Federal Contracting Proposal Manager

The Federal Proposal Manager will oversee all aspects of proposal activities for federal contracting opportunities. This role includes directing proposal personnel, managing proposal schedules and deadlines, and developing detailed proposal outlines and compliance matrices. The Proposal Manager will be responsible for monitoring the progress of proposals to ensure on-time delivery and accuracy. The individual will review, write, and develop proposals, managing all proposal development activities, including bid/no-go discussions, gathering and formatting information, writing drafts, obtaining necessary approvals, and tracking all awarded proposals and contracts. Additionally, the Proposal Manager will ensure compliance with all applicable federal regulations and RFP terms and conditions, while collaborating with business development, capture, and marketing support as needed. Key success factors include excellent planning and scheduling abilities, strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to effectively manage resources and tasks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Proposal Analysis and Development:
• Analyze and understand Federal government RFPs and customer requirements to ensure delivery of compliant proposals.
• Develop and maintain a focus on win strategy throughout the proposal process, creating compelling documents for high-profile wins.
• Write, edit, and proofread proposals to ensure accuracy, clarity, readability, and compliance with company guidelines and standards.
• Develop proposal content in collaboration with Subject Matter Experts, and maintain a high-level understanding of company products and services to add value in proposal development.
• Ensure all deliverables are correct and error-free, including grammar, spelling, and RFP compliance.
• Review and respond to RFPs.
• Project and Resource Management:
• Identify and engage appropriate resources for proposal development.
• Manage project resources and timelines for efficient development and on-time delivery of proposals.
• Lead proposal reviews and coordinate final proposal production, including graphics development, electronic upload, and printing.
• Maintain records and documentation; track, monitor, and report data to support proposal services.
• Enter and monitor tracking data for multiple proposal statuses.
• Coordinate requirements with contributors and transmit proposals.
• Collaboration and Teamwork:
• Act as a secondary reviewer on proposals led by other team members.
• Collaborate with the marketing department to assist in writing various print and online materials.
• Work with graphic designers to integrate copy with visual concepts and negotiate necessary revisions.
• Provide mentorship to less-experienced team members.
• Participate in business development meetings with potential partners.
• Process Improvement and Compliance:
• Embrace proposal-development methodologies and processes; identify and deploy best practices; promote the brand across all channels.
• Support continual process improvement by evaluating and redesigning processes, approach, coordination, and boilerplate.
• Create compliance matrices/cross-walks to ensure proposal compliance.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of Proposal Management or Content Management software.
• Ensure compliance with all RFP requirements and applicable federal regulations.
• Strategic Planning and Review:
• Attend strategy meetings.
• Lead “debrief assessment” meetings to analyze recent wins and losses.
• Meet individually with proposal team personnel to discuss challenges and improvements.
• Provide updates to management on proposal submission status.
• Develop proposal concepts by identifying and clarifying opportunities and needs.
• Additional Responsibilities:
• Maintain archival files of all RFPs and completed proposals.
• Occasionally attend trade shows or conferences on behalf of the company.
• Manage external proposal resources such as graphic designers and proposal managers.
• Contribute to the creation and organization of the past performance library, proposal library, and proof point library.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience managing all phases of multi-volume, highly complex proposals, including collaboration with proposal teams, developing compliance matrices, outlines, and writing sections (management, past performance, etc.).
• Minimum of 3 years of Federal Proposal Experience, including experience with DoD and Base Operations.
• Prior experience managing federal proposals valued at $50M or more.
• 3 or more years of experience responding to and managing government proposals.
• Expertise in full cycle proposal/contract writing (RFP release, submittal, and contract award).

• Strong writing and editing capabilities.
• Ability to analyze and interpret Requests for Proposals and provide guidance to proposal team members to develop compliant and compelling proposals.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines.
• Effective team player, capable of working well in a collaborative environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Keen judgment to escalate issues appropriately.
• Ability to work independently to develop compliant proposals.
• Ability to create technical content specific to contract needs.
• Technical Documentation and Layout Skills required.

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Project, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Basic graphic design skills (e.g., familiarity with Illustrator, Photoshop) are a plus.

Additional Desired Skills/Requirements:

• Experience working with senior management and across multiple disciplines (technical, product management, marketing, pricing, contracts).
• Shipley training or Shipley certification preferred.
• Project management training or certification preferred.
• Computer and IT Technical Writer preferred.
• Ability to pass background screening prior to employment.
• US Citizenship, legal permanent residence, or US work authorization with a minimum of 3 years of continuous US presence required due to federal contract requirements.