Sr. Proposal Manager, US Federal

Workday, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday Government is seeking a Sr. Proposal Manager to lead federal proposal development. Location: Remote with preference for DMV area. Role focuses on building compliant, compelling proposals and managing cross‑functional teams to maximize win probability.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in federal proposals, strong writing skills, and deep FAR knowledge. Travel up to 25% is required. U.S. citizenship is mandatory. Join a Fortune 500 company dedicated to impactful government work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of federal government proposal development experience.
• Working knowledge of FAR and related regulations.
• PMP or APMP certification preferred; relevant experience weighted more.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full proposal lifecycle from identification to submission and post‑award follow‑up.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams and assign roles for proposal development.
• Develop win themes and key messages for government customers.
• Ensure compliance with formatting, page limits, and clauses with legal reviews.
• Build and manage the proposal schedule, milestones, and budget.
• Support post‑submission activities and lessons learned.
• Stay current on federal procurement regulations and trends.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Writing and editing

Travel up to 25%

U.S. citizenship required

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, Engineering, Science) or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Workspace

AutogenAI

Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Sign

Proposal management software

Job description

Your work days are brighter here. We’re obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we’re shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you’ll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We’re in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun‑drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.

About the Team

Your work matters here. At Workday Government, we focus on outcomes that serve a larger mission. Our work supports U.S. federal agencies as they modernize how they manage people, money, and operations—so they can operate with greater clarity, accountability, and trust. As a Fortune 500 company and a proven enterprise cloud platform, Workday brings modern technology, responsible AI, and secure infrastructure to some of the most complex environments in the world. The work isn’t theoretical. It’s operational. It’s high‑impact. And it demands rigor, integrity, and long‑term thinking. From day one, you’ll be part of a team that values collaboration, follow‑through, and doing the right thing—especially when the stakes are high. Our culture is grounded in integrity, respect, and shared responsibility. We challenge each other to think clearly, act thoughtfully, and build solutions that stand up to real‑world demands. Here, curiosity is matched with accountability. Ambition is paired with trust. You’ll have the space to do your best work, the support to keep growing, and the backing of a company committed to long‑term investment in both its people and the federal mission. If you’re looking to apply your experience to meaningful, mission‑driven work—alongside colleagues who take pride in building things that last—you’ll find that opportunity at Workday Government.

About the Role

Location: Remote — strong preference for candidates based in the Washington, D.C. / Maryland / Virginia (DMV) area

Role Type: Individual contributor (no direct reports)

Travel: Up to 25%, for training, conferences, or client visits

We're looking for a highly organized, detail‑oriented Sr. Proposal Manager to lead the development of compelling, compliant proposals for federal government opportunities. You will own the full proposal lifecycle — from opportunity identification through submission and post‑award follow‑up — partnering with capture, business development, technical, and pricing teams to deliver proposals that maximize win probability.

What You'll Do

• Pre‑Proposal Support capture strategy for targeted opportunities — competitive analysis, win‑theme development, and value proposition — in partnership with capture managers and business development.
• Review solicitation requirements (technical, management, cost, compliance) to identify risks and opportunities.
• Build proposal outlines and compliance matrices aligned to the solicitation structure.
• Proposal Development Lead and coordinate cross‑functional proposal teams (subject matter experts, writers, editors); assign roles and manage team performance.
• Develop win themes and key messages that resonate with the government customer and highlight our value proposition. Write and edit proposal content for clarity, conciseness, and persuasiveness. Review and edit content developed by other team members. Own compliance — formatting, page limits, mandatory clauses — partnering with contracts and legal on the compliance review process.
• Build and manage the proposal schedule; track milestones and deadlines. Manage proposal resources, including personnel, budget, and tools. Partner with graphic designers on visuals that improve the proposal's readability and impact. Work with pricing and finance teams to build accurate, competitive cost proposals.
• Post‑Submission Manage final submission, ensuring all required documents and internal approvals are complete and the submission process is followed correctly. Support post‑submission activities, such as responding to clarifications or participating in oral presentations. Lead post‑proposal reviews to capture lessons learned and share insights with the team.

Ongoing Responsibilities

• Stay current on federal procurement regulations and trends (FAR, DFARS — the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement — and related policies).
• Maintain proposal templates and boilerplate content to improve development efficiency.
• Continuously improve the proposal development process and proposal quality.

About You — Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, Engineering, Science) or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of federal government proposal development experience
• Working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and related regulations
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, AutogenAI, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Sign, and proposal management software
• Ability to travel up to 25%
• U.S. citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance, or ability to obtain one (preferred, not required)
• PMP or APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) certification preferred, not required — relevant experience is weighted more heavily than certifications
• Membership in professional proposal organizations (e.g., APMP)

Workday Pay Transparency Statement

The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ranges vary based on work location. As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Workday Bonus Plan or a role‑specific commission/bonus, as well as annual refresh stock grants. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. Each candidate’s compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things.

Primary Location: USA.VA.Home Office Washington DC Metro Primary Location Base Pay Range: $142,200 USD - $213,200 USD

Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $128,600 USD - $228,500 USD

Additional Considerations: If performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is $135,400 - $203,000 USD based on min and max pay range for that role if performed in CO.

The application deadline for this role is the same as the posting end date stated as below: 12/31/2026

Our Approach to Flexible Work

With Flex Work, we’re combining the best of both worlds: in‑person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in‑office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you'll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.

Pursuant to applicable Fair Chance law, Workday will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Workday is an Equal Opportunity Employer including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Workday is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals during our application process, in order to perform one or more essential functions of their job, as well as regarding the use of AI tools for employment decision‑making to any degree. Please see below for more details including how to request an accommodation as a qualified veteran, due to a disability or for religious reasons, or as otherwise provided under applicable law. Workday prohibits taking adverse action against any candidate or employee for reporting a possible violation of this policy, requesting one or more work accommodations, exercising a privacy right, or cooperating in an investigation in accordance with applicable law. Any employee who retaliates against a candidate or employee for doing so may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, to the fullest extent allowable under applicable law. If you require a reasonable accommodation, you may email [e-mail], as far in advance as possible.

Workday is a proud equal opportunity workplace.

Individuals seeking employment at Workday are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Further, pursuant to applicable local ordinances, Workday will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.

Workday is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals during our application process, in order to perform one or more essential functions of their job, as well as regarding the use of AI tools for employment decision‑making to any degree. Please see below for more details including how to request an accommodation as a qualified veteran, due to a disability or for religious reasons, or as otherwise provided under applicable law. Workday prohibits taking adverse action against any candidate or employee for reporting a possible violation of this policy, requesting one or more work accommodation, exercising a privacy right, or cooperating in an investigation in accordance with applicable law. Any employee who retaliates against a candidate or employee for doing so may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, to the fullest extent allowable under applicable law. If you require a reasonable accommodation, you may email [e-mail], as far in advance as possible.