📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Proposals Writer
🔹 Company: IXL Learning
🔹 Location: San Mateo, CA
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Education, E-Learning
🔹 Date Posted: April 5, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years)
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office, 1 day remote)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing persuasive proposals to win business for IXL
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand customer needs and key decision-making factors
- Crafting customer-focused messaging that highlights IXL’s unique benefits and differentiators
- Ensuring proposal compliance and strategic positioning to resonate with evaluators and decision-makers
- Providing copywriting support to sales teams for presentations, sales collateral, and other customer-facing materials
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong writing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Proposal writing experience in a sales or marketing context is highly preferred.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Analyze Requests for Proposal (RFPs) to understand customer needs and key decision-making factors
✅ Collaborate with the Senior Proposals Manager to develop a winning response strategy that highlights IXL’s value proposition
✅ Develop persuasive, customer-focused proposal content that clearly articulates IXL’s unique benefits, differentiators, and competitive advantages
✅ Work together with sales, curriculum, product, contracts, security, and other teams to craft messaging aligned with buyer priorities
✅ Utilize district-specific insights, marketing strategies, and persuasive writing techniques to develop high-impact, results-driven proposals
✅ Ensure that proposals are compliant and strategically positioned to resonate with evaluators and decision-makers
✅ Create compliant and compelling proposals for IXL and its family of brands, tailoring existing content and developing new material based on input from subject matter experts (SMEs) to convey key win themes
✅ Provide copywriting support to sales teams for presentations, sales collateral, and other customer-facing materials
✅ Assist with catalog bids, proposal assembly, and other sales-related writing tasks as needed
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of collaboration and requires strong communication skills to work effectively with various teams and stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: BA/BS degree required
Experience: 3-5 years of experience in proposal writing, sales writing, marketing copywriting, or grant writing
Required Skills:
- Strong ability to craft persuasive, customer-centric messaging that drives engagement and action
- Understanding of sales processes and ability to align proposals with sales strategies
- Ability to translate technical or educational content into clear, compelling narratives
- Strong English writing and grammar skills with an emphasis on quality, clarity, and consistency
- Detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and capable of managing multiple fast-paced projects
- Experience with Google Applications, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Acrobat
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in K-12 education or edtech sales
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in English is required for this role due to the nature of the work.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $85,000 to $100,000 + benefits
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Generous PTO and holiday schedule
- Tuition reimbursement
- Employee discounts on IXL products and services
Working Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with the option to work from home one day per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for proposal writers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Benefits information is based on typical benefits packages offered by companies of similar size and industry.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: IXL Learning operates in the E-Learning Providers industry, focusing on personalized learning products used by millions of people worldwide.
Company Size: IXL Learning has 501-1,000 employees, providing a mid-sized company environment with opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Founded: IXL Learning was founded in 1998, with a mission to create innovative products that make a real, positive difference for learners and educators.
Company Description:
- IXL Learning is passionate about improving learning for all and applies technology in thoughtful and innovative ways to unlock students' innate curiosity, creativity, and desire for knowledge.
- IXL’s award-winning personalized learning platform is used by more than 16 million students worldwide, with a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics.
- IXL Learning’s family of brands includes Rosetta Stone, TeachersPayTeachers, Education.com, Wyzant, Vocabulary.com, SpanishDictionary.com, and ABCya.
Company Specialties:
- Web-based educational software
- Personalized learning platform
- K-12 curriculum
- Language learning
- Educator resource marketplace
Company Website: IXL Learning
ASSUMPTION: IXL Learning's focus on innovation and impact in the education sector makes it an attractive employer for mission-driven professionals.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the mid-level (2-5 years of experience) and offers opportunities for growth and advancement within the company.
Reporting Structure: The Proposals Writer will report directly to the Senior Proposals Manager and collaborate with various teams, including sales, curriculum, product, contracts, security, and other departments.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with employees working in the office for four days a week and remotely for one day.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a Senior Proposals Writer or similar role within the organization
- Expanding responsibilities and leadership opportunities as the company grows
- Potential to work on high-impact projects and contribute to IXL’s mission and success
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the company, as well as the chance to make a significant impact on IXL’s business success.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: IXL Learning’s headquarters office is located in San Mateo, CA, with a modern and collaborative work environment.
Office Location(s): 777 Mariners Island Blvd., Suite 600, San Mateo (San Francisco Bay Area), CA 94404, US
Geographic Context:
- The San Francisco Bay Area offers a diverse and vibrant culture, with numerous attractions, restaurants, and outdoor activities.
