Desktop Publisher

“Create a Lasting Competitive Advantage”

Shipley Associates is a global professional services firm that focuses on helping companies win business. Founded in 1972, we provide a comprehensive suite of services including business development consulting, training programs, and AI enablement to improve clients' abilities to compete for and win contracts.

To learn more, visit Shipleywins.com.

Job Summary

The Desktop Publisher is responsible for the design integrity and formatting consistency of proposal documents across all Word and Excel deliverables. This role governs template setup, style compliance, and document accessibility to ensure customer-ready, visually cohesive submissions that meet both internal and RFP-specific requirements. As a key member of the proposal team, the Desktop Publisher ensures excellence in document presentation throughout the RFx lifecycle.

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Key Responsibilities

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Document Design & Template Governance

• Enforce adherence to style guides, RFP-specific formatting rules, and accessibility standards.
• Utilize internal tools and resources, including the “Wall of Truth” and formatting checklists, to uphold formatting standards and compliance.
• Govern the application of text and table styles to ensure consistent formatting across all deliverables.
• Lead desktop publishing for active RFx efforts, including Word template creation, content formatting, and preparation of final submission files.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Proposal Writers to ensure alignment in document structure, heading hierarchies, style, and content formatting.
• Partner with Graphic Designers to incorporate design elements into documents (e.g., branded color palettes, callouts, executive summaries, covers).

Training & Enablement

• Train Proposal Writers on formatting standards, particularly for overflow work or rapid delivery needs.
• Create and deliver training materials, including SOPs, demo videos, and live training sessions for new team members.
• Develop templates, tools, and resources to improve the desktop publishing process.

Troubleshooting & Support

• Ensure high-quality outputs in a deadline-driven environment through strong time management and prioritization skills.
• Provide formatting troubleshooting and support to team members during all stages of the proposal lifecycle.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Stay informed of the latest tools, features, and best practices in desktop publishing to improve efficiency and output quality.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI tools and emerging technologies to streamline desktop publishing activities.

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Qualifications

• Demonstrated enthusiasm for professional development and learning new technologies.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in fast-paced, deadline-oriented environments.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with tools like PerfectIt, Responsive, or similar publishing/QA tools.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including Acrobat, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
• Accessibility standards and document protection
• Track changes, comments, and co-authoring
• Graphics integration
• Document automation (macros, Quick Parts)
• Text and table style mastery
• Template creation
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, including:
• 5+ years of professional experience in graphic design, ideally within proposal development and/or technical communications environments.