Business Development - Proposal Writer

Marketing Chicago, IL Washington, D.C.

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Description

Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, with primary offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C. is looking for aBusiness Development - Proposal Writerto join the New Business & Industry Relations team. This position could be based in either our Chicago or Washington, D.C. office.

AtSmithbucklin, we embody a culture driven by optimism, ambition, expertise, and thoughtfulness, where every team member is empowered to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Join us in shaping the future of association management, where our values serve as the cornerstone of our success.

This position is responsible for contributing to the company’s new business development goal which includes both association management, and the outsourced agency services of 360 Live Media. The ideal candidate will bring to this role expert writing skills and knowledge of business development strategy, experience in shaping new business collateral and presentations, and comfort in a highly collaborative team environment with the ability to interact with senior executives both within and outside of the company. Ideally, candidates will also understand the association landscape.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Participate in strategy meetings to discuss potential business opportunities and plan proposal development.

• Collaborate with business development, marketing, and other departments to gather necessary information and align proposal content with strategic goals.

• Develop and write compelling proposals and presentations that clearly articulate the value proposition and benefits of our services to potential clients.

• Develop and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with senior management and business unit leaders throughout the company, including our Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Strategy Officer

• Conduct thorough research on industry trends, competitor offerings, and potential client needs to inform and enhance proposal strategies.

• Manage the proposal submission process, ensuring all proposals meet company standards and client requirements

• Edit and revise proposals based on feedback from stakeholders to improve clarity, impact, and effectiveness.

• Maintain a library of proposal templates, standardized responses, and key data points to streamline the proposal creation process.

• Analyze the performance of submitted proposals to identify trends, successes, and opportunities for future submissions, working in collaboration with Salesforce administrator.

• Ensure all written content is clear, persuasive, and free of errors, reflecting the professional image of the company.

• Collaborate on the development and execution of our marketing outreach and relationship building efforts on our target client lists

• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or work experience equivalent

• 10+ years of relevant practical business development and marketing experience

• Professional sales experience to include demonstrated experience with C-level association executives and board members preferred

• High level of proficiency in strategy, writing and editing

• Understanding of how to close new business opportunities and achieve sales results

• Understanding of professional services business model

• Understanding of business events, marketing, branding

• Ability to work independently yet in a team environment; able to build trust and relationships both internally and externally

• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills

• Highly organized, can shift gears & re-prioritize effectively

• Experience with the Salesforce and/or other CRM platforms

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with associations and association management companies preferred

Where Do You Fit?

As a senior-level professional, working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferrable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. In addition, as a 100-percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all employees – regardless of position or compensation – an equal chance to experience fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, employees are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company.

Our hybrid environment offers you the option to work from home two days per week. Employees will work a standard 40-hour week, with the possibility of additional hours based on project deadlines.

The salary for this role will be based on the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and relevant experience. Additionally, successful candidates may qualify for a discretionary bonus up to and including 10% of base pay. The expected pay for this role is: $100,000-$110,000.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status designated by federal, state, or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position.  

About

Smithbucklin is a leading professional services company serving non-profits and industry associations. Through full-service management, meetings, sales, and strategic marketing solutions, we unlock the power of human networks that move every industry, field, and profession forward.  

Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment, you must be authorized to work in the United States permanently.