- The area is known for its mild Mediterranean climate, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers.
- The cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is relatively high compared to other regions in the United States.
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with the option to work from home one day per week
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers employees the flexibility to balance work and personal responsibilities while maintaining a strong connection to the company and its culture.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screening to assess communication skills and cultural fit
- Writing test or assignment to evaluate proposal writing skills
- On-site or video interview with the hiring manager and relevant team members
- Final interview with the Senior Proposals Manager or another senior leader
Key Assessment Areas:
- Writing skills and ability to craft persuasive, customer-centric messaging
- Understanding of sales processes and ability to align proposals with sales strategies
- Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Cultural fit and alignment with IXL Learning’s mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include writing samples that demonstrate your ability to craft persuasive, customer-focused proposals
- Prepare for the writing test or assignment by reviewing IXL Learning’s products and services and understanding their unique benefits and differentiators
- Research IXL Learning’s company culture and mission to demonstrate your alignment and enthusiasm for the role
ATS Keywords: Proposal Writing, Sales Writing, Marketing Copywriting, Persuasive Messaging, Sales Processes, Technical Writing, Attention to Detail, Deadline Management, Google Applications, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, K-12 Education, EdTech Sales
ASSUMPTION: IXL Learning’s application process is designed to assess candidates’ writing skills, cultural fit, and alignment with the company’s mission and values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Applications (Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets)
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Adobe Acrobat
- Proposal management software (e.g., RFP software, proposal automation tools)
ASSUMPTION: The Proposals Writer will be expected to use various tools and technologies to streamline the proposal development process and ensure compliance with IXL Learning’s standards and guidelines.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Passion for improving learning for all
- Innovation and continuous improvement
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Integrity and accountability
- Customer focus and excellence
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic work environment
- Strong focus on collaboration and teamwork
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Mission-driven and purposeful work
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you share IXL Learning’s passion for improving learning for all, and how do you demonstrate this in your work?
- How do you approach collaboration and teamwork in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment?
- What steps do you take to ensure the quality, clarity, and consistency of your writing, and how do you handle feedback or revisions?
ASSUMPTION: IXL Learning values candidates who align with their mission, values, and work style, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to their customers and the company’s success.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Balancing the need for persuasive, customer-centric messaging with proposal compliance and strategic positioning
- Working effectively with various teams and stakeholders to gather input and ensure alignment with buyer priorities
- Adapting to changes in the proposal development process or company priorities
ASSUMPTION: The Proposals Writer must be organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively to succeed in this role.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other proposal writing roles, this position offers a unique focus on education technology and the opportunity to impact learning for millions of students worldwide.
- IXL Learning’s industry-specific context and mission-driven approach set it apart from other companies in the e-learning providers sector.
- Career path comparison: Progression from Proposals Writer to Senior Proposals Writer or similar roles within the organization, with potential opportunities for leadership and management positions as the company grows.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work in the education technology sector and make a real, positive difference for learners and educators worldwide.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a winning proposal for a large school district, highlighting IXL’s unique benefits and differentiators in a competitive RFP process
- Collaborating with the sales team to craft persuasive messaging for a presentation to a key decision-maker, emphasizing IXL’s value proposition and addressing their specific priorities
- Creating compliant and compelling proposals for IXL and its family of brands, tailoring existing content and developing new material based on input from subject matter experts (SMEs) to convey key win themes
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of responsibilities and challenges the Proposals Writer may face in this role, requiring strong writing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the typical RFP process and how proposals are developed and reviewed within the company?
- How does the Proposals Writer collaborate with the sales team, and what is the feedback process for improving proposal content?
- What are the most important qualities and skills for success in this role, and how does the company support the professional development of its employees?
- How does IXL Learning measure the success of its proposals, and what metrics are used to track performance and identify areas for improvement?
- What is the company culture like, and how do employees support and reinforce IXL Learning’s mission and values?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these key questions will help applicants better understand the role, the company, and the work environment, enabling them to make an informed decision about their fit for the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include writing samples that demonstrate your ability to craft persuasive, customer-focused proposals
- Prepare for the writing test or assignment by reviewing IXL Learning’s products and services and understanding their unique benefits and differentiators
- Research IXL Learning’s company culture and mission to demonstrate your alignment and enthusiasm for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
