Strategic Proposals Leader

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

Generous 401(k) with matching and long

Tuition reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment Program

Life insurance and disability coverage

Wellness program

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, based in Cedar Rapids, IA, is seeking an experienced Proposal Manager to drive large, complex bids. The role requires DoD Top Secret clearance and US citizenship, with hybrid work arrangements and a strong focus on compliance and messaging.

You will coordinate cross‑functional proposal teams, manage schedules, and mentor staff while ensuring timely, high‑quality submissions. Salary is competitive and reflects senior responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• Demonstrated hands-on proposal management experience in successfully leading large complex proposals through planning, development, and post-submission phases

Responsibilities

• The Proposal Manager will work closely with Capture Teams and facilitate the development and production of Collins Aerospace’s responses to customer requests for information, proposals, and other customer-requested responses to support our pursuit of new opportunities
• Thorough understanding of the business development and program lifecycles
• and hands-on experience working within the proposal planning, development, and post-submission phases
• Ensure senior management commitment to and appropriate resources for all capture and proposal efforts
• Provide Capture Center leadership with timely, concise, and appropriately detailed updates on pursuit status, highlighting key milestones, risks, issues, decisions, and actions requiring leadership awareness or intervention
• Drive the Capture Team at each step in the proposal development process to apply critical thinking and pose insightful questions to guide the team to better-defined messaging for the proposal
• Coordinate the activities of proposal volume leaders and numerous authors to produce high-quality, winning proposals while meeting stringent schedule requirements
• Leadership skills that challenge the team's problem-solver and take ownership
• Breadth of experience to coach teams using lessons learned
• Mentoring and coaching experience with your peers and external customers
• Facilitate team assignments to align with proposal schedule, including proposal development as well as reviews (Pink, Red, and Gold Team reviews), ensuring requests are appropriately supported; job skills that exhibit an ability to work under pressure and to challenging deadlines
• Participate as an independent proposal evaluator in all major proposal reviews

Education

University Degree

Job description

Collins Aerospace, based in Cedar Rapids, IA, is seeking an experienced Proposal Manager to drive large, complex bids. The role requires DoD Top Secret clearance and US citizenship, with hybrid work arrangements and a strong focus on compliance and messaging.

You will coordinate cross‑functional proposal teams, manage schedules, and mentor staff while ensuring timely, high‑quality submissions. Salary is competitive and reflects senior responsibilities.