Proposal Manager Government Contracting

Job Title: Proposal Manager Government Contracting
Location: [Insert Location or Remote]
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports to: Director of Business Development / Executive Leadership
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Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and experienced Proposal Manager to lead the development and submission of compelling, compliant, and high-quality proposals in response to federal and state government solicitations. This role requires exceptional communication, coordination, writing, and project management skills, as well as a strong understanding of government procurement processes (FAR, DFARS, state-specific regulations). The Proposal Manager will serve as the central point of coordination and ownership for proposal efforts, working with cross-functional teams to drive end-to-end proposal execution.
This individual must possess a deep understanding of the government contracting environment, with the ability to interpret complex RFP requirements, collaborate with stakeholders across technical, pricing, legal, and business development teams, and craft tailored, winning content that meets customer needs.
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Key Responsibilities:
Proposal Planning & Coordination
Lead the proposal process from opportunity qualification through submission and post-submission follow-up.
Analyze RFPs/RFIs/RFQs to identify requirements, evaluation criteria, and compliance guidelines.
Develop and maintain proposal management artifacts, including:
o Annotated outlines and content plans
o Compliance matrices
o Responsibility matrices (RASCI)
o Proposal schedules and calendars
o Progress tracking dashboards
Coordinate kickoff meetings, regular status check-ins, and color team reviews (Pink, Red, Gold, White Glove).
Content Development & Editing
Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to gather technical and management input for proposal sections.
Translate complex technical language into persuasive, plain-language responses tailored to government audiences.
Lead the development, editing, and refinement of:
o Executive Summaries
o Management Plans
o Technical Volumes
o Past Performance and Corporate Experience sections
o Staffing and Transition Plans
Ensure all content is consistent with the proposal theme, win strategy, and compliant with solicitation instructions.
Cross-functional Collaboration
Work closely with Capture Managers and Business Development to shape win themes and discriminators.
Interface with Contracts, Pricing, HR, Recruiting, and Operations to gather required inputs.
Guide internal and partner team members to meet deadlines and quality standards.
Support the coordination of teaming agreements, NDAs, and MOU documents when necessary.
Quality Assurance & Submission
Oversee formatting, layout, and final production of all volumes using branding and style guides.
Ensure complete and compliant submission of proposals via electronic portals (e.g., SAM.gov, eBuy, state procurement portals).
Maintain proposal archives, version control, and records for audit and debrief purposes.
Strategic Enablement & Continuous Improvement
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance proposal efficiency and effectiveness.
Develop reusable content libraries, templates, and boilerplates.
Track and analyze proposal performance metrics (win/loss ratios, feedback trends).
Contribute to pipeline planning by monitoring agency forecasts and strategic opportunities.
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Required Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor s degree in Business Administration, English, Communications, Public Policy, or a related field. A Master s degree or MBA is a plus.
Experience:
o Minimum 5 8 years of experience managing proposals for federal and/or state government agencies.
o Demonstrated success leading proposals valued between $1M to $100M+.
o Experience with GSA Schedules, GWACs, IDIQs, BPAs, SBIR/STTRs, or task order responses.
Knowledge:
o In-depth understanding of FAR, DFARS, and procurement regulations across multiple federal and state agencies.
o Knowledge of acquisition trends and common proposal evaluation criteria.
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Core Competencies and Skills:
Outstanding project management and organizational skills.
Strong writing, editing, and proofreading capabilities.
Ability to lead collaborative teams and motivate contributors under tight deadlines.
Expertise with proposal tools (e.g., MS Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive).
Familiarity with proposal software like RFPIO, Loopio, Expedience, or Privia is highly desirable.
High attention to detail, compliance focus, and time management.
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Preferred Certifications:
APMP Certification (Foundation or Practitioner Level)
Shipley Training or Shipley Proposal Management Methodology experience
PMP or Agile certification (optional but a plus)
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Work Environment & Travel:
Primarily remote or hybrid (depending on organizational structure)
Occasional travel may be required for in-person kickoffs, reviews, or client site visits
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Why Join Us?
Be part of a mission-driven organization serving government agencies and public-sector initiatives.
Collaborate with high-performing, passionate professionals.
Play a pivotal role in securing contracts that drive innovation, national infrastructure, and public impact.