Proposal Manager

C5MI Insights LLC.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Bonus opportunities

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

C5MI Insights LLC seeks a Proposal Manager to lead federal proposal efforts from solicitation release through submission. This fully remote role collaborates with business development, capture, contracts, pricing, and SMEs to produce compliant, competitive proposals for defense and civilian federal customers.

The role oversees the full proposal lifecycle—from RFIs and sources sought to task orders and IDIQs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Business, Marketing, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in proposal development, proposal management, or technical writing; 7-10 years of experience with no degree.
• At least 2 years managing federal government proposals from release through submission.
• Hands-on experience with color team reviews within Shipley or APMP methodologies.
• Strong writing and editing skills for government evaluators.

Responsibilities

• Lead federal proposals from release to submission, coordinating multiple pursuits.
• Translate solicitations into annotated outlines and compliance matrices.
• Build proposal schedules, lead kickoff meetings, and assign responsibilities.
• Write, edit, and rewrite technical, management, and past performance sections.

Skills

Proposal management

Federal proposals

APMP or Shipley

MS Office

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Proposal Manager

C5MI is not your typical consulting firm. We are a high-performance team of SAP and supply chain experts who solve complex, mission critical challenges for organizations that cannot afford failure.

We hire consultants who thrive in complexity, move fast, take ownership, and deliver under pressure. At C5MI, you will not be siloed or stuck in theory. You will be hands on, client facing, and directly influencing outcomes that matter.

Our culture rewards initiative, accountability, and continuous growth. This is a place where your expertise is valued, your work is meaningful, and your performance truly matters. If you're energized by learning through real-world challenges, collaborating with top-tier talent, and expanding your capabilities every day, C5MI is where strong consultants level up.

Position Summary:

C5MI is seeking a Proposal Manager to lead federal proposal efforts from solicitation release through submission. This fully remote position reports to the Director of Proposal Development and works closely with business development, capture, contracts, pricing, and technical subject matter experts (SMEs) to produce compliant, competitive proposals for defense and civilian federal customers.

The Proposal Manager owns day-to-day execution on assigned pursuits, which range from RFIs and sources sought responses to task orders, IDIQs, and contract vehicle on-ramps. You'll build the schedule and compliance matrix, run the kickoff and color reviews, write and edit content, and keep contributors on track toward the deadline. Our work centers on ERP, supply chains, logistics, and data analytics, so the Proposal Manager must translate complex technical solutions into clear narrative for government evaluation and scoring. This role is a strong fit for a proposal professional with several years of hands-on experience who aims to manage full pursuits independently and help shape how C5MI's proposal function grows.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Manage assigned proposals through the full lifecycle, including RFIs, sources sought notices, RFPs, RFQs, task orders, and contract vehicle on-ramps, often with multiple pursuits running concurrently
• Analyze solicitations (Sections L and M, SOW/PWS, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions) and translate requirements into annotated outlines, compliance matrices, and clear writing assignments
• Build and maintain proposal schedules, lead kickoff meetings, and hold contributors accountable to milestone deadlines
• Partner with capture and business development leads to carry win themes, discriminators, and customer insight into proposal content
• Write, edit, and rewrite technical, management, and past performance sections, turning SME input into polished, evaluator-friendly narrative
• Coordinate color reviews, adjudicate reviewer comments, and track recovery actions to closure
• Work with pricing and contracts to keep technical and cost volumes aligned on labor categories, staffing assumptions, and required representations and certifications
• Coordinate with teaming partners and subcontractors on content, data calls, and document exchange
• Perform final compliance, quality, and formatting checks, and manage electronic submission through government portals such as SAM.gov, PIEE, and GSA eBuy
• Maintain and grow the proposal content library, including past performance write-ups, corporate content, etc.
• Use approved AI tools to accelerate drafting, solicitation analysis, and content reuse, applying human review and C5MI data handling policy to all AI-assisted work
• Capture lessons learned and debrief feedback and recommend improvements to templates, tools, and processes
• Provide day-to-day direction and writing feedback to proposal coordinators, writers, and SMEs on assigned efforts
• Adhere to all certified processes as part of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and information security, which includes actively participating in quality assurance activities and ensuring the protection of sensitive information in accordance with our security policies
• Perform other related tasks as assigned by direct supervisor

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• 5-7 years of experience in proposal development, proposal management, or technical writing; 7-10 years of experience with no degree.
• At least 2 years managing federal government proposals from release through submission
• Working knowledge of the federal acquisition process, including FAR-based procurements, Section L and M structure, and common contract types (IDIQ, GWAC, BPA, and task orders)
• Hands-on experience running color team reviews within a structured methodology such as Shipley or APMP best practices
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts in plain, persuasive language for government evaluators
• Demonstrated ability to manage several concurrent proposals under tight deadlines without sacrificing quality
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint
• Ability to work effectively in a fully remote environment and collaborate with distributed teams across time zones

Nice to Have:

• APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification
• Formal Shipley training
• Proposal experience with DoD customers, particularly defense logistics and sustainment programs
• Familiarity with SAP, ERP modernization, supply chain, or data analytics - enough to engage technical SMEs in productive conversation
• Experience supporting contract vehicle on-ramp or agency multiple-award IDIQs
• Exposure to cost volumes, basis of estimate (BOE) development, or pricing narratives
• Basic graphics and desktop publishing skills in PowerPoint, Word, etc.
• Experience with market research and pipeline tools such as GovWin IQ, HigherGov, or SAM.gov
• Support for oral presentations and technical demonstrations
• Active security clearance or the ability to obtain one
• Practical experience using AI tools such as Claude or ChatGPT in proposal development
• Experience at a small or mid-size government contractor where proposal staff wear multiple hats

Compensation:

In accordance with pay transparency law, the expected salary range for this position is $100,000 - $130,000 annually. The actual compensation offered will be determined based on factors such as the candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. We are committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This posted range reflects our good faith estimate of the compensation we reasonably expect to offer for this role at the time of posting.

Application Deadline:

We anticipate this job posting will be posted until 12/1/2026.

Benefits:

C5MI offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off.

Our employees are key to our success, so we strive to be more than just a team; we’re a community built upon a set of Core Values that guide our every action:

• Challenge - We believe in challenging the present - it’s the only way to shape the future. We must be exceptional communicators and collaborators while always learning. We also understand that speaking your mind requires equal parts brain (what to say), thoughtfulness (when to say it), and caring (how it’s said). Incremental won’t win.
• Have Fun - We are on a journey, together. Take care of your family, take care of yourself, and take care of each other. Live your happiness. Stay human, take care of each other and invest in your community. Life isn’t all about work. Live your happiness. Be healthy.
• All In - You can’t fake passion - show your energy. Own it - take charge and lead. Our team is made up of top quartile talent and we never accept second best. Accountability, trust, and integrity create an environment to realize the team’s true potential.
• Never Forget the Customer - We have walked a mile in your shoes. Experience matters. We drive innovation to generate business value. Be true - no BS.
• GSD (Get Stuff Done) - We take initiative and never make excuses. We act with urgency, and we delivery high quality outcomes with extreme velocity. We embrace process discipline, drive continuous improvement, and stay audit ready. We relentlessly execute and plan for tomorrow by creating sustainable outcomes. That is how we win!
• Empower - Our people are the foundation for our success. We recognize their value, and support them by fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. We recognize individual strengths, build confidence through action, and invest in personal development.

C5MI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, and lactation), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.