Associate Proposal Manager

Vantor•Herndon, VA

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

Vantor is hiring an Associate Proposal Manager to play a key role in the development of complex federal proposals that position Vantor to win enterprise and multi-hundred-million-dollar opportunities. You will work closely with Capture Managers, Program and Account leadership, technical SMEs, cost teams, and proposal support to craft compliant, compelling, and executable proposal solutions. This role has high visibility; you will regularly interact with senior leadership and help shape proposal strategy across pre-RFP and post-RFP phases for DoD, Intelligence Community, and other federal customers. To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Person, defined as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Asylee, or Refugee, and possess an active U.S. Government Secret clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration (or equivalent experience).
3–5 years of related experience managing and developing complex federal proposals (experience with opportunities exceeding $100M strongly preferred).
Demonstrated experience coordinating and leading major sections of all proposal volumes (technical, solution, management, cost) for large/enterprise opportunities.
Demonstrated experience developing and applying formal proposal management artifacts and processes: proposal schedules, outlines, compliance matrices, kick-offs, storyboards, mockups, and color review in-briefs/de-briefs.
Strong time management, prioritization, attention to detail, and sound judgment under deadline pressure.
Advanced Microsoft Word and Office skills; familiarity with proposal production tools and Adobe Acrobat for final production.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to present to senior executives.
Willingness to work onsite in Herndon, VA 3 days per week.
U.S. citizenship required.
Must possess an active Secret clearance.

Nice To Haves

Formal proposal training and/or certifications (e.g., Shipley, APMP)
Experience collaborating with Senior/Corporate leadership
Background in geospatial services/products, digital transformation, cybersecurity, cloud, or related technical domains
Experience supporting large, complex federal proposals (e.g., IDIQs, GWACs, BPAs)
Proposal experience within a large systems integrator or federal contractor
Familiarity with AI tools, workflows, and processes

Responsibilities

Support the full lifecycle development of complex federal proposals for enterprise and large opportunities from pre-proposal phase through post-proposal submittal phases.
Develop winning proposal strategies and translate capture objectives into high-quality, compliant proposal content across all volumes (technical, management, cost, past performance, etc.).
Work closely with executives, leadership teams, business development staff, partners, and subject matter experts to lead and guide proposal efforts, providing strategic direction and support throughout.
Own compliance and on-time submission: manage and control all proposal activities against the proposal schedule and RFP requirements within Vantor’s complex business environment.
Drive storyboarding, proposal mock-ups, and iterative drafts from concept through final submission; ensure cost volume integration and alignment with technical/management volumes.
Plan and conduct structured kick-offs that set expectations, responsibilities, and schedules for all contributors.
Lead and/or coordinate color reviews that produce actionable feedback (in-briefs / de-briefs) and ensure reviewer accountability.
Coach SMEs, authors, and proposal contributors in persuasive writing and proposal best practices; collaborate closely with production, graphics, and desktop publishing teams to ensure high-quality deliverables.
Communicate progress, risks, and decisions effectively with senior leadership, capture teams, and program leadership.
Operate effectively under pressure and tight deadlines, maintaining composure and ensuring proposal quality when proposals have CEO visibility.