Business Development & Proposal Manager

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Business Development & Proposal Manager to join our West Team in either NorCal, SoCal, Washington or Arizona!

This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our closest office.

At GFT, we’re not just pursuing projects—we’re strategically capturing opportunities that shape our communities. The Strategic Growth Office is the engine behind GFT’s enterprise-wide growth. It fuels our most significant pursuits by aligning talent, insights, and strategy to win complex, high-impact projects.

From vision through delivery, we partner across all Business Groups to develop compelling, competitive proposals that reflect our core values and technical excellence.

What You’ll Be Challenged To Do

• Supervise one or more assistant proposal specialists/proposal specialists on a day-to-day basis.
• Manage and/or assist Business Development Manager or Leader with proposal workload and resourcing for regional or global business development team.
• Serve as timesheet approver, perform Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER), and recommend training for staff and provide input to annual training plan for department.
• Manage and lead proposal efforts and/or participate routinely in the writing and reviewing of the proposal.
• Lead multiple large, long-term and complex pursuits concurrently.
• Develop and organize resources to support overall proposal effort (graphics, other proposal specialists, print production, operations, etc.).

Proposals

• Manages proposals and assures the capture strategy is defined and transitioned to the proposal strategy through the course of proposal development phases and final submittal/interviews, as required.
• Leads interview development and works closely with Manager for input and oversight.
• Develops key strategic win theme development and messaging and organizes resources to support overall proposal effort.

Capture Planning

• Proactively identifies opportunities in the pipeline that should start capture and then initiates with the business line, promoting and leading Capture Planning support efforts for longer-term, complex opportunities concurrently with no oversight required by Manager.
• Researches and drives the development of the opportunity with the Capture Manager, concurrently working across multiple opportunities at any given time and establishing priorities per each opportunity in alignment with the Capture Manager.
• Able to flex within the framework of best practices, keeps all CRM documentation updated, uses capture management plans in accordance with company templates and standards, coordinates with respective MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for the business line for early opportunity pre-positioning activities that will be led by MARCOM and overseen by the BD&P Manager.

Client Management

• In support of the client manager, develops client and teaming relationships at the direction of the client or capture managers.
• Leads any Tier 1 and/or 2 client management plans for a single business line with no oversight from Manager required.
• Communicates/prioritizes BDM support efforts based on understanding of business plan, facilitates client management meetings, and assures documentation in CRM.
• Coordinates with respective MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for the business line for early client pre-positioning activities that will be led by MARCOM and overseen by the BD&P Manager.

Education | Experience

• Normally a 4-year degree required in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or applicable field is required.
• Must have the requisite experience in California.
• What We Prefer You Bring:
• Normally 10+ years of total combined experience in the full lifecycle of business development (marketing, communications, client, capture, and proposal phases), with most of the experience focused in one or more of GFT's core business lines.
• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience supporting, facilitating, and participating in capture planning support.
• Demonstrated success in taking opportunities successfully from capture support though and including successfully performing all phases of proposal management responsibilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated increasing responsibility in the business development lifecycle phases (marketing, communication, client, capture, proposal).
• At least 2 years of experience supervising staff (if applicable).
• Certification or training in business development, marketing, communications, or sales received through an industry professional organization is highly desirable.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $125,000 - $165,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Featured Benefits

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

Company Overview

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

Equal Opportunity Employer

GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.