Business Development & Proposal Manager

GFT • Irvine, CA

23h • Remote

About The Position

The Strategic Growth Office at GFT is seeking a Business Development & Proposal Manager to join their West Team. This role, which follows a remote work model, is responsible for supporting GFT's enterprise-wide growth by aligning talent, insights, and strategy to win complex, high-impact projects. The position fuels significant pursuits by partnering across all Business Groups to develop compelling, competitive proposals that reflect GFT's core values and technical excellence. The BD & Proposal Manager is a senior position that supports regional or global business lines, contributing to GFT's strategic plan by leading key business development support efforts. This role can involve working independently or managing a team for larger pursuits, acting as an internal BD support position that also works externally in support of client and capture managers. The BD&P Manager owns the internal support from client management through proposal development, including managing proposal efforts and/or participating in writing and reviewing proposals.

Requirements

• Normally a 4-year degree required in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or applicable field.
• Must have the requisite experience in California.
• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience supporting, facilitating, and participating in capture planning support.
• Demonstrated success in taking opportunities successfully from capture support through all phases of proposal management responsibilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated increasing responsibility in the business development lifecycle phases (marketing, communication, client, capture, proposal).
• At least 2 years of experience supervising staff (if applicable).

Nice To Haves

• Normally 10+ years of total combined experience in the full lifecycle of business development (marketing, communications, client, capture, and proposal phases), with most of the experience focused in one or more of GFT's core business lines.
• Certification or training in business development, marketing, communications, or sales received through an industry professional organization is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manages one or more assistant proposal specialists/proposal specialists on a day-to-day basis, assigning tasks and reviewing work for compliance with quality and department standards.
• Manages and/or assists Business Development Manager or Leader with proposal workload and resourcing for regional or global business development teams.
• Serves as timesheet approver, performs Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER), and recommends training for staff, providing input to the department's annual training plan.
• Manages proposals, ensuring the capture strategy is defined and transitioned to the proposal strategy through development, submittal, and interviews.
• Leads multiple large, long-term, and complex pursuits concurrently.
• Leads interview development and works closely with the Manager for input and oversight.
• Discusses and writes key strategic win themes and messaging, organizing resources (graphics, other proposal specialists, print production, operations, etc.) to support the overall proposal effort with no direct oversight required.
• Proactively identifies opportunities in the pipeline that require capture planning, initiating and leading these efforts with the business line for longer-term, complex opportunities concurrently with no oversight.
• Researches and drives the development of opportunities with the Capture Manager.
• Establishes priorities for multiple opportunities in alignment with the Capture Manager.
• Keeps all CRM documentation updated.
• Uses capture management plans in accordance with company templates and standards.
• Coordinates with MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for early opportunity pre-positioning activities.
• Develops client and teaming relationships at the direction of client or capture managers.
• Leads Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 client management plans for a single business line with no oversight from Manager.
• Communicates and prioritizes BDM support efforts based on understanding of the business plan.
• Facilitates client management meetings and ensures documentation in CRM.
• Coordinates with MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for early client pre-positioning activities.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior