicitation requirements, adhere to established proposal processes, and develop well-organized responses that align with client needs and procurement requirements. You are comfortable leveraging existing resources and proven content while tailoring responses to address unique client needs, and you take pride in producing polished work, communicating effectively with contributors, and delivering results in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

This is more than just a writing role. It is an opportunity to shape how BerryDunn communicates its expertise, supports meaningful client work, and pursues new opportunities. As you grow in the role, you will continue to strengthen your proposal management, collaboration, and content development skills while contributing to increasingly complex pursuits and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and shared success.

This position reports to a Manager/Cohort Lead and can be based in our Portland, Maine office, another BerryDunn location, or remotely in select cases.

• Lead the development of compelling, compliant, high-quality proposals for core and established services from initiation through submission
• Analyze solicitation documents to interpret requirements, identify key compliance considerations, and develop clear outlines and response structures
• Leverage existing content and customize with guidance to help ensure clarity, accuracy, and aligned messaging
• Collaborate with proposal team members, subject matter experts, and internal partners to gather content, clarify information, and meet strict proposal deadlines
• Develop and manage proposal schedules, coordinate reviews, and follow up with contributors to keep assignments progressing on time
• Manage multiple concurrent proposals with varying requirements, stakeholders, and deadlines while maintaining quality and attention to detail
• Conduct targeted client and opportunity research to inform proposal strategy, content development, and competitive positioning
• Develop and refine interview and presentation materials, including slide decks, letters, leave-behinds, and supporting documentation in collaboration with subject matter experts
• Maintain proposal content libraries, templates, document repositories, and business development data to support accurate reporting and future pursuits
• Use tools such as Salesforce, SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, and Loopio to support proposal processes, collaboration, and pipeline maintenance
• Continuously build knowledge of assigned services, procurement processes, and proposal management best practices
• Travel occasionally, less than 5%

• A bachelor's degree, preferably in English, journalism, communications, marketing, or a related field
• Minimum of one to three years of experience developing proposals, technical documents, professional communications, grants, articles, or similar written deliverables, ideally within a professional services or government contracting environment
• Strong ability to understand, organize, and communicate complex or technical information
• Ability to analyze solicitation requirements, interpret complex instructions, and develop compliant, responsive proposal content.
• Excellent writing, editing, analytical, and organizational skills, with exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment, balancing independent and collaborative work
• Ability to work effectively with technical subject matter experts and translate specialized information into clear, client-focused responses
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and workstyles
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to independently research, gather, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple sources to support proposal strategy and content development
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft O365 applications, particularly Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Excel, and Copilot, with the ability to develop polished documents using built-in styles, branded templates, and established style guidelines
• Writing samples that demonstrate clarity, creativity, and strategic thinking, preferred
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and the ability to apply them in Microsoft Word and PDF documents is a plus
• Industry certifications, such as APMP or Shipley, preferred

The base salary range targeted for this role is $55,000 to $75,000. This salary range represents BerryDunn's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. If an applicant possesses experience, education, or other qualifications more than the minimum requirements for this posting, that applicant is encouraged to apply, and a final salary range may then be based on those additional qualifications; compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, years of experience, depth of experience, seniority, merit, education, training, amount of travel, and other relevant business considerations.

Our people are what make BerryDunn special, and in return we strive to support our employees and help them thrive. Eligible employees have access to benefits that go beyond what's expected to support their physical, mental, career, social, and financial well-being. Visit our website for a complete list of benefits and a look into our culture: Experience BerryDunn.

We will ensure that individuals are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process or perform essential job functions. Please contact careers@berrydunn.com to request an accommodation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

About BerryDunn

BerryDunn is the brand name under which Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC and BDMP Assurance, LLP, independently owned entities, provide services. Since 1974, BerryDunn has helped businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies throughout the US and its territories solve their greatest challenges. The firm's tax, advisory, and consulting services are provided by Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC, and its attest services are provided by BDMP Assurance, LLP, a licensed CPA firm. 

BerryDunn is a client-centered, people-first professional services firm with a mission to empower the meaningful growth of our people, clients, and communities. Led by CEO Sarah Belliveau, the firm has been recognized for its efforts in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, and for its focus on learning, development, and well-being. Learn more at berrydunn.com.