Pursuit Lead, Federal

Your Opportunity

The Pursuit Lead guides strategic pursuit and proposal efforts in support of the Canada Federal Program Team’s business development objectives. This role is responsible for managing all phases of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), from opportunity assessment and pursuit strategy through final submission. Working closely with Federal Program leadership, technical leadership, business developers, and pursuit teams, the Pursuit Lead develops compelling, compliant, and brand-aligned proposals that clearly communicate the firm’s value proposition and differentiate the organization in competitive markets.

This role also contributes to broader business development, client development, and brand positioning initiatives, leveraging internal networks and systems to support revenue growth, market leadership, and long-term client relationships.

Your Key Responsibilities

Strategy Support & Implementation

• Implement the firm’s business development and pursuit processes on complex, strategic opportunities across the Region.
• Collaborate with growth teams, sector leaders, account managers, project managers, and strategic pursuit teams to develop differentiated value propositions and win themes.
• Leverage firmwide networks to identify and position unique capabilities, expertise, and resources that strengthen pursuit strategies.

Pursuit Planning & Execution

• Engage early in the pursuit lifecycle to develop comprehensive action plans, including due diligence, client and stakeholder analysis, competitor intelligence, win planning, and strategic teaming approaches.
• Lead and support pre-RFP qualifying activities such as client, competitor, and market research, and tracking of key client capital plans.
• Guide pursuit teams through capture plans activities, including development of project briefs, win plans, SWOT analyses, preparing an executive summary, conducting preliminary go/no-go reviews, and identifying the execution teams.
• Plan, organize, and direct all elements of the proposal, including solicitation analysis, developing a response plan, initiating a follow-up go/no-go, facilitating strategy review, conducting kickoff meetings, content development, in-progress reviews, red team reviews, pricing coordination, and final submission.

Proposal Management & Content Development

• Drive proposal management and development efforts for diverse teams to ensure compliance with client requirements, adherence to deadlines, and consistency of messaging.
• Create, edit, and refine written content and materials that effectively communicate services, experience, and capabilities.
• Apply creativity in the use of graphics and visual elements to enhance proposal clarity and impact, providing direction to graphic design resources as needed.

Quality, Compliance & Knowledge Sharing

• Monitor marketing and business development (M&BD) spending for pursuits and report and address any significant variances.
• Ensure all pursuit documents comply with corporate branding standards and client confidentiality requirements.
• Share promotional materials, insights, and best practices with other pursuit and marketing team members to support continuous improvement

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• Experience leading large, complex pursuits and proposals is a must. Experience with Federal proposals is preferred.
• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with exceptional prioritization and time management skills.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and manage multiple complex pursuits simultaneously.
• Strong ability to develop win themes and integrate them consistently throughout proposals.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and strategic problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leadership, peers, and clients.
• Strong interviewing and facilitation skills.
• Confident presenter in both small and large group settings, with proficiency in presentation tools such as PowerPoint.
• Strong understanding of business development best practices within professional services.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while also collaborating effectively within cross-functional teams. Effectively balance conflicting priorities 
• Demonstrated proficiency with web-based tools and Microsoft Office applications, including but not limited to Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, Co-Pilot, etc. 
• Proficiency in Adobe InDesign and Acrobat.
• Bilingualism an asset.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business, marketing, communications, or a related field
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in a senior pursuit, or business development role. AEC experience preferred. 

At Stantec, we have some of the world’s leading professionals passionate about enabling our business to be its best. Our business teams include finance, procurement, human resources, information technology, marketing, corporate development, HSSE, real estate, legal, and practice services. We bring diverse backgrounds, skills, and expertise and create a caring culture where everyone can thrive. Through teamwork and collaboration, we’re building a stronger, more resilient Stantec every day.