Proposal Specialist

About the role

The Proposal Specialist with Graphic Design expertise is responsible for developing visually compelling, compliant, and persuasive proposal responses in support of sales efforts. This role blends strong proposal writing and coordination skills with advanced graphic design capabilities to produce high-quality, customer-facing documents that clearly communicate value, differentiate solutions, and align with brand standards. When the Proposal Specialist is not supporting proposals, they will partner with team members to create graphics and/or post-submission collateral like customer presentations.

What You Will Do

• Support end-to-end proposal development for RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, and proactive proposals
• Collaborate with proposal managers, sales teams, SMEs, pricing, and leadership to gather content
• Ensure proposals are compliant with customer instructions, evaluation criteria, and deadlines
• Edit, proofread, and format proposal content for clarity, consistency, and accuracy
• Manage multiple deadlines in fast-paced environments
• Incorporate feedback from proposal reviews and post-submission lessons learned
• Design and produce proposal graphics, including infographics, diagrams, workflows, timelines, process maps, charts, tables, data visualizations, cover designs, section dividers, and callout elements
• Apply visual storytelling principles to translate complex technical or business concepts into clear, compelling visuals
• Ensure all visuals align with corporate branding, accessibility standards, and proposal best practices
• Optimize layouts for readability and evaluator experience
• Leverage proposal automation and document tools (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, InDesign, proposal software platforms)
• Ensure consistent branding, typography, color usage, and formatting across all deliverables
• Stay current on proposal design trends, visual communication best practices, and accessibility guidelines

What We Expect Of You

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Graphic Design, Marketing, English, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3+ years of experience in proposal development, technical writing, or proposal coordination
• Demonstrated experience producing professional graphics for proposals or client-facing documents
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) or equivalent tools
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work under tight deadlines
• Experience supporting formal RFP responses in a corporate or government environment, is a plus
• Familiarity with proposal methodologies (e.g., Shipley, APMP best practices), is a plus
• Experience with proposal automation tools (e.g., QorusDocs, Loopio, RFPIO), is a plus
• Understanding of accessibility standards (Section 508 / WCAG), is a plus
• APMP certification (Foundation or Practitioner), is a plus

Pay

• Pay range: $67,000 - $97,200 depending on experience and skill set
• Annual bonus target of 5% subject to terms and conditions of plan
• Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials

Benefits

Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/

About Us

CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what's possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn't just what we do—it's how we do it. At CDW we act as one—building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win—focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward—staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning.

We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That's why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.

As a full‑stack, full‑lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what's next. Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.