Proposal Manager

Jobtailor; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in McLean, VA seeks an experienced Proposal Manager to lead end-to-end responses to federal and commercial solicitations and coordinate a cross-functional team of SMEs, writers, and designers.

You will drive proposal schedules, win themes, and rigorous compliance checks while mentoring staff and refining processes to win more business.

Qualifications

• Experience managing federal proposal processes.
• Ability to craft persuasive content.
• Strong writing and editing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of responses to federal and commercial solicitations.
• Manage proposal creation from interpreting solicitation requirements through submission and delivery.
• Oversee the full proposal lifecycle, including writing, editing, compliance checks, and production.
• Lead and coordinate capture managers, subject matter experts, writers, and graphic designers.
• Develop proposal schedules, compliance matrices, win strategies, and themes.
• Guide and mentor proposal staff.
• Conduct kick-off meetings, color team reviews, and daily status calls.
• Write, edit, and refine executive summaries, management plans, past performance, and staffing plans.
• Ensure proposals are clear, persuasive, and compliant with Section L and M requirements.
• Maintain solicitation documents and proposal artifacts on SharePoint or MS Teams.
• Conduct post-submission reviews and improve future proposal processes

Skills

Proposal Management

Federal Procurement Processes

Microsoft Office Proficiency

Writing and Editing

APMP or Shipley Training

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred in English, Literature, Business, or related discipline

APMP / Shipley Certifications

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Adobe Acrobat

Adobe InDesign

SharePoint

MS Teams

Job description

• Lead the development of compelling, high-quality responses to federal and commercial solicitations
• Manage all aspects of proposal creation from interpreting solicitation requirements through submission and delivery
• Oversee the full proposal lifecycle, including writing, editing, compliance checks, and production
• Lead and coordinate capture managers, subject matter experts, writers, and graphic designers
• Develop proposal schedules, compliance matrices, win strategies, and themes
• Guide and mentor proposal staff
• Conduct kick-off meetings, color team reviews, and daily status calls
• Write, edit, and refine executive summaries, management plans, past performance, and staffing plans
• Ensure proposals are clear, persuasive, and compliant with Section L and M requirements
• Maintain solicitation documents and proposal artifacts on SharePoint or MS Teams
• Conduct post-submission reviews and improve future proposal processes

Requirements

• APMP or Shipley Training desired
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in English, Literature, Business, or a related discipline
• Equivalent experience or certifications (e.g., APMP, Shipley) will also be considered
• Minimum of 2–5 years of experience managing federal proposal processes
• Expertise in IT services, cybersecurity, healthcare, or professional solutions is a plus
• In-depth understanding of federal procurement processes and solicitation requirements
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in desktop publishing tools such as Adobe Acrobat and InDesign
• Superior writing, editing, and organizational skills
• Ability to craft persuasive, non-technical, and technical content
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent proposals, lead diverse teams, and meet strict deadlines
• Working knowledge of the Federal Government procurement process
• Expertise with Microsoft Suite and Adobe PDF
• Orals experience desired

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in managing the full proposal lifecycle, including writing, editing, and compliance checks, while leading diverse teams to deliver high-quality responses to federal and commercial solicitations. Proficient in utilizing Microsoft Office Suite and desktop publishing tools to create persuasive content and maintain proposal artifacts.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Proposal Management
• Federal Procurement Processes
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Writing and Editing Skills
• APMP or Shipley Training

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Proposal Writing
• Editing
• Compliance Checks
• Content Development
• Project Management

Soft Skills

• Leadership
• Mentoring
• Organizational Skills
• Communication

Certifications & Qualifications

• APMP
• Shipley Training

Industry Keywords

• Federal Solicitations
• Proposal Lifecycle
• Cybersecurity
• Healthcare
• IT Services

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe InDesign
• SharePoint
• MS Teams