Marketing & Proposal Manager (Contract-to-Perm, On-Site)

🚀 Job Overview

The CARIAN Group seeks a hands-on Marketing & Proposal Manager to lead all marketing efforts and proposal development activities for their women-owned consulting firm in the power, renewables, and utilities sectors. This is a department of one role where you'll independently drive the company's marketing strategy, manage the full lifecycle of proposals, and enhance the firm's industry presence. This contract-to-permanent position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact in a growing organization.

ASSUMPTION: Based on the "department of one" description and reporting structure information, this role appears to be highly autonomous with direct impact on company growth strategy.

📋 Key Responsibilities

Proposal Management:

• ✅ Lead end-to-end development of RFQ/RFP responses and client presentations
• ✅ Collaborate with technical teams and leadership to gather content and ensure timely submissions
• ✅ Create and maintain a proposal content library with reusable templates, resumes, and project descriptions
• ✅ Implement best practices to improve proposal win rates

Marketing Strategy & Execution:

• ✅ Develop and implement comprehensive marketing strategies for the power/utilities sectors
• ✅ Design and create all marketing collateral (brochures, presentations, case studies, newsletters)
• ✅ Manage and update the company website
• ✅ Write and manage blog content aligned with company expertise
• ✅ Plan and execute webinars and podcasts, including content creation and promotion
• ✅ Identify and execute thought leadership opportunities

Industry Representation & Networking:

• ✅ Represent CARIAN at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities
• ✅ Identify and recommend strategic events for sponsorship or speaking engagements
• ✅ Develop targeted marketing materials for specific events

Social Media & Business Development Support:

• ✅ Manage CARIAN's social media presence, particularly LinkedIn
• ✅ Support business development with marketing campaigns and lead identification
• ✅ Create client-specific presentations and sales support materials

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field

Experience: 5+ years in proposal management, marketing, or similar role in AEC or consulting industry

Skills:

• Proven ability to manage RFQ/RFP processes
• Hands-on experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Strong writing and editing capabilities
• Proficiency in website management tools (e.g., WordPress)
• Advanced MS Office skills (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
• Exceptional organizational and multitasking abilities

Preferred Skills:

• Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) designation
• Experience in power, renewables, consulting, data center, or AEC sectors
• Familiarity with CRM systems and marketing analytics tools
• Knowledge of digital marketing and SEO best practices

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Not specified

Benefits: "Competitive pay" during contract period with potential for permanent position based on performance

Industry Comparison: Not provided

ASSUMPTION: Given the senior-level marketing position in the consulting industry in New Jersey, compensation is likely competitive with industry standards for similar roles. The contract-to-perm structure suggests a probationary evaluation period before full benefits package would be offered.

🔍 Company Context

Industry Position: CARIAN is a women-owned consulting and advisory firm exclusively serving the power, renewables, and utilities sectors.

Company Size: Not specified, but appears to be a boutique consulting firm based on the department of one structure for marketing.

Company Stage: Appears to be in growth phase based on the expansion of marketing capabilities.

ASSUMPTION: Based on the job description mentioning no direct reports and being the only marketing professional, CARIAN appears to be a small to mid-sized specialized consulting firm looking to expand their market presence.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Senior/Manager level

Reporting Structure: Likely reports directly to leadership/executives

Team Size/Composition: Department of one with no direct reports

Growth Opportunities: Potential to build and eventually lead a marketing team as the company grows

ASSUMPTION: This role appears designed for someone who enjoys autonomous work with high visibility. The "contract-to-perm" structure suggests the company is investing in this function with long-term growth in mind, potentially offering opportunities to build a team in the future.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: On-Site (explicitly stated)

Geographic Context: Somerset, New Jersey is located in the New York metropolitan area, offering proximity to many utility and energy companies. The area has a reasonable cost of living compared to NYC while maintaining access to the Northeast corridor's professional opportunities.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time schedule is implied

Regional Considerations: Somerset is well-connected to major transportation routes, though public transportation may be limited compared to urban centers. Winter weather considerations may impact commuting.

