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Proposal Writer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Manager, Proposal Writer Sales Enablement | Chicago, IL | Hybrid - 3 days/week in office Overview The Manager, Proposal Writer is an individual-contributor role responsible for writing and producing ...

Strong Business Writing/AP style preferred * Professional services experience a plus * Extensive ... Prior proposal experience preferred. Experience responding to Government proposals a plus. * Good ...

Strong Business Writing/AP style preferred * Professional services experience a plus * Extensive ... Prior proposal experience preferred. Experience responding to Government proposals a plus. * Good ...

Strong Business Writing/AP style preferred * Professional services experience a plus * Extensive ... Prior proposal experience preferred. Experience responding to Government proposals a plus. * Good ...

Proposal Director

Lombard, IL · On-site

$117K - $146K/yr

As the leader of a fast-paced proposal team, the Proposal Director ensures proposals reflect project strategy, are well written, compliant to the RFP, and reflect the Transdev brand. This position is ...

As the leader of a fast-paced proposal team, the Proposal Director ensures proposals reflect project strategy, are well written, compliant to the RFP, and reflect the Transdev brand. This position is ...

Proposal & RFP Specialist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

Develop, write, edit and assemble polished, customer-focused proposal responses while ensuring compliance with all requirements * Coordinate proposal timelines and deliverables across Sales ...

Proposal Coordinator

Crete, IL · On-site

$43K - $63K/yr

The appropriate candidate for this role will provide comprehensive support to the Proposal ... Excellent verbal and written communication skills. * Organized, professional, and self-motivated.

Proposal Coordinator

University Park, IL · On-site

$43K - $63K/yr

The appropriate candidate for this role will provide comprehensive support to the Proposal ... Excellent verbal and written communication skills. * Organized, professional, and self-motivated.

LEAD GRANT WRITER

Chicago, IL · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

The grant writer will organize all solicitations and requests for proposals in the public and private sectors. The Chief Operations Officer will determine what opportunities are most appropriate for ...

Sales Proposal Engineer

Warrenville, IL · On-site

$123K - $184K/yr

Excellent writing skills, writing clearly and informatively, are required. * Microsoft Office ... proposal engineering, cost estimating, project engineering, or project management is required.

Sales Proposal Engineer

Warrenville, IL · On-site

$123K - $184K/yr

Excellent writing skills, writing clearly and informatively, are required. * Microsoft Office ... proposal engineering, cost estimating, project engineering, or project management is required.

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Proposal Writer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$37.1K

$83.8K

$138.1K

How much do proposal writer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for proposal writer in Chicago, IL is $83,764.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,500.00 and $93,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a proposal writer typically collaborate with subject matter experts and other team members during the proposal development process?

A Proposal Writer often works closely with subject matter experts (SMEs), project managers, and business development teams to gather the technical, financial, and strategic information required for compelling proposals. This collaboration usually involves conducting interviews, facilitating content reviews, and coordinating input from various stakeholders to ensure the proposal is accurate and tailored to client needs. Effective communication and strong organizational skills are crucial to managing multiple contributors, meeting tight deadlines, and producing high-quality submissions. This teamwork helps ensure that the proposal aligns with both client expectations and company objectives.

What does a proposal writer do?

A Proposal Writer is responsible for creating documents that outline a company's products, services, or solutions in response to requests from clients or potential customers. Their main goal is to craft persuasive and clear proposals that showcase the value and benefits of their organization’s offerings, usually to secure new business or funding. Proposal Writers work closely with sales, marketing, and subject matter experts to gather information and tailor proposals to specific client needs. They must ensure proposals are compliant with client requirements and deadlines, and often manage multiple projects at once.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a proposal writer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Proposal Writer, you need excellent writing, research, and organizational skills, often supported by a degree in English, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with proposal management tools (such as RFPIO or Loopio), content management systems, and sometimes APMP certification is valuable. Strong attention to detail, collaboration, and the ability to work under deadlines are critical soft skills. These skills ensure persuasive, compliant proposals that meet client requirements and increase win rates in competitive bidding environments.

What is a proposal writer?

