Description

Arcadis is searching for a Pursuit & Proposal Specialist to join our growing Resilience Environment team, and to collaborate with our technical, project management, and corporate teams. As a valued member of a collaborative team, you will be an active participant throughout the entire pursuit/proposal lifecycle to support the development and implementation of strategy, client/pursuit plans, and business development efforts.

Preferred location: Arcadis offers hybrid work flexibility and is open to candidates’ location.

At Arcadis we focus on attracting, retaining, and developing people who share our passion and commitment to improve quality of life. In return, we offer you the opportunity to transform your world and the world around you, that could be through client work, upskilling yourself, championing equality and inclusion or getting involved in charity work, to name just a few. Our people value different perspectives, they care about the sustainability of our planet and dare to shape the future.

One of our core values is ‘people first’, and supported by our Lovinklaan foundation, we invest in you for the long term, to ensure you reach your full potential. You’ll have the opportunity to own your career and work on industry-defining projects, finding solutions to real challenges that make a difference to people’s lives. You’re encouraged to have a growth mindset and are given the space to develop personally and professionally, building a flexible career that works for you.

Role description:

This is an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated individual to join our international team with support from one of the best-qualified full-service environmental consulting firms in the world. The Pursuit & Proposal Specialist, with the support of strong, internationally recognized staff, will utilize their expertise and knowledge of the full pursuit process, from positioning and capture planning through post-proposal submittal debriefing, in supporting client teams to successfully win projects. Their primary focus is the planning, scheduling, development, and finalization of responses to client requests for qualification, proposals, bids, and presentations that result in contract and/or project awards.

Role accountabilities:

•                     Collaborates with other Pursuit & Proposal Specialists, Market Sector Leaders, Technical Solution Leaders, Account Leaders, assigned Pursuit Leaders, and Project Managers to support proposal preparation and production.
•                     Participates in capture planning/win strategy development with key role of identifying proposal needs (resources, materials, information, expertise, etc.) and in developing and carrying out win strategy tactics.
•                     Plans and conducts research of internal capabilities and resources to meet opportunity specific requirements, collects information/materials and works with capture/proposal teams to develop new or tailored information/materials.
•                     Serves as Lead Proposal Manager or Proposal Support Resource to accomplish the following:
  •                     Contribute to winning strategy development
  •                     Coordinate and contribute to go/no-go discussions
  •                     Review and interpret Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
  •                     Develop proposal management plans
  •                     Develop/manage/respond to data calls
  •                     Develop kickoff and other meeting agendas
  •                     Coordinate proposal team activities and meetings
  •                     Develop/drive schedules
  •                     Facilitate quality reviews
  •                     Drive RFP compliance/requirements
  •                     Meet proposal production and delivery deadlines
•                  Writes new text and/or tailors existing materials, which may include interviewing staff/technical experts, incorporating win strategy/capture plan information into text, meeting RFP requirements, and providing the most competitive RFP responses.
•                  Assists other Pursuit and Proposal Specialists with planning, reporting, research, client/Account Leader communication, etc. as needed/available.
•                  Provides clear, concise written and verbal instructions and directions for proposal team action items and follows up on progress.
•                  Develops proposal specific templates and data call requests.
•               Works with graphic designers and other proposal team members to communicate requirements, needs, and product expectations.
•               Coordinates with other Pursuit and Proposal Specialists for resources/support, expertise, and workload balancing.
•               Performs a variety of data and knowledge management activities, such as updating, organizing, cataloging, and storing information for current and future proposal/marketing needs.
•               Supports business development pipeline information collection, updating, and report preparation.
•               Supports other client development efforts, such as Marketing/Communications (Sales Collateral, Trade Shows/Conferences, etc.) and Tools & Systems (CRM, Knowledge Library), as needed and available.

Requirements

Required/Preferred Qualifications:

•               Minimum 5 years of A/E/C industry experience as a marketing, proposal, or business development specialist.
•               Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, marketing, business administration, engineering, science or architecture or a related field is required (or equivalent professional experience).
•               Experience developing and writing proposals; thorough understanding of the RFP and proposal-development processes is required.
•               Experience in persuasive writing and developing features, advantages, and benefits.
•               Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
•               Experience with Adobe Creative Suite preferred, especially InDesign.
•               Working knowledge of Office365 Applications, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams preferred
•               APMP or SMPS Certification is preferred but not required.

Skills and Abilities:

•               Leadership – Willingness and confidence to offer opinions and direction.
•               Dependability – Excellent planning and organizational skills – develops realistic action plans, uses time efficiently, and meets deadlines.
•               Creativity – Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational and personal sales skills.
•               Innovation – Demonstrate innovative thinking to improve/drive plans and ideas.
•               Collaboration - Commitment to working with fellow marketing and proposal staff, marketing resource support staff, and client teams in an engaging, positive way.
•               Agility – Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment – learns quickly and asks questions to develop a deep understanding of the organization.
•               Flexibility – Able to work flexible schedule (e.g., extra hours to meet deadlines) and able to shift priorities frequently while maintaining attention to detail, meet deadlines, and achieve high quality standards.
•               Quality & Results Oriented – Resourceful, accountable, motivated, energetic and results-oriented team player with a commitment to achieving goals and a strong service orientation.
•               Market & Client Oriented – Has an external orientation and understanding that all opportunities start with knowledge of how to create value for our clients.
•               Forward Thinking – Has the ability to motivate, lead by example, and encourage teamwork and effective cooperation. Demonstrates creativity, initiative, and the ability to think strategically and help teams develop and implement sound client and pursuit strategies.
•               Excellent Communication & Listening Skills – Ability to prepare and present information to all levels of client and internal organizations and craft and execute clear messaging.
•               Organized & Accountable – Excellent organizational skills and ability to coordinate the activities of various team members, hold people accountable, and prioritize tasks when faced with multiple priorities.
• Highly Ethical – Leads with a strong set of values aligned with Arcadis values, business principles and Health & Safety standards.