Senior Manager, Proposal Development

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense; Simsbury (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense is looking for a Bids and Proposals Manager in Simsbury, Connecticut. This role involves leading a team responsible for preparing, coordinating, and submitting high-value proposals to government and commercial customers.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and over 10 years of experience, including 3 years in proposal management within the aerospace and defense sector. Strong leadership and organizational skills are essential. The position supports a workplace focused on compliance and quality delivery.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience with supervisory responsibility.
• 3+ years of proposal or program management experience within aerospace, defense, or government contracting.
• APMP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Proposal Development Engineers for compliant proposals.
• Manage all phases of the proposal value stream from cost estimation to submission.
• Coordinate with leadership across the organization for alignment.

Skills

Leadership of a highly-skilled team

Strong problem-solving capabilities

Exceptional organizational skills

Analytical ability to review complex RFPs/RFQs

Excellent written and verbal communication

Understanding of proposal development process

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, IT, engineering, or related field

Master’s degree in business administration or related field

Tools

SAM.gov

DLA – DIBBS

Job description

Position Overview

The Bids and Proposals Manager leads a team responsible for the preparation, coordination, and submission of complex, high-value proposals to government and commercial customers within the aerospace and defense sector. This role serves as the central point of contact for proposal efforts, ensuring compliance, quality, and alignment with EBAD’s strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Proposal Development Engineers in creating and delivering compliant, high‑quality proposals in response to RFPs, RFQs, and other solicitations.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement across the Bids and Proposals team, emphasizing talent development and kaizen principles.
• Build and sustain a high‑performing team through hiring, engagement, retention, and performance management, including goal setting, reviews, and career conversations.
• Maintain a disciplined operating cadence and apply visual management tools to empower problem‑solving grounded in evidence and 80/20 principles.
• Identify opportunities for Kaizen initiatives that deliver breakthrough results.
• Manage all phases of the proposal value stream: opportunity assessment, cost estimation, write‑up generation, approvals, final submission, and post‑submission clarifications.
• Coordinate with leadership across the organization—Business Development, Engineering, Program Management, Contracts, Finance, and Operations—to align processes, reviews, and escalations.
• Oversee proposal schedules, outlines, cost/pricing data, compliance matrices, and content plans to ensure timely and accurate submissions.
• Support training, process development, and tooling for the Bids & Proposals team.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, IT, engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience with supervisory responsibility.
• 3+ years of proposal or program management experience within aerospace, defense, or government contracting.
• Preferred: Master’s degree in business administration or related field.
• Preferred: APMP certification.

Skills

• Leadership of a highly‑skilled team, fostering employee engagement.
• Strong problem‑solving and continuous improvement capabilities.
• Exceptional organizational skills managing multiple concurrent proposal efforts.
• Analytical ability to review, interpret, and align complex RFPs/RFQs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Deep understanding of the proposal development process and government acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS).
• Familiarity with government portals (SAM.gov, DLA – DIBBS, etc.).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ensign‑Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.