Proposal Specialist

Marketing & Proposal Specialist Public Sector | AEC Industry | Southern California Build the story behind the projects that shape cities. This is not a traditional marketing role. This position sits at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and public infrastructure —where your words and visuals directly influence which firms are entrusted with multimillion‑dollar civic projects. If you thrive in deadline‑driven environments, enjoy translating technical concepts into compelling narratives, and want your work to have a visible, lasting impact on communities, this role was built for you. What You'll Do Lead High‑Stakes Proposals Own the end‑to‑end proposal process for public‑sector pursuits (RFQs, RFPs, SOQs). Develop project‑specific win themes that differentiate the firm in competitive procurements. Coordinate with executives, project managers, and technical teams to produce compliant, persuasive submissions—on time, every time. Turn Complexity into Clarity Translate construction management, engineering, and infrastructure concepts into clear, client‑focused narratives . Craft executive summaries that evaluators actually want to read. Shape the Brand Design and maintain marketing collateral including resumes, project sheets, and proposal templates. Ensure all materials align with established brand standards—visually and verbally. Support website updates and professional social media content tied to business development goals. Support Business Development Track opportunities in a CRM and support leadership with pursuit strategy, interview prep, and presentation materials. Research agencies, competitors, and market trends to inform smarter go/no‑go decisions. What We're Looking For Required Experience 5-10 years of marketing and proposal experience within the Architecture, Engineering, or Construction (AEC) industry (7-15 years for a Senior ‑level candidate) Technical Skills (Non‑Negotiable) Adobe InDesign expertise—this role lives in it Experience with AEC‑focused CRM systems (Deltek, Unanet/Cosential strongly preferred) Strong command of written English with an eye for structure, tone, and persuasion Education Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, English, Journalism, Creative Writing, or a related field preferred Soft Skills That Matter Here Obsessive attention to detail Calm under deadline pressure Confidence collaborating with Senior leaders and technical experts Ability to think strategically, not just execute tasks Why This Role Stands Out Your work directly supports public infrastructure projects —schools, hospitals, courthouses, transportation, and utilities. You'll operate in a high‑trust role with real ownership, not just production work. Professional development is actively supported through annual education and training budgets . Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a collaborative, low‑ego culture. Location & Flexibility Southern California-based role with access to multiple regional offices. Hybrid flexibility may be available depending on experience and role level.

This role is ideal for:

AEC Proposal Specialists, Marketing Coordinators ready for the next step, or Senior Proposal Managers who want more strategic influence without sacrificing hands‑on work. If you're ready to own pursuits that shape skylines and serve the public good, this is your seat at the table. Job Type & Location This is a Permanent position based out of Pasadena, CA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $50000.00 - $80000.00/yr. Key Employee Benefits at PACE (pacewater.com):

Health & Wellness:

Medical, dental, and vision plans, Flexible Spending Accounts (HSA), and reimbursement for wellness programs.

Financial Security:

401(k) matching and life/disability insurance.

Professional Development:

Tuition reimbursement, in-house training, mentorship, and specialized training in water resource management.

Culture:

Regular, team-building events like in-house massages, yoga Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Pasadena,CA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Apr 17, 2026. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through: Hiring diverse talent Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes Ensuring growth opportunities for our people Actalent is an equal opportunity employer. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day. Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.