Proposal & Capture Manager

SES Space & DEFENSE; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SES Space & Defense in Reston, VA, seeks a seasoned Proposal Manager to lead and coordinate high-quality, compliant proposals for U.S. Government and other customers.

You will manage the full lifecycle from RFP review and planning to development, reviews, and final submission, collaborating with business development, capture, program management, and subject-matter experts to translate strategies into compelling content.

Qualifications

• APMP certification required.
• Strong project management skills with ability to coordinate multiple contributors and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing and editing.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, English, Marketing, Management, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the development of high-quality, compliant proposals for U.S. Government and other opportunities.
• Manage proposal lifecycle from RFP review through submission and post-submission activities.
• Organize contributors, schedules, and deliverables; translate capture strategies into proposal content.
• Lead proposal planning, outlines, volume structures, reviews, and submission requirements.
• Coordinate with BD, Capture, PM, technical SMEs, and consultants; ensure quality and compliance.

Skills

APMP certification

Project management

Writing skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, English, Marketing, Management, or related discipline

Tools

SharePoint

Salesforce

Job description

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At SES Space & Defense, we deliver secure, resilient connectivity and integrated space solutions for customers operating in the world’s most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled communications, we combine capabilities across all orbits with extensive global ground infrastructure, managed networks, hosted payload solutions, and mission integration services to support communications, sensing, data transport, and operational resilience worldwide.

Our vertically integrated space and ground capabilities bring together satellite capacity, terrestrial infrastructure, advanced network technologies, and deployed user terminals to support mission-critical government operations around the world. We are a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, NASA, and other civilian agencies, delivering reliable, high-performance solutions when mission success is critical.

At SES Space & Defense, our people are our competitive advantage. You’ll work alongside a mission-driven team committed to integrity, innovation, accountability, and delivering real-world impact for customers whose missions matter most.

What You'll Do:

As a Proposal Manager at SES Space & Defense, you will lead and coordinate the development of high-quality, compliant, and competitive proposals supporting U.S. Government and other customer opportunities. You will manage the proposal lifecycle from initial RFP review and planning through proposal development, reviews, final submission, and post-submission activities, ensuring each response meets customer requirements, submission instructions, and SES Space & Defense's standards for quality and professionalism.

Working closely with Business Development, Capture, Program Management, technical subject matter experts, and proposal support teams, you will organize contributors, manage schedules and deliverables, and ensure capture strategies are translated into compelling proposal content. You will play a central role in maintaining proposal quality, compliance, and execution discipline while helping strengthen the processes, tools, and resources used to support future pursuits.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage and coordinate proposal development and submissions in accordance with SES Space & Defense proposal processes, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, RFP instructions, and internal quality standards.

Organize and lead proposal teams, defining roles, responsibilities, assignments, and deliverables while coordinating with internal stakeholders, remote contributors, and external consultants throughout the proposal lifecycle.

Develop and manage comprehensive proposal plans, including schedules, writing assignments, outlines, volume structures, milestones, reviews, and submission requirements.

Lead RFP reviews to identify customer requirements, evaluation criteria, compliance obligations, and opportunities for questions or clarifications.

Work with volume leads and technical contributors to develop proposal outlines and content structures aligned with RFP instructions and evaluation requirements.

Plan and conduct proposal kickoff meetings, establish team expectations, and provide proposal process training as needed.

Coordinate with Business Development, Capture, and Program Management to transition capture information, strategies, and customer insights into proposal development.

Ensure capture and proposal strategies are reflected in win themes, proposal storyboards, section themes, and supporting content.

Schedule, coordinate, and lead color team reviews and other proposal assessments, including Black Hat, Blue Team, and additional reviews as appropriate. Track feedback, coordinate revisions, and maintain proposal baselines throughout development.

Coordinate proposal support resources, including desktop publishing, graphics, technical writing, and collaborative tools such as SharePoint, to support proposal development and production.

Monitor proposal progress, identify schedule or resource constraints, resolve coordination issues, and maintain communication across contributors to ensure deadlines and quality expectations are met.

Manage final proposal production and submission, including compliance checks, delivery confirmation, evaluation notices, and Best and Final Offer (BAFO) submissions when required.

Establish and maintain effective communication and collaboration among proposal team members, including local and remote employees, technical contributors, and consultants.

Develop, maintain, and improve proposal methodologies, templates, process documentation, and reusable materials to support consistency and efficiency across future pursuits.

Support and reinforce the mission, values, and culture of SES Space & Defense.

Who You Are:

You are an organized, detail-oriented Proposal Manager who understands how to bring together people, processes, and technical information to deliver competitive, compliant proposals. You are comfortable managing complex proposal efforts with multiple contributors, competing priorities, and demanding deadlines, while maintaining a clear focus on quality, responsiveness, and customer requirements.

You know how to work effectively with Business Development and Capture leaders, technical subject matter experts, writers, and production teams to turn pursuit strategies into well-structured proposal responses. You bring strong project management, communication, and writing skills, along with the judgment to anticipate challenges, keep teams aligned, and maintain momentum throughout the proposal lifecycle. You take pride in producing high-quality work and continuously improving the processes that support successful proposal development.

Key Qualifications & Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, English, Marketing, Management, or a related discipline.

Knowledge of project management principles and the full proposal management lifecycle, including planning, development, reviews, production, and submission.

Familiarity with U.S. federal, state, and local government acquisition processes, procurement requirements, and proposal development practices.

APMP certification required.

Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple contributors, manage schedules, and meet demanding deadlines.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong technical writing, editing, and presentation abilities.

Demonstrated ability to build effective teams, coordinate cross-functional stakeholders, and maintain productive working relationships.

Ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently, exercise sound judgment, and work professionally under pressure.

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with technical, business, and executive stakeholders.

Experience supporting proposal development within the defense industry preferred.

Knowledge of satellite communications (SATCOM) technologies, services, or related markets preferred.

Familiarity with SharePoint, Salesforce, or similar collaboration and customer relationship management platforms preferred.

Master's degree preferred.

Shipley proposal management training preferred.

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

The final base salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the position’s location, the candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

Where applicable, this position may also be eligible for an annual bonus. Employees are eligible to participate in SES Space & Defense’s benefits programs, which include paid vacation, sick and personal leave; medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k)-retirement plan; and others.

An Equal Opportunity Employer:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.