ASSUMPTION: The on-site requirement suggests collaboration with other team members is important, and the location indicates the company likely serves clients throughout the Northeast region.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process: For senior marketing roles in professional services, expect multiple rounds including portfolio review, case studies/scenarios, and meetings with leadership team members.

Key Assessment Areas:

• Portfolio of previous proposal work and marketing materials
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently
• Creative and strategic thinking
• Writing and communication skills
• Technical knowledge of the power and utilities sectors

Application Tips: Highlight specific win rates for proposals, showcase examples of marketing collateral you've created, and demonstrate familiarity with energy/utilities industry terminology.

ATS Keywords: Proposal management, RFP, RFQ, Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign, content development, marketing strategy, utilities sector, power industry, WordPress, LinkedIn marketing

ASSUMPTION: These insights are based on standard practices for marketing roles in professional services firms unless specifically mentioned in the job description.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
• WordPress or similar CMS
• Social media platforms (particularly LinkedIn)
• Webinar/podcast hosting platforms
• CRM systems
• Marketing analytics tools

ASSUMPTION: While only some tools are explicitly mentioned, proficiency with proposal management software, digital marketing platforms, and content management systems would be standard for this type of role.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values: As a women-owned business, CARIAN appears to value diversity, expertise in the energy sector, and professional excellence.

Work Style: The role requires someone who thrives independently, can balance strategy with execution, takes ownership, and works effectively in a dynamic environment.

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do I work well autonomously with minimal supervision?
• Am I comfortable being solely responsible for an entire function?
• Do I have interest in/knowledge of the power, utilities, and renewables sectors?
• Can I balance creative marketing work with structured proposal processes?
• Do I enjoy hands-on execution rather than just strategic direction?

ASSUMPTION: Based on the job description's emphasis on independence and taking ownership, CARIAN likely values self-starters who can operate with minimal guidance and produce high-quality deliverables.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing the entire marketing and proposal function without team support
• Balancing competing priorities across marketing, proposals, and business development
• Maintaining creativity while managing technical content for a specialized industry
• Contract-to-perm status creates initial employment uncertainty
• On-site requirement limits flexibility for remote work

ASSUMPTION: These potential challenges are inferred from the job structure and responsibilities but may vary based on company culture and leadership approach.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

This position combines several roles that might be separate in larger organizations:

• Proposal Manager: This role includes full proposal lifecycle management but extends beyond it to broader marketing.
• Marketing Manager: Contains standard marketing manager responsibilities plus specialized proposal work.
• Content Strategist: Incorporates content creation and thought leadership typically found in specialized content roles.
• Business Development Support: Includes elements of BD/sales support not always expected in pure marketing roles.

ASSUMPTION: This comparison is based on standard industry patterns for professional services firms where roles are often more specialized in larger organizations and combined in smaller firms.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive response to an RFP for utility consulting services, coordinating input from multiple subject matter experts
• Creating a new case study highlighting CARIAN's success in a renewable energy project
• Redesigning the company website to better showcase services and thought leadership
• Planning and executing a webinar series on emerging trends in the power sector
• Developing a LinkedIn content calendar and campaign to increase industry engagement
• Building a comprehensive proposal template library to streamline future responses

ASSUMPTION: These projects are illustrative examples based directly on the responsibilities listed in the job description.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

1. "How do you measure success for the marketing and proposal function? What metrics are most important to your team?"
2. "What is your current proposal win rate, and what are your goals for improvement?"
3. "Can you describe your typical proposal process and the key stakeholders involved?"
4. "What are the criteria and timeline for transitioning from contract to permanent status?"
5. "What are the biggest marketing challenges CARIAN is currently facing in the power and utilities sectors?"
6. "How does the marketing function support the overall business strategy and growth goals?"

ASSUMPTION: These questions are suggested based on the role type and industry context but should be tailored to your specific circumstances and priorities.