Director of Business Development and Capture

didlakecareers; Manassas (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Didlake seeks a Director of Business Development & Capture to lead federal and state opportunities, oversee the proposal lifecycle, and align captures with the organization’s mission.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in government capture, deep FAR knowledge, and strong leadership to manage teams, win strategies, and partnerships.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in federal/state government capture and proposal management.
• Strong writing, analysis, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to obtain security clearance if required.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, and pursue federal/state contract opportunities.
• Lead capture planning, including gap analysis and teaming agreements.
• Oversee end-to-end proposal process from RFP to submission.
• Develop win strategies and pricing approaches.
• Maintain relationships with government agencies and prime contractors.
• Provide monthly pipeline reports to leadership.
• Collaborate with program teams to articulate technical solutions.

Skills

Federal Capture

Proposal Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Strategic Planning

Team Leadership

Market Research

Education

BS/BA in Business/Public Administration

Master’s preferred

Tools

Salesforce

MS Office

Job description

Under the direction of the Assistant Vice President of Strategic Growth & Engagement, the Director of Business Development & Capture will help lead business development efforts for Didlake. This role is responsible for identifying, qualifying, and capturing new contract opportunities while managing the proposal development process. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in government contracting, business development, and proposal management, with a passion for mission-driven work supporting individuals with disabilities. Experience with federal and state set aside contracts (e.g., AbilityOne, Maryland State-Use, VA, DoD, etc.) is a plus.

The ideal candidate is strategic with a proven track record in federal/state contract capture and proposal management. The candidate should possess deep knowledge of government procurement processes (FAR, RFPs, RFIs, IDIQs, etc.), as well as some experience with set-aside programs (AbilityOne, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, etc.). The candidate must be skilled in stakeholder engagement, competitive analysis, and teaming partnerships. Strong writing, project management, and leadership skills are essential, along with a strong commitment to the Didlake mission.

• Identify, qualify, and pursue federal/state contract opportunities aligned with the organization’s mission and capabilities.
• Conduct market research, analyze competitors, and develop win strategies for targeted opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, prime contractors, and industry partners.
• Lead capture planning, including gap analysis, pricing strategies, and teaming agreements.
• Collaborate with program teams to articulate technical solutions and differentiators.
• Assess competitive landscapes, regulatory environments, and economic trends to mitigate risks.
• Oversee the end-to-end proposal process, from RFP release to submission.
• Develop compliance matrices, outlines, schedules, and color team reviews.
• Write, edit, and review proposal content for clarity, compliance, and persuasiveness.
• Manage proposal teams (internal staff, subcontractors, consultants) to meet deadlines.
• Expand the organization’s pipeline of opportunities through networking, conferences, and government forecasts.
• Maintain CRM (e.g., Salesforce) to track leads, opportunities, and customer engagement.
• Represent the organization at industry events, government meetings, and partner discussions.
• Support branding/marketing efforts to enhance visibility in the government contracting space.
• Ensure all proposals and captures adhere to federal/state regulations and organizational policies.
• Monitor contract performance and identify follow-on or recompete opportunities.
• Provide monthly reports to leadership on pipeline status, win rates, and growth metrics.

Education and Experience

• BS/BA degree Business, Public Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years in federal/state government capture and proposal management.
• Business Development/Capture certification or equivalent experience (Shipley-trained a plus).

Skills:

• Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Proven track record of capturing and winning opportunities.
• Ability to obtain security clearance if required.
• Willingness to travel as needed.