Managing Director, Advanced Technology Practice

McAllister & Quinn; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid in-office location

401(k) plan

Healthcare

Dental

Life insurance

Long‑term disability

Dependent-care FSA

HSA/FSA

Transit benefits

Flexible vacation and leave

Job summary

McAllister & Quinn, a federal research development consulting and government relations firm, seeks an experienced leader for its Advanced Technology Practice in Washington, D.C. The role focuses on securing R&D funding and managing multi‑client engagements across defense, energy, and biotechnology portfolios.

Responsibilities include end‑to‑end proposal development, strategic planning, and client advisory work with cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• 6+ years of related experience (industry R&D, federal funding, consulting, and/or proposal development).
• Strategic thinker with strong project management and proposal leadership experience.
• Highly collaborative with a strong customer‑service mindset.
• Excellent communication, client-facing, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end proposal development using cross‑functional teams (SMEs, research analysts, writers, reviewers, etc.).
• Maintain extensive knowledge of federal grant programs and trends, advising clients on positioning and competitiveness.
• Oversee strategic planning and execution of services, including project timelines, deliverables, and quality standards.
• Develop white papers, concept papers, and briefing materials.
• Advise on compliance, readiness, and post‑award capacity building.
• Lead client engagements, including agenda setting, updates, presentations, and strategic planning.
• Build and manage relationships, delivering high‑quality, deadline‑driven results.
• Support external client interactions on partnerships, consortium building, and stakeholder engagements with federal agencies, program officers, and partners.
• Engage with clients on site and participate in industry conferences (approximately 10% travel).
• Lead client engagements, including agenda setting, updates, presentations, and strategic planning.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Project management

Proposal leadership

Communication

Client-facing

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Customer-service mindset

Education

Master’s degree

Tools

PMP

APMP

Job description

About McAllister & Quinn

McAllister & Quinn is a federal research development consulting and government relations firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. We offer our 200+ clients a unique blend of comprehensive grant consulting, strategic advising, and government relations services. We equip clients with the knowledge and expertise to pursue federal and private foundation funding opportunities that align with their organizational priorities. Our work supports strategic positioning, competitive application crafting, funding stream expansion through the congressional appropriations process, and facilitation of public‑private and international partnerships.

Advanced Technology Practice

The Advanced Technology Practice serves engineering and technology companies—from startups to Fortune 500s—by securing R&D funding to develop, commercialize, and scale innovation. Our portfolio spans multiple federal agencies and departments in defense, critical minerals, energy, biotechnology, manufacturing, workforce development, and more.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Client and Consultant Management

• Serve as the primary client contact and trusted advisor, aligning internal and external teams to service retainer and project‑based contracts.
• Lead client engagements, including agenda setting, updates, presentations, and strategic planning.
• Build and manage relationships, delivering high‑quality, deadline‑driven results.
• Support external client interactions on partnerships, consortium building, and stakeholder engagements with federal agencies, program officers, and partners.
• Engage with clients on site and participate in industry conferences (approximately 10% travel).

Funding Strategy and Proposal Development

• Lead end‑to‑end proposal development using cross‑functional teams (SMEs, research analysts, writers, reviewers, etc.).
• Maintain extensive knowledge of federal grant programs and trends, advising clients on positioning and competitiveness.
• Oversee strategic planning and execution of services, including project timelines, deliverables, and quality standards.
• Develop white papers, concept papers, and briefing materials.
• Advise on compliance, readiness, and post‑award capacity building.

Requirements

Required

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• 6+ years of related experience (industry R&D, federal funding, consulting, and/or proposal development).
• Strategic thinker with strong project management and proposal leadership experience.
• Highly collaborative with a strong customer‑service mindset.
• Excellent communication, client‑facing, and analytical skills.

Preferred

• Experience navigating government funding and policy landscapes, such as Hill, federal or state agencies, or industry government relations work.
• Experience successfully securing federal funding awards for industry, academia, or other entities.
• Familiarity with federal appropriations and grant processes.
• PMP, APMP, or similar project management certification.

Key Success Traits

• Strategic thinker with strong problem‑solving skills.
• Detail‑oriented and deadline‑driven.
• Confident communicator and client advisor.
• Highly collaborative with a strong customer‑service mindset.

Compensation & Benefits

• Normal work hours 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Monday–Friday EST) for local staff.
• Location: Hybrid in‑office preferred (Washington, D.C.); remote optional for exceptional candidates.
• Competitive 401(k), healthcare, dental, life insurance, long‑term disability, dependent‑care FSA, HSA/FSA, and transit benefits.
• Salary starting at $100,000.00 annual base, with bonus eligibility after one year of continuous service.
• Flexible vacation and leave policy.