Director of Proposal Management

Blue Sky Innovators

$140K — $190K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required (STEM Degree Preferred)
  • Minimum of 10 years of federal Government Contracting (GovCon) proposal management experience
  • Demonstrated history of proposal wins and revenue growth
  • Extensive experience managing various types of proposals including services and technologies
  • Strong understanding of federal acquisition processes
  • U.S. Citizenship required with ability to obtain Top Secret Clearance
  • Experience across diverse federal procurement vehicles.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the full proposal lifecycle for strategic federal pursuits.
  • Develop proposal schedules, compliance matrices, and production plans.
  • Serve as primary proposal manager for high-priority opportunities.
  • Partner with stakeholders to create winning proposal strategies.
  • Drive proposal reviews using executive and customer feedback.
  • Ensure compliance with solicitation requirements.
  • Manage multiple concurrent proposals across different contract types.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • 401k contribution
Full Job Description
Director of Proposal Management

Location

Reston, VA or Remote (U.S.-based required)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Director of Proposal Management to lead and execute strategic proposal efforts that drive company growth. This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for managing complex pursuits from pre-RFP planning through proposal submission while partnering closely with business development, capture, solutions, and executive leadership teams.

The ideal candidate brings a demonstrated and quantifiable history of proposal wins within high-growth Government Contracting (GovCon) environments and has successfully led proposal efforts across a broad spectrum of opportunities, including services, products, and technology solutions. This individual will serve as a hands-on proposal leader, driving proposal strategy, compliance, messaging, and execution while helping mature and scale proposal operations to support continued growth.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead the full proposal lifecycle from opportunity qualification through submission for strategic federal pursuits.
  • Develop proposal schedules, outlines, compliance matrices, storyboards, and production plans.
  • Serve as the primary proposal manager for high-priority and high-value opportunities.
  • Partner with key stakeholders to develop winning proposal strategies and compelling win themes.
  • Drive proposal reviews, incorporating executive, technical, and customer-focused feedback.
  • Ensure compliance with solicitation requirements while maximizing responsiveness and competitiveness.
  • Manage multiple concurrent proposals across varying agencies, contract vehicles, and procurement types.
  • Develop and refine proposal processes, templates, tools, and best practices to support organizational growth and increased win rates.
  • Contribute to bid/no-bid decisions and opportunity assessments.
  • Track proposal metrics, lessons learned, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Coordinate external proposal consultants, writers, graphic designers, and reviewers as needed.

Required Qualifications

Education
  • Bachelor's degree required (STEM Degree Preferred)

Experience
  • Minimum of 10 years of federal Government Contracting (GovCon) proposal management experience.
  • Demonstrated and measurable history of proposal wins and revenue growth contributions.
  • Proven success supporting rapidly growing government contractors.
  • Extensive experience managing proposals for:
    • Professional Services
    • Technical Services
    • Product Offerings
    • Integrated Solutions and Technology Programs
  • Experience managing complex proposals from kickoff through submission with minimal oversight.
  • Strong understanding of federal acquisition processes and competitive proposal strategies.
  • Due to the nature of the work, US Citizenship is required, with the ability to obtain a Top Secret Clearance

Contract Vehicle Experience

Experience developing proposals across a diverse range of federal procurement vehicles, including:
  • Full and open competitions
  • Small business set-asides
  • Standalone contracts
  • GWACs
  • IDIQs and task orders
  • Large strategic contract vehicles
  • Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs)
  • Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs)
  • SBIR/STTR opportunities
  • Multi-award contract environments

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience working in organizations undergoing rapid growth and expansion.
  • Familiarity with proposal automation, AI-enabled proposal development tools, and knowledge management systems.

What Success Looks Like
  • Consistently delivering compliant, high-quality proposals on schedule.
  • Increasing proposal win rates and contract awards through effective proposal leadership.
  • Providing strategic proposal expertise that strengthens capture efforts and corporate growth initiatives.
  • Serving as a trusted advisor to business development and executive leadership teams during pursuit planning and execution.

This role is ideal for a senior proposal professional who enjoys owning strategic pursuits, influencing growth outcomes, and remaining directly engaged in proposal development rather than managing a large team.

Salary range for the position is $140,000 - $190,000 per year. Specific compensation will be determined by several factors including experience, education, skills, and knowledge. We also offer medical/dental/vision benefits and 401k contribution.

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