OPT Proposal Specialist Jobs
Proposal Specialist roles involve writing, coordinating, and managing responses to RFPs, RFQs, and grant opportunities, skills that translate well across government contractors, consulting firms, and nonprofits. Many employers in these sectors are experienced with OPT work authorization and the 60-day transition window between positions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Leads and manages proposal-related business development activities, processes and materials for new and existing contracts. Includes proposal development, production and distribution, as well as presentations and post submittal follow-up. Position also provides writing support for marketing and communications.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate with the Operations, Marketing, and Business Development to write and develop proposals, best-and-final offers, interview presentations and other required documents.
- Compile a Table of Compliance with Win-Theme that outlines the production specifications and section details as a guideline for development of the proposal.
- With input from Directors of Business Development and other corporate sales support staff, develop a compelling proposal with the intent to win the business. Author, proofread, edit, print, compile and ensure accuracy of the final proposal document.
- Ensure proposal compliance with requirements specified in the Request for Proposal (RFP).
- Complete all required forms and obtain all necessary signatures; includes bonding and insurance requests.
- Supports advertising and communications programs to promote products and services through the design, creation, and execution of materials.
- Schedule, coordinate and track proposal delivery before the specified deadline.
- Support the Business Development Team in sales efforts, including developing PowerPoint presentations, documents, reports, communications, etc.
- Maintain proposal calendar and pipeline database to account for and track proposal development and execution.
- Register with procurement websites and monitor such for new projects.
- Maintain and update proposal boilerplate, current corporate information, location profiles, resumes, bios, customer references and templates.
- Drive prospective and continuous improvement in the proposal development process and materials by identifying opportunities, building organizational support for new ideas and collaborating with sales, marketing and communications to plan and execute.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, English, Journalism, Communications or related field required.
Experience
- 1-3 years of experience working with RFP's and/or technical writing for the public sector
- Excellent writing skills, with a strong orientation to detail and service.
- Advanced knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.
- Proposal writing, management experience strongly preferred
- Ability to exercise independent thinking with a high level of prioritization skills
- Strong customer relation skills
- Ability to generate creative ideas, meet multiple deadlines and work independently.
- Knowledge of business and management principles.
- Some travel may be required
COMPENSATION
- Compensation ranges from $65,000 - $75,000 depending on experience.
EEO STATEMENT
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request.
INTRODUCTION
Leads and manages proposal-related business development activities, processes and materials for new and existing contracts. Includes proposal development, production and distribution, as well as presentations and post submittal follow-up. Position also provides writing support for marketing and communications.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate with the Operations, Marketing, and Business Development to write and develop proposals, best-and-final offers, interview presentations and other required documents.
- Compile a Table of Compliance with Win-Theme that outlines the production specifications and section details as a guideline for development of the proposal.
- With input from Directors of Business Development and other corporate sales support staff, develop a compelling proposal with the intent to win the business. Author, proofread, edit, print, compile and ensure accuracy of the final proposal document.
- Ensure proposal compliance with requirements specified in the Request for Proposal (RFP).
- Complete all required forms and obtain all necessary signatures; includes bonding and insurance requests.
- Supports advertising and communications programs to promote products and services through the design, creation, and execution of materials.
- Schedule, coordinate and track proposal delivery before the specified deadline.
- Support the Business Development Team in sales efforts, including developing PowerPoint presentations, documents, reports, communications, etc.
- Maintain proposal calendar and pipeline database to account for and track proposal development and execution.
- Register with procurement websites and monitor such for new projects.
- Maintain and update proposal boilerplate, current corporate information, location profiles, resumes, bios, customer references and templates.
- Drive prospective and continuous improvement in the proposal development process and materials by identifying opportunities, building organizational support for new ideas and collaborating with sales, marketing and communications to plan and execute.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, English, Journalism, Communications or related field required.
Experience
- 1-3 years of experience working with RFP's and/or technical writing for the public sector
- Excellent writing skills, with a strong orientation to detail and service.
- Advanced knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.
- Proposal writing, management experience strongly preferred
- Ability to exercise independent thinking with a high level of prioritization skills
- Strong customer relation skills
- Ability to generate creative ideas, meet multiple deadlines and work independently.
- Knowledge of business and management principles.
- Some travel may be required
COMPENSATION
- Compensation ranges from $65,000 - $75,000 depending on experience.
EEO STATEMENT
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request.
See all 79+ OPT Proposal Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Proposal Specialist
Target government contractors and consulting firms
Federal contractors and management consulting firms regularly hire Proposal Specialists and are experienced with OPT work authorization. These employers often have dedicated HR processes for international hires, making the sponsorship conversation significantly less complicated than with smaller companies.
Emphasize your writing and compliance skills together
Proposal work requires precision under tight deadlines, a combination that signals to employers you can handle compliance-heavy environments. Highlighting both technical writing ability and attention to regulatory requirements makes you a stronger candidate who can also navigate OPT paperwork independently.
Build a portfolio of RFP responses before applying
Even if your experience is academic or volunteer-based, a portfolio showing structured proposal writing demonstrates real competency. Employers evaluating OPT candidates often need confidence in immediate contribution, and sample work removes doubt about your readiness to produce on day one.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
Hiring timelines for Proposal Specialist roles can run four to eight weeks between application and first day. Starting your search two to three months before your OPT authorization begins gives you enough runway to clear the process without burning into your authorized work period.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility if your degree qualifies
Degrees in technical fields like engineering, information systems, or data analytics may qualify you for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Employers in proposal management find this especially valuable, as it reduces the urgency around H-1B visa sponsorship timelines and extends your contribution window considerably.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship policy during the second interview round
Raising sponsorship too early can stall an application, but waiting until an offer creates pressure. The second interview is a natural checkpoint to confirm an employer sponsors H-1B visas, giving both sides time to align before commitment without derailing early-stage evaluation.
Proposal Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Proposal Specialist on OPT?
Yes. Proposal Specialist roles qualify as OPT-eligible employment as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in communications, English, business, public administration, or technical fields typically satisfy this requirement. You should confirm the connection between your degree and the job description with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Do Proposal Specialist employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
Government contractors, large consulting firms, and defense-sector employers are among the most experienced sponsors for Proposal Specialists, since they routinely hire internationally and understand the H-1B process. Smaller agencies and nonprofits are less consistent. Searching Migrate Mate filters for sponsorship-willing employers in this field so you avoid applying to companies unlikely to sponsor.
Does a Proposal Specialist role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your underlying degree, not the job title. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as information systems, applied mathematics, or a technical discipline, and your Proposal Specialist role involves applying that training, you may qualify for the 24-month extension. Confirm your degree's STEM designation with your DSO and verify that the job duties align.
What should I include in my OPT disclosure to a Proposal Specialist employer?
Be direct and specific. Tell the employer your OPT authorization period, your STEM extension eligibility if applicable, and your H-1B timeline expectations. Proposal-heavy environments value clarity and organized communication, so presenting your work authorization status in a clean, factual way often lands well with hiring managers in this field.
How do I find Proposal Specialist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Most general job boards do not filter by sponsorship willingness, which wastes significant time when you are on a limited OPT window. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Proposal Specialist roles at employers who have sponsored international candidates before, so you can focus your applications where they have a realistic chance of success.