Strategic Pursuits Lead - Water at BKF — San Jose, CA

Overview:

BKF is seeking a Strategic Pursuits Lead to join our team. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of engineering, planning, design, environmental, and construction management services related to water infrastructure and resilience and a proven track record leading and winning strategic pursuits as a prime consultant. This role is critical to strengthening BKF’s reputation as a trusted leader in water resilience and sustainability, helping expand our presence in the water market as a preferred partner for innovative, multi-benefit water solutions

Key Responsibilities:

Market Leadership

• Maintain knowledge of BKF’s experience, resume, and service offerings along with competitors, teaming partners and clients within the water market.
• Lead the development and execution of strategic pursuit plans for major market projects independently and other proposals and interviews, as assigned.
• Identify and analyze market trends, client needs, and competitive landscape to inform pursuit strategies.
• Understand and develop relationships with key teaming partners.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including business development, project management, and technical experts, to develop compelling and competitive proposals.
• Maintain accurate data for pursuits, as assigned from “go” to award/loss in Vantagepoint.
• Maintain a database of competitor proposals and best-practice examples to continually advance and enhance BKF’s pursuit strategies, enabling the firm to outperform competitors and strengthen its position in the industry.
• Cultivate a practice of continual improvement by learning from feedback gathered from proposal debriefs and comments during QA/QC reviews, and other available sources.
• Mentor and train junior staff in pursuit and proposal best practices.
• Periodic travel between offices and other locations may be required.

Pursuit Development

• Understand and implement BKF’s Pursuit to Win process and program.
• Foster and maintain relationships with key clients, industry partners, and stakeholders.
• Conduct go/no-go assessments and provide recommendations to senior leadership.
• Review and vet RFP/Qs, identifying key requirements, win themes, risks, and compliance needs.
• Understand various submittal requirements, such as Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) outreach and participation requirements.
• Independently manage the proposal process from inception to submission, ensuring high-quality, compliant deliverables.
• Conduct proposal kick-off meetings and coordinate internal pursuit teams.
• Develop and present pursuit strategies and proposal content to internal and external audiences.
• Lead and develop interview strategy, including selecting participants, producing presentations, talking points, and interview preparation.
• Lead QA/QC reviews for proposals and interview materials.
• Experience with both non-standard and SF330 proposal formats.
• Tailor team resumes, project descriptions, and other qualifications materials.
• Occasional flexible working hours may be required.

Master Marketing Database

• Maintain library of project experience, photos, resumes and materials aligned with the Water Market Sector.
• Identify high impact project experience and photos to be added to the website.
• Coordinate the acquisition or development of project photos, visualizations, renderings, and other graphics collateral in support of strategic pursuits.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years in a Senior Marketing Coordinator/Specialist or Business Development role positioning for, leading, and successfully winning highly competitive prime proposals for water resources projects.
• Strong understanding of project types specific to the assigned market or sector, with the ability to accurately interpret scopes of work and align opportunities with BKF’s expertise and qualifications.
• Demonstrated commitment to water sustainability, environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and community impact, with a strong desire to continue learning and growing in these areas.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Highly proficient in proposal management software, InDesign, and other relevant software.
• Demonstrated success in leading and winning proposals in the Water Market Sector.
• Strong understanding of Standard Form 330 Submittals, Non-Standard submittals, disadvantage/local business compliance forms and outreach procedures, and federal forms.
• Strong understanding of the infrastructure market including water stormwater, and wastewater projects.

Benefits

• The typical base salary range for this position is $94,000 - $140,000 annualized, depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly.
• Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k.
• Generous paid time off packages.
• 9 Paid Holidays.
• Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
• BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.

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