Director, Proposal Management

Sierra Space; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 215,000 - 295,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) with match

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Sierra Space in Louisville, KY is seeking a Director of Proposal Management to lead the enterprise-wide proposal function, driving strategy, processes, and competitive success on major pursuits.

You will build and manage high-performing teams, implement best-in-class review and quality controls, translate capture strategies into winning proposals, and align efforts with growth objectives across business development, technical, and executive leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent work experience
• Extensive executive-level experience leading enterprise-wide proposal management with success in major contracts
• Proven track record directing large teams and complex proposals in high-stakes environments
• Expert knowledge of proposal management methodologies, processes, and best practices across markets
• Comprehensive understanding of government acquisition processes, procurement regulations, and evaluation criteria
• Strategic vision to align proposals with corporate growth objectives
• Demonstrated success overseeing multiple high‑value proposals while optimizing resources
• Exceptional leadership building high‑performing proposal organizations and processes
• Advanced writing and content development to craft executive narratives and win strategies
• Proven ability to establish sophisticated review processes that improve win rates

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for enterprise-wide proposal management and strategy.
• Direct multiple high-value, complex proposals ensuring quality and compliance.
• Build and lead high-performing proposal teams with clear roles and development paths.
• Implement review processes and quality standards to improve win rates.
• Translate capture strategies into winning proposals with cross-functional partners.
• Craft executive-level narratives and win themes for major opportunities.
• Establish efficient proposal processes, tools, and templates for scalable growth.
• Maintain understanding of government procurement regulations and evaluation criteria.

Skills

Executive leadership

Proposal management

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Advanced writing

Content development

Quality review processes

Government contracting knowledge

Bid strategy

Ethical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree (related field)

Job description

Sierra Space Careers:

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.

Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.

Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.

We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

The Director, Proposal Management provides executive leadership for the enterprise-wide proposal function, driving strategy, process excellence, and competitive success across major pursuits. This role combines deep proposal expertise with responsibility for building high-performing teams, establishing best-in-class processes, and delivering winning proposals aligned with corporate growth objectives. The successful candidate will direct multiple high-value proposal efforts simultaneously, improve win rates through sophisticated quality processes, and foster an ethical, values-driven culture.

Key Responsibilities

Provides executive leadership for enterprise-wide proposal management, developing strategies that align with corporate growth objectives and market positioning. Directs multiple high-value, complex proposal efforts simultaneously, optimizing resources and maintaining quality standards for compelling, compliant submissions. Builds and leads high-performing proposal teams, establishing clear roles, fostering collaboration, and creating development pathways. Implements sophisticated review processes and quality standards that significantly improve win rates and ensure best practice consistency. Translates capture strategies into winning proposals by partnering with business development, technical, and executive leadership to address client needs and create differentiation. Crafts executive-level proposal narratives, win themes, and strategic messaging for high-stakes opportunities. Establishes efficient proposal processes, tools, and templates that ensure compliance and enable scalable growth. Maintains deep understanding of government acquisition, procurement regulations, and evaluation criteria, anticipating trends to maintain competitive advantage. Advises executive leadership on proposal strategy, competitive positioning, and win probability for bid/no-bid decisions. Drives continuous improvement through innovative methodologies, automation tools, and lessons‑learned integration. Fosters cross-functional partnerships across business development, capture, contracts, pricing, and technical organizations. Models company values, holds teams accountable to ethical standards, and ensures integrity throughout all proposal activities. Establishes performance metrics and win-rate analytics that drive accountability and improvement. Represents the company in industry forums and maintains awareness of competitive intelligence and best practices. Manages proposal budgets, resource planning, and infrastructure investments.

About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission.

We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree)
• Extensive executive-level experience leading enterprise-wide proposal management functions with demonstrated success winning major strategic contracts
• Proven track record managing large teams and complex projects in high‑stakes proposal environments
• Expert knowledge of proposal management methodologies, processes, and best practices across diverse market segments
• Comprehensive understanding of government acquisition processes, procurement regulations, and evaluation criteria with ability to anticipate procurement trends
• Strategic vision to develop and implement organizational proposal strategies aligned with corporate growth objectives
• Demonstrated success directing multiple high‑value, complex proposals simultaneously while optimizing resources and maintaining quality
• Exceptional leadership in building high‑performing proposal organizations and establishing effective processes, tools, and best practices
• Advanced writing and content development expertise with ability to craft compelling executive-level narratives and win strategies
• Proven ability to establish sophisticated review processes and quality standards that significantly improve win rates

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or MBA) in Business, Communications, Technical Writing, Engineering, or related discipline
• Fifteen (15) or more years of progressive proposal management experience, including at least seven (7) years in senior leadership roles
• APMP certification at the Professional or Fellow level
• Experience leading proposal functions for large‑scale government contracts in aerospace, defense, civil space, or highly regulated industries
• Demonstrated track record of measurably improving organizational win rates through innovative processes or tools
• Experience translating capture strategies into winning approaches that create meaningful differentiation
• Proven success winning contracts valued at $100M+ and leading pursuit teams on strategic opportunities
• Experience establishing proposal centers of excellence, including training programs and knowledge management systems
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing significant budgets and capital investments
• Recognition through industry awards, professional association leadership, or published thought leadership
• Experience implementing proposal automation tools or AI-enabled content management systems
• Demonstrated ability to foster ethical business culture and model company values
• Experience in matrixed organizations with geographically distributed teams

Compensation

Pay Range:

$214,902.00 - $295,489.50

Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education,experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

Elevate Your Career

At Sierra Space, we are committed to your personal and professional development. We empower you to make profound and meaningful contributions and foster a vibrant culture of collaboration, where teamwork ignites breakthrough innovations.

We also offer a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, and more.

Sierra Space is an industry‑leading space and defense technology company providing satellites, spacecraft, and enabling mission systems and components. We deliver mission‑proven technologies to our customers that safeguard our nation, protect space‑based assets and enable space exploration.

Application Deadline: This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Please note: Sierra Space does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to Sierra Space team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of Sierra Space, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

Sierra Space Corporationis an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment withSierra Spaceor at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.