SENIOR PROPOSAL MANAGER IIBased out of Rocket Lab's site in Tucson, AZ, the
Senior Proposal Manager plays a key role in creating compliant and compelling business proposals that win new business with US and international customers. This role primarily supports the Space Systems Business Development team, with a specific focus on satellite opportunities.
WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:- Develop and execute proposal plans, including analyzing RFPs, creating outlines, and building compliance matrices.
- Collaborate with the Business Development Manager and/or Director to craft winning proposal strategies and develop compelling messaging.
- Write and manage compliant, high-quality proposals that clearly address RFP requirements.
- Take responsibility for specific volumes of proposals, ensuring they are well-written, compliant, and align with the overall strategy.
- Lead proposal kick-off meetings and facilitate regular check-ins with contributors to ensure timelines are met.
- Coordinate with internal teams (such as engineering, finance, legal) to gather and refine content for proposals.
- Create and manage proposal templates, reusable content, and visual elements (charts, tables, and infographics).
- Conduct quality assurance reviews for grammar, consistency, and formatting to ensure polished submissions.
- Oversee final production and submission, ensuring proposals are delivered on time and meet customer requirements.
- Document lessons learned, and recommend process improvements for future proposals.
- Support travel as needed (~10%).
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree in technical, management, or business discipline.
- 8+ years of experience in proposal management.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
- Demonstrated success leading proposals with values greater than $100 million.
- Technical writing expertise, with a proven ability to translate complex technical information into clear, concise, and persuasive language tailored to different audiences.
- Project management experience, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines while ensuring high-quality deliverables.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams to achieve proposal objectives.
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:- Active U.S. security clearance.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
- Experience using tools such as Salesforce and SharePoint.
- Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Background in organizational effectiveness and operations, implementing best practices.
- Experience with proposal frameworks and methodologies.
- Familiarity with industry-standard proposal processes such as Shipley or APMP.
- Familiarity with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
- Aerospace or defense industry experience, with a strong understanding of the competitive landscape, customer base, and technology trends in the aerospace or satellite industry.
- Ability to effectively present proposal concepts and strategies to internal stakeholders, including team members and leadership.
- Proven ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders, including engineers, leadership, and cross-functional team members.
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
