Senior Proposal Manager (GovCon / IDIQ / Shipley)
Location: Alexandria, VA (Remote Flexibility)
Salary: $110,000 – $120,000 + Annual Reviews & Bonus Incentive Plan (BIP)
Position Type: Direct Hire | New Role
Sponsorship: Not Available
Senior Proposal Manager (GovCon / IDIQ / Shipley) Position Summary
We are seeking a
Senior Proposal Manager to lead end-to-end federal proposal development within a growing government contractor. This individual will own the full proposal lifecycle—from RFP analysis through submission—while driving structure, quality, and strategy in a fast-paced, small-business environment.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, can manage multiple rapid-turnaround proposals, and enjoys building scalable processes that directly impact business growth.
Senior Proposal Manager (GovCon / IDIQ / Shipley) Key Responsibilities
Proposal Leadership & Management
- Lead full lifecycle proposal development (RFP analysis, outlines, scheduling, writing, editing, production)
- Manage multiple concurrent proposals, including rapid 72-hour task orders
- Facilitate color team reviews, solutioning sessions, and content collaboration with SMEs and leadership
- Develop compliance matrices, schedules, templates, and version control standards
Writing & Content Development
- Write and edit compliant, compelling proposal content (technical, management, staffing, past performance)
- Translate complex SME input into clear, customer-focused narratives
- Maintain and expand reusable content libraries (resumes, boilerplate, past performance)
Capture & Business Development Support
- Contribute to win strategies, competitive analysis, and solution development
- Support pipeline reviews, teaming discussions, and opportunity qualification
- Assist BD in shaping and capture efforts
Process Improvement & Organizational Growth
- Implement proposal best practices in a developing environment
- Build repeatable workflows, templates, and scalable processes
- Educate internal stakeholders on proposal strategy and lifecycle expectations
Collaboration & Communication
- Coordinate across remote teams, subcontractors, and partners
- Communicate risks, gaps, and deadlines proactively to leadership
- Build strong cross-functional relationships to improve proposal outcomes
Senior Proposal Manager (GovCon / IDIQ / Shipley) Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field
- 5+ years of federal government proposal management and writing experience
- Proven ability to manage multiple proposals simultaneously with minimal oversight
- Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills (technical translation required)
- Experience with IDIQ contracts and rapid-turnaround task orders
- Familiarity with Shipley or similar proposal methodologies
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Teams, SharePoint, and collaboration tools
- Experience working in government contracting (GovCon) environments
- Ability to work independently in a remote, high-accountability setting
Senior Proposal Manager (GovCon / IDIQ / Shipley) Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting Business Development (BD) and capture efforts
- Background in small or growing government contractors
- Knowledge of FAR/DFARS and federal procurement lifecycle
- Experience building structure in low-process environments
- Graphic design / desktop publishing skills (PowerPoint, Visio, Adobe)
Key Success Factors
- Ability to create structure and clarity in ambiguous environments
- Comfortable working under tight deadlines and shifting priorities
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills (without direct authority)
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Strategic mindset with understanding of how proposals drive revenue growth
Why Join?
- High-impact role with direct visibility to leadership
- Opportunity to build and shape proposal processes from the ground up
- Fast-paced environment with meaningful growth potential
- Competitive salary + performance-based incentives