Dean Dorton Careers

About Dean Dorton 

Dean Dorton’s team makes up one of the largest advisory firms in the United States. We thrive when you thrive! We are here to help you succeed in every step of your development and career as you work with nationally recognized experts in a recognized best place to work. 

About the Role 

Dean Dorton is seeking a detail-oriented, self-starter to join our dynamic team as Proposal Manager. This is a crucial part of the marketing team and business development function, responsible for identifying and securing new business opportunities by managing the proposal and RFP process from start to finish. This individual will mine the RFP database for relevant opportunities that align with the company’s target clients, industries, and service offerings. They will own the process of vetting these opportunities, coordinating with industry leads, and preparing thorough, compliant, and compelling proposals. Additionally, the Proposal Manager will track and report on proposal outcomes to refine strategies and improve success rates over time. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

Opportunity Identification & Vetting

• Conduct regular searches of RFP databases for opportunities that align with company goals.
• Evaluate and prioritize RFPs based on potential fit and likelihood of success.
• Communicate qualified opportunities to relevant industry leads for further review and input.

Proposal Development & Management

• Manage all aspects of proposal creation, including coordinating with internal teams (marketing, finance, and technical experts) to gather required information.
• Draft, review, and edit proposals to ensure they meet RFP guidelines and accurately represent the company’s capabilities.
• Ensure proposals are persuasive, compliant, and well-structured to enhance chances of winning.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with industry leads to confirm the alignment of each proposal with departmental goals and client expectations.
• Facilitate strategy sessions with team members, ensuring each proposal is tailored to client needs and highlights competitive advantages.

Proposal Tracking & Reporting

• Maintain a detailed record of proposal submissions, tracking metrics such as success rates, feedback from clients, and financial impacts of awarded contracts.
• Provide regular reports to leadership on proposal outcomes and areas for process improvements.

Process Optimization

• Refine proposal templates and processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness in responding to RFPs.
• Analyze feedback and past performance to identify patterns and enhance future proposal strategies.

Experience & Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field is required
• Experience in Proposal Management Platforms like Proposify and Panda Doc preferred
• Three to five years in proposal management, business development, or related roles
• Experience managing multiple proposals simultaneously and working with cross-functional teams is preferred
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Exceptional writing and editing skills to create persuasive and compliant proposals
• Analytical skills to evaluate RFPs and identify the best approach to meet client needs
• Experience with CRM or proposal management tools is preferred
• Experience with project management and ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Creative thinking, adaptability, and a passion for staying ahead of branding and industry trends
• Ability to travel is required

Location:  This team member can be in any of our 5 major markets: Fort Wright, Louisville, Lexington, Raleigh or Indianapolis. We do require this person to be in-office initially, with some hybrid/remote flexibility over time.

The Fun Stuff   

Work isn’t all work! We want to make your experience at Dean Dorton a great one. From your health and happiness to your long-term satisfaction, we focus on YOU! A few highlights are listed below:  

• Health insurance – medical, vision, dental
• Unlimited PTO
• Paid family leave, medical leave, and maternity/paternity leave programs.
• Retirement benefits – 401(K) match and best-in-class automatic profit sharing
• Telemedicine, mental health resources, and wellness program reimbursement
• Life insurance and disability insurance

Dean Dorton is an equal opportunity employer.  We welcome anyone of any race, religion, color, national origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, ancestry, handicap, medical condition, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation or gender.