Proposal writers compose documents to gain support for a project, enter into a business agreement, or convince clients to buy products and services. To complete the proposal, they usually work with a team to research a specific issue, conduct interviews, collect information, and organize the data before submitting the application or sending the contract to a client. Proposal writers may work for non-profit organizations or private companies, or they may be freelancers who work for many different businesses. Some proposal writers specialize in a specific industry, such as grant writing for non-profit organizations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Proposal Writer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Proposal Writer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Infographic showing various Proposal Writer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 76% In-person, 12% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,764 per year, or $40.3 per hour.

Senior Proposal and Investment Writer

Heitman

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Company Description

Company: Heitman

Founded in 1966, Heitman LLC is a global real estate investment management firm with over $36 billion in assets under management. Heitman's real estate investment strategies include direct investments in the equity or debt capitalization of a property or in the securities of listed and publicly traded real estate companies. Heitman serves a global client base with clients from North American, European, Middle Eastern and Asia-Pacific institutions, pension plans, foundations and corporations and individual investors. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Los Angeles, London, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Munich, Warsaw, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and Melbourne, Heitman's over 300 employees offer specialized expertise - from a specific discipline to local insight.

Job Description

Our Chicago office is seeking a Senior Proposal Writer who will develop responses to requests for proposals and due diligence questionnaires from consultants and prospective clients. This position will also handle updating the PMAPs content library, develop marketing collateral for the firm's funds and strategies, and will edit client communications, including quarterly and annual reports. The Senior Proposal Writer will work across Heitman's three complementary business units and will support the firm globally.  This position will interact regularly with sales & client service, investment team members, and senior management. As the position will handle a high volume of work in a fast-paced environment, ideal candidates will exhibit strong attention to detail and the ability to effectively manage time and prioritize assignments.

Primary Duties - May include, but not limited to the following:

  • RFPs

    • Write, organize, edit and format responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) across all of Heitman's products and geographic regions

    • Analyze RFP requirements in order to write, answer, organize and edit proposal content

    • Coordinate sales and investment teams to establish RFP timelines and determine content ownership

    • Add new, update and maintain existing content within the firm's RFP database

    • Work with investment team members to develop and write new content

    • Ensure timely deliverable of quarterly updates, including documents in RFP library and updates to proposal database

    • Responsible for updating consultant databases on a regular basis

    • Provide feedback and recommendations to improve processes

    • Responsible for tracking, analysis and/or reporting on trends and RFP process effectiveness
  • Thought leadership development

    • Write, and coordinate development of various thought leadership pieces that can be leveraged across multiple platforms and present the firm's investment capabilities in the context of global secular and cyclical macroeconomic developments and client investment
      challenges and objectives

    • Collaborate with resident experts and author articles to be published in target industry and other publications

    • Review and edit client communications, including quarterly and annual reports

    • Responsible for tracking, analysis and/or reporting on effectiveness

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Excellent academic qualifications; Bachelor's degree required. Degrees in Journalism, English, Political Science, Marketing or Communications preferred.

EXPERIENCE

  • 7 years of direct job-related experience required

  • Financial services, real estate, or professional services industry experience a must

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - The following are essential:

  • Strong writing, editing, proofreading skills are essential

  • Direct experience leading, writing, editing and preparing RFPs

  • Direct experience leading, writing, editing and preparing thought leadership, content programs

  • Superior project management skills

  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills

  • High level of professionalism, client service skills and an enthusiastic team player

  • Ability to work efficiently and handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment

  • Must be a results-oriented self-starter with strong attention to detail

  • Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint

  • Experience working in PMAPS or Qvidian preferred

Additional Information

Interested professionals should apply via our website at www.heitman.com. Please make sure to select "careers" under the About tab to submit your cover letter and resume. If you are a Heitman employee, please make sure to apply using your Heitman email address.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Equal Employment Opportunity: Heitman is an equal employment opportunity employer and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, physical, medical or mental disability or condition (including, without limitation, HIV and AIDS), developmental disability, handicap, denial of family and medical care leave, denial of pregnancy leave, domestic partner status, status as a victim of sexual or domestic violence (or familial relationship to such victim), veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, arrest records, citizenship status, criminal history that has been expunged, unfavorable discharge from the military, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.