Proposal Manager

Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, Inc; Columbia Falls (MT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, Inc is seeking a full-time Proposal Manager in Columbia Falls, Montana. The successful candidate will lead the proposal development lifecycle, ensuring compliance with federal requirements and managing cross-functional teams to deliver timely responses.

This position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, strong communication, and leadership skills. It offers a dynamic work environment contributing to mission-critical communications and defense solutions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing competitive federal proposals.
• Strong working knowledge of FAR and DFARS compliance.
• Ability to develop persuasive proposal content.

Responsibilities

• Lead full proposal development lifecycle from planning to submission.
• Manage schedules and coordinate with cross-functional teams.
• Monitor competitive solicitation opportunities and proposal workload.

Skills

Proposal lifecycle management

Federal proposal compliance

Communication skills

Leadership and orchestration

Analytical problem-solving

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

ERP and CRM software

Adobe CS products

Job description

Position

Proposal Manager (Full‑Time) – Division: Business Development & Customer Success; Department: Sales & Marketing

Overview

Nomad Global Communications Solutions is an experienced government contractor and leading provider of mission‑critical communication and response solutions for Defense, Federal Civilian, SLED, and Commercial customers. The role is a key contributor to the full proposal lifecycle, requiring disciplined capture coordination, strategic messaging, schedule ownership, and cross‑functional leadership to produce compelling, customer‑focused responses aligned with Nomad’s win strategies and Shipley best practices.

Essential Functions

Strategic

• Lead the full proposal development lifecycle from pre‑RFP planning through final submission and post‑submission support
• Develop and manage detailed schedules, milestones, and action trackers to ensure on‑time delivery
• Facilitate kickoff meetings, color reviews (e.g., Pink, Red, Green, Gold), and gate reviews to drive structured development, quality control, and alignment across teams
• Ensure all proposal deliverables meet internal standards for responsiveness, quality, strategy, and compliance

People

• Coordinate proposal activities with Capture Managers, Sales Engineers, Contracts, Pricing, technical teams, and other stakeholders to ensure all phases are executed according to approved schedules
• Lead proposal kickoff meetings and cross‑functional collaboration with engineering, operations, finance, and other departments as needed
• Partner with Capture Managers and technical contributors to develop win themes, strategies, customer questions, solution approaches, and persuasive response content
• Coach proposal contributors on compliant response development, persuasive writing, and proposal best practices
• Communicate proposal requirements, progress, risks, and status updates to senior management, as appropriate
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal department leads, key customers, and vendor partners
• Orchestrate cross‑functional proposal teams without direct supervisory responsibility, owning the coordination, cadence, and execution of assigned proposal activities (may evolve to include supervisory responsibilities)
• Serve as a professional ambassador for Nomad

Process

• Monitor competitive solicitation opportunities and support Sales pipeline coordination, including proposal calendar management for RFIs, Sources Sought, RFPs, RFQs, and related requests across markets
• Reprioritize proposal workload daily, including team stand‑ups, to ensure customer response timeliness, internal milestones, and submission deadlines are met
• Manage solicitation updates, amendments, and modifications, ensuring all changes are incorporated into proposal schedules, compliance requirements, and final submissions
• Perform quality and compliance reviews across all proposal sections and volumes, including proofreading, compliance matrix validation, strategy alignment, color team input reconciliation, and conformance with Shipley best practices
• Develop and refine proposal content for management, past performance, quality control, staffing, and other bid‑specific sections, leveraging archived content where appropriate
• Ensure Nomad proposal processes, marketing style guides, formatting standards, and customer submission requirements are consistently followed
• Independently coordinate assigned proposal‑related projects and provide recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual status updates as needed

Qualifications & Experience

• US Citizen required
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing and coordinating competitive federal proposal efforts, with significant experience supporting DoD solicitations highly preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing the full proposal lifecycle for responses to RFPs, RFIs, Sources Sought, and RFQs within federal contracting environments
• Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and U.S. Government procurement processes and proposal compliance requirements, with experience applying Shipley‑based proposal development methodologies and best practices
• Familiarity with DoD/Federal proposal development and compliance, including FAR/DFARS requirements, evaluation criteria, and compliant response development strongly preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to translate complex technical, sales, and capture strategies into clear, compliant, and persuasive proposal content
• Strong proposal leadership and orchestration skills, able to align cross‑functional contributors, influence without formal authority, resolve conflicts, and keep teams focused in a high‑tempo, deadline‑driven environment
• Proven ability to develop compliant, compelling, and competitive submissions that reflect strong win themes, competitive positioning, market awareness, and time‑sensitive execution strategies
• Working knowledge of proposal development tools, Shipley‑aligned processes, capture practices, sales methodologies, and DoD/Federal contracting environments
• Strong decision‑making, analytical problem‑solving, and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize inputs, assess risks, develop recommendations, and brief leadership effectively
• Professional, customer‑focused mindset with strong active listening, responsiveness, follow‑through, and relationship management skills
• Creative, resourceful thinker who challenges assumptions, asks thoughtful questions, and develops innovative solutions that improve proposal quality and win probability
• Flexibility to support extended work schedules, including evenings and weekends, as required by proposal deadlines
• Proficient using standard business software including ERP, CRM, Microsoft Office Suite, and some Adobe CS products
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Understanding of and appreciation for Nomad Core Values and ability to apply them in work

Physical Demands

• Regular use of hands and arms to handle, feel, reach, or operate objects, tools, or controls
• Frequent standing, walking, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, talking, hearing, and occasional sitting
• Occasional lifting and/or carrying up to 25 pounds; occasional lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds; anything heavier than 50 pounds requires two people
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to distinguish individual colors
• Expectations of travel as required to support continuing education and customer understanding; travel will be approximately 10%

Working Environment

• Typical indoor office environment with long periods of computer‑related work, constant interruptions, and high levels of stress at times
• Work area partially environmentally controlled; temperatures may fluctuate between 60°F and 100°F but typically around 70°F; occasional outdoor work required
• Potential noise levels ranging from low to loud; required to wear provided safety hearing devices from time to time
• Exposure to a variety of household/commercial chemicals; must follow company rules/regulations outlined by SDS
• All team members required to wear OSHA‑approved safety glasses and closed‑toed shoes at all times on the production floor

Equal Opportunity Statement

Nomad GCS is an equal‑opportunity employer. Nomad GCS does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable state and local laws.