Proposal Operations Manager (Must live in DC/MD/VA) (Engineering)

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-orientedProposal Operations Manager to lead and coordinate the development of competitive and compliant proposals for federal government contracts. The Proposal Operations Manager will be responsible for managing the full proposal lifecyclefrom pre-RFP strategy and kick-off through final submission and post-submission debriefsensuring adherence to all solicitation requirements and internal quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:
Lead Proposal Development: Manage and oversee the creation of technical, management, and cost proposals in response to RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs from federal agencies (e.g., DoD, DHS, GSA).Compliance and Quality Control: Ensure all proposal submissions meet FAR/DFARS compliance, customer requirements, and internal quality standards.Operations: Partner closely with the Business Development Manager to establish and scale foundational processes, tools, and systems for Business Development (BD) and Proposal Operations. Serve as a central point of contact for both strategic and tactical proposal management while driving operational excellence across the broader BD functionSchedule Management: Develop and maintain detailed proposal schedules and deadlines, including color team reviews (Pink, Red, Gold).Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with Business Development, Capture Managers, SMEs, Contracts, Pricing, and Graphic Designers to gather content and develop win strategies.Content Development: Write, edit, and format proposal content to clearly articulate value propositions and differentiators.Templates and Tools: Create and maintain proposal templates, style guides, compliance matrices, and proposal content libraries.Proposal Reviews: Facilitate color team reviews and ensure reviewer feedback is incorporated appropriately and timely.Continuous Improvement: Conduct post-submission reviews and lessons-learned sessions to improve proposal processes and quality.
Qualifications:
Bachelors degree in English, Communications, Business, or related field; Masters degree a plus.5+ years of experience managing federal government proposals (preferably in a government contracting environment).Strong knowledge of federal acquisition regulations (FAR, DFARS) and government procurement processes.Demonstrated success leading winning proposals for complex government opportunities.Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and proposal tools (e.g., SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, proposal automation tools).Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines.Ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance (if required).

Preferred Qualifications:
APMP certification (Foundation or higher)Experience with GSA Schedules, IDIQs, GWACs, and task order responsesFamiliarity with Shipley or other proposal management methodologies
Clearance Requirement:
Must possess US Citizenship and the ability to obtain a DOD Secret clearance or higher.