Position Overview

Cole Engineering Services (CESI), a By Light company, is seeking an experienced and driven Vice President, Proposal Management to lead full-lifecycle proposal development for DoD Modeling, Simulation & Training (MS&T) and associated defense markets. This senior-level role owns the proposal process from kickoff through submission and post-submittal support, ensuring every deliverable is compliant, compelling, and deadline-driven.

The ideal candidate brings deep familiarity with federal acquisition, proven leadership of high-performing proposal teams, and a forward-leaning orientation toward AI-enabled workflows. This is a leadership role focused on winning-through disciplined process, excellent writing, and a relentless commitment to quality.

Responsibilities

Proposal Leadership & Execution

• Own end-to-end proposal development for highly complex, competitive DoD procurements, including written volumes, oral presentations, and demonstration components.
• Develop and enforce proposal schedules, outlines, compliance matrices, resource plans, and annotated templates.
• Lead, organize, and motivate diverse proposal teams-writers, technical contributors, graphic artists, pricing analysts, and reviewers-toward on-time, high-quality submissions.
• Conduct and manage structured color reviews (Pink, Red, Gold, White Glove) to drive continuous quality improvement from draft to final.
• Translate win strategy and capture intelligence into compelling proposal narratives that differentiate the company and directly address evaluator criteria.
• Manage post-submittal deliverables including oral presentation preparation, clarification responses, final proposal revisions (FPRs), and debrief preparation.
• Coordinate with contracts, pricing, and legal teams to ensure fully compliant, responsive submissions.

Process, Tools & Infrastructure

• Define, document, and continuously improve proposal management policies, procedures, workflows, and toolsets across the organization.
• Champion adoption of AI-enabled proposal tools, including automated compliance checking, content curation, graphics generation, and predictive pricing support.
• Evaluate and implement new tools and technologies that improve proposal quality, velocity, and team efficiency.
• Maintain and grow a structured proposal content library (past performance, resumes, boilerplate, graphics) for rapid, accurate reuse.
• Use Salesforce (or equivalent CRM) for tracking opportunity records, proposal milestones, and performance metrics.
• Ensure all proposal activities comply with company policy and ethical standards throughout every pursuit.

Team Development & Mentorship

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing proposal team capable of executing multiple simultaneous pursuits.
• Coach and mentor proposal staff-including writers, coordinators, and junior managers-in persuasive federal proposal writing and Shipley methodology best practices.
• Guide team members in integrating AI-assisted workflows into their daily proposal work.
• Communicate and influence effectively at senior leadership levels, including executives, BD directors, program managers, and technical leads.

Required Experience/Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, Communications, English, or a closely related field.

Experience

• 10+ years of combined leadership experience in federal government proposal development and/or business development support.
• 7+ years of direct proposal management experience within DoD and/or Federal Government acquisition environments.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, competitive proposals across multiple contract types (LPTA, best value, IDIQ/task order, GWAC).
• Proven experience managing proposal teams under compressed schedules and high-volume pursuit pipelines.
• Strong understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), DFARS, and DoD acquisition processes.

Technical & Domain Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of the Shipley business development and proposal methodology (certification preferred).
• Hands-on proficiency with proposal management platforms and AI-enabled tools (e.g., automated compliance checkers, content management systems, proposal AI assistants).
• Familiarity with the DoD Modeling & Simulation market, key customers (PEO STRI, SOCOM, joint warfighter commands), and competitive landscape.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel); experience with SharePoint, Salesforce, or equivalent collaboration tools.

Leadership & Communication

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write and edit compelling, evaluator-focused proposal prose.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams under pressure without direct authority.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to compliance and detail.
• Ability to communicate and present at executive and customer-facing levels.

Preferred Experience/Qualifications

• APMP certification (Foundation, Practitioner, or Professional level).
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience with oral proposal and demonstration management for DoD acquisitions.
• Prior experience as a proposal writer or volume lead on M&S, simulation-based training, or software development programs.
• Familiarity with LVCG (Live, Virtual, Constructive, Gaming) domain terminology and customer sets.

Special Requirements/Security Clearance

Please note that pursuant to a government contract, this specific position requires U. S. Citizenship status with ability to obtain a SECRET to TOP SECRET security clearance. Security Clearance requirements will be specified in the Government's Task Order.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. The above is intended to describe the general contents of and requirements for the performance of this job.

Benefits Overview

CESI recognizes that our strength is our people. We support every employee as an individual to build strong teams across the enterprise. Our benefit package includes:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
• Wellness Program
• 401(k) Matching
• Disability (Short Term & Long Term)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Generous Leave Policy (11 Federal Holidays, PTO, Military Leave, Bereavement and Jury Duty)