Pursuit Strategist

If you think your skills, experience and aspirations make you a good match for this position, we encourage you to apply. This position may be filled anywhere in the United States. Preference may be given to candidates that can work in one of the CannonDesign locations. As part of the application process, candidates should show us their creativity and ability to influence and bring strategy to life through visual and verbal storytelling. Please redact proprietary/confidential information as needed. Note: We acknowledge that developing these items is highly collaborative. That said, we’re looking for examples where you had a primary role in their creation. You’ll be given time to present your work during the interview — we’re interested in “how” you present your work, too. ABOUT THE ROLE Step into a role where ambition meets impact and innovation drives opportunity. We’re seeking a creative problem solver to work alongside firm leaders to influence strategy and drive success. This role is ideal for those who play to win, are excited by a challenge and excel at drawing insights that others might overlook. We work in high-pressure environments, but we’ve cultivated a close-knit community built on shared knowledge, best practices and mutual support. Your drive, diligence and inquisitive nature will be key to challenging pursuit teams to deliver transformative results. As a Pursuit Strategist, you’ll be part of our Brand, Marketing and Business Development (BMBD) team, reporting to our National Marketing Pursuits Leader and collaborating closely with the entire marketing team, as well as business developers, graphic designers, and market and client leaders throughout the firm. Success in this role will require the ability to transform raw information into meaningful narratives that inform decision-making and inspire action. You’ll need creativity, strong writing skills and a collaborative spirit to bring ideas to life alongside our talented team. And you’ll be called upon to translate your strategic marketing instincts and talents to serve multiple areas of expertise housed within the firm. HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DO Strategic Proposal Marketing • Lead strategy development for our firm’s most significant and complex project pursuits. • During early phases of the Strategic Pursuit Process, you’ll develop an overall action plan that includes profiles of decision-makers and influencers, a competitor analysis, a SWOT analysis and comprehensive market research, all of which you’ll use to develop insights that inform our strategy. • Partner closely with the Opportunity Leader to develop a project-specific win plan (client issues, features, benefits and proof statements), strategic teaming plan and spearhead the preliminary go/no go and strategy review. • Lead the effective facilitation of strategy sessions/workshops to develop a pursuit strategy targeted to the client’s needs. Drive an established agenda, guide the creative brainstorming process, challenge and tests ideas, develop action items and assignments, and synthesize the intelligence, outcomes and next steps of these sessions. • Ensure the greatest possibility of success by supporting compliance, readability and messaging of pursuit-related materials. • Collaborate with opportunity leaders and marketing leads to organize and determine the objectives of strategy sessions/workshops according to our strategic pursuit process. Identify and engage local, regional and firm resources to support the win-planning process. • Partner with pursuit teams to develop and implement differentiators, value propositions, key messages, project approaches and successful interview presentations. • Partner with the proposal content team, subject matter experts and our BMBD team to ensure messagin