Proposal Development Manager Jobs in Delaware (NOW HIRING)

Basic Function: Responsible for developing high-quality, technically accurate, and competitive fee proposals for land development projects. This role collaborates closely with civil engineers, surveyors, landscape architects, project managers, and the marketing team to produce compelling responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Qualifications (RFQs). The ideal candidate can translate complex technical concepts into clear, persuasive narratives while coordinating scope, staffing, and pricing strategies.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities included but not limited to: 

• Lead preparation of proposals, qualifications packages, and statements of interest 
• Align proposals with billing rates, utilization targets, and profitability goals 
• Write, edit, and format proposal materials 
• Analyze RFP/RFQ requirements and develop compliant outlines and schedules 
• Coordinate with principals, regional leaders, and project managers to gather content 
• Collaborate with leadership and project managers to define scope and fee estimates 
• Ensure all submissions meet client requirements, deadlines, and formatting standards 
• Review scope and pricing for accuracy, completeness, and competitiveness 
• Facilitate proposal strategy meetings and manage schedules 
• Track assignments and ensure timely input from technical staff 
• Confirm proposed approaches meet engineering standards and regulatory requirements 
• Perform final editing, formatting, and quality assurance reviews 
• Ensure consistency with branding standards and submission requirements 
• Maintain and enhance proposal templates and processes 
• Maintain project descriptions, resumes, and proposal boilerplate content 
• Support go/no-go decisions and pursuit strategy development 
• Assist with interview preparation and presentation materials 
• Contribute to marketing content (campaigns, press releases, thought leadership) 
• Manage CRM data (Deltek Vantagepoint, Cosential, or similar) 
• Coordinate conferences, events, and promotional materials; attend as needed 
• Support additional marketing and business development initiatives as assigned 

Qualifications/Skills:

• Strong technical writing and editing skills 
• High attention to detail 
• Excellent organization and time management 
• Ability to clearly communicate engineering concepts 
• Experience with fee development, labor projections, and project budgeting 
• Strategic mindset for competitive pursuits 
• Strong collaboration skills across technical and creative teams 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Project, Outlook).
• Commitment to professional development, continuing education.
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) 
• Adobe Acrobat and InDesign 
• CRM systems (Deltek Vantagepoint, Cosential, or similar) 

Education/Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Technical Writing, Marketing, or related field preferred, but not required
• 5+ years of AEC proposal writing or technical proposal development experience 
• Experience supporting civil engineering or land development projects preferred 
• Familiarity with public and private sector RFP processes 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop; kneel; bend; sit; crouch; and talk; and hear. The employee is required to sit for a substantial amount of time. The employee must be able to lift and/or move at least 10lbs occasionally (overhead, waist level) from the floor. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

Requirements, skills, and abilities described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned as deemed appropriate. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.