Business Development & Proposal Manager

GFT is hiring a Business Development & Proposal Manager to strengthen growth efforts for complex pursuits across its West Team. This remote role supports business development and proposal execution through the BD Lifecycle Program (BDLP), with a focus on transportation clients in California.

Working within GFT’s Strategic Growth Office, you’ll help shape capture and proposal strategies, lead long-term pursuits in parallel, and coordinate internal resources and client-facing support to move opportunities from early planning through interviews and submission.

What You Will Do

• Own internal support across the BD Lifecycle Program (BDLP), covering client management phase through proposal development, including managing proposal efforts and participating in writing and reviewing.
• Manage and/or assist business development leadership with proposal workload and resourcing for regional or global business development teams.
• Assure the capture strategy is defined and transitioned into the proposal strategy through the proposal development phases and final submittal/interviews, as required.
• Lead multiple large, long-term, and complex pursuits concurrently.
• Develop interview materials and collaborate with the manager for input and oversight.
• Lead win theme development and messaging through discussion and writing, and organize internal resources to support proposal production (such as graphics, other proposal specialists, print production, and operations) without requiring direct oversight.
• Proactively identify pipeline opportunities that should begin capture, initiate capture planning support with the business line, and lead concurrent capture planning efforts with no manager oversight required.
• Research and drive opportunity development with the Capture Manager, establish priorities across concurrent opportunities, and align priorities with the Capture Manager.
• Flex within best-practice frameworks while using capture management plans aligned to company templates and standards.
• Maintain and update CRM documentation.
• Coordinate with MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for business line pre-positioning activities led by MARCOM and overseen by the BD&P Manager.
• Support client and teaming relationship development in coordination with client or capture managers, including participating in industry activities such as trade shows to develop relationships and advance opportunities.
• Lead Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 client management plans for a single business line without manager oversight required.
• Communicate and prioritize BDM support efforts based on understanding of the business plan, facilitate client management meetings, and ensure CRM documentation is captured.

Team and Leadership Responsibilities

• May manage one or more assistant proposal specialists/proposal specialists day-to-day by assigning tasks, reviewing work for compliance with quality and department practices and procedures.
• May serve as timesheet approver, perform Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER), and recommend training, including input to the annual training plan for the department.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Normally requires a 4-year degree in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or an applicable field.
• Must have requisite experience in California, including Transportation clients in the state of California.
• Minimum experience requirement: 3 years.
• Certification or training in business development, marketing, communications, or sales through an industry professional organization is highly desirable.

Preferred Experience

• Normally 10+ years of combined experience across the full lifecycle of business development (marketing, communications, client, capture, and proposal phases), with most experience focused in one or more core business lines.
• Minimum of 3 years supporting, facilitating, and participating in capture planning support.
• Demonstrated success taking opportunities from capture support through performing proposal management responsibilities.
• Minimum of 5 years with increasing responsibility across business development lifecycle phases (marketing, communication, client, capture, proposal).
• At least 2 years of experience supervising staff (if applicable).

Compensation, Location, and Status

• Salary range: $125,000 - $165,000 per year (dependent upon experience and geographic location).
• Location: Phoenix, AZ (remote).
• Core business hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
• Employment status: Full-Time.
• Role alignment locations listed: Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Seattle.

Tools

• CRM

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, plus medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
• Commitment to professional development with access to internal and external training programs and support for participation in professional organizations.

Company Overview

GFT is a privately held AEC firm that innovates where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. GFT measures success through long-term relationships and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.

Fair Chance Considerations

• Los Angeles County applicants: qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
• San Francisco applicants: pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered.
• California applicants: qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.