6+ years of experience in proposal writing for federal civilian and defense sectors, particularly with the Intelligence Community (IC)
Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Business, Technical Writing, or a related field; relevant experience or technical writing certification may substitute for degree
Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical information into clear, persuasive content
Proven track record of writing technical and management approaches for federal proposals
Strong interviewing skills for effective information gathering from subject matter experts (SMEs)
Excellent written communication, organizational skills, and attention to detail
Proficient in MS Office Suite and SharePoint
Responsibilities
Develop compelling written proposal content, including technical and management approaches
Collaborate with solution architects to clearly articulate solution designs for evaluators
Engage with SMEs to gather and refine technical input into polished narratives
Ensure compliance with solicitation requirements and alignment with win themes
Manage and prioritize multiple bids and deadlines concurrently
Collaborate with proposal managers and graphics specialists throughout the proposal lifecycle
Edit and refine content for clarity, accuracy, and adherence to industry standards
Participate in color team reviews (Blue, Pink, Red, Gold)
Benefits
Hybrid work environment in McLean, VA
Opportunity to work on complex government bids
Engagement with diverse technical domains and experts
Professional development opportunities in proposal writing methodologies
Flexibility to adapt work hours as needed, including late nights and weekends
Full Job Description
Requisition #: 1953
Job Title: Senior Proposal Writer
Location: Hybrid, McLean, VA
Clearance Level: Secret, Must Have Ability to Obtain a Clearance
Job Description
The Senior Proposal Writer is responsible for leading the development of high quality, compelling proposal content for complex government bids supporting federal civilian and defense customers. This role requires a strong ability to translate raw technical information into clear, persuasive prose; collaborate closely with solution architects and subject matter experts (SMEs); and deliver compliant, responsive, and differentiated proposal sections under tight deadlines.
Key Responsibilities
Develop written proposal content including technical approaches, management approaches, and other narrative sections that require technical insight
Work closely with solution architects (SAs) to understand solution designs and articulate them clearly for proposal evaluators
Engage with SMEs across diverse technical domains to gather, synthesize, and refine raw technical input into polished narrative
Ensure proposal content is compliant with solicitation requirements, aligns with win themes, and reflects a strong understanding of the customer mission
Maintain the ability to manage and prioritize multiple bids and deadlines concurrently
Collaborate with proposal managers, graphics specialists, and other team members throughout the proposal lifecycle
Edit and refine submitted content to ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency, and adherence to industry writing standards
Apply industry best practices (e.g., Shipley, APMP) to produce structured, customer focused, and compelling proposal narratives
Participate in color team reviews and activities (Blue, Pink, Red, Gold)
Education and Background
Minimum of 6 years of experience developing proposal content for federal civilian and defense customers, including work specifically supporting the IC
Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Business, Technical Writing, or a related field
Additional experience or technical writing certificate in lieu of degree would be acceptable
Years of Experience
6+ years
Required Skills
Demonstrated ability to convert complex technical material into clear, compelling written content
Proven experience writing technical and management approaches for federal proposals
Ability to work efficiently under pressure while managing multiple concurrent deadlines
Strong interviewing skills for gathering information from SMEs
Excellent written communication, organization, and attention to detail Proficient in MS Office Suite and SharePoint
Preferred Skills
Active security clearance or ability to obtain a clearance
Shipley, APMP Practitioner, or other formal proposal management/writing methodology training
Experience with proposals for classified or IC customers
Familiarity with proposal collaboration tools and environments; i.e. SharePoint, VT Docs, PSCi
Working Conditions
Flexibility to work late nights and weekends, as required.
