Business Development & Proposal Manager

GFT • Irvine, CA

20h • Hybrid

About The Position

GFT is seeking a Business Development & Proposal Manager to join our West Team in either NorCal, SoCal, Washington or Arizona. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our closest office. At GFT, we’re not just pursuing projects—we’re strategically capturing opportunities that shape our communities. The Strategic Growth Office is the engine behind GFT’s enterprise-wide growth. It fuels our most significant pursuits by aligning talent, insights, and strategy to win complex, high-impact projects. From vision through delivery, we partner across all Business Groups to develop compelling, competitive proposals that reflect our core values and technical excellence.

Requirements

• Normally a 4-year degree required in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or applicable field is required.
• Must have the requisite experience in California.

Nice To Haves

• Normally 10+ years of 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.
• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience supporting, facilitating, and participating in capture planning support.
• Demonstrated success in taking opportunities successfully from capture support though and including successfully performing 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).
• Certification or training in business development, marketing, communications, or sales received through an industry professional organization is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage one or more assistant proposal specialists/proposal specialists on a day-to-day basis, including assignment of tasks and review of work.
• Manage and/or assist Business Development Manager or Leader with proposal workload and resourcing for regional or global business development team.
• Serve as timesheet approver, perform Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER), and recommend training for staff and provide input to annual training plan for department.
• Manage proposals and assure the capture strategy is defined and transitioned to the proposal strategy through the course of proposal development phases and final submittal/interviews, as required.
• Lead multiple large, long-term and complex pursuits concurrently.
• Responsible for leading interview development and working closely with Manager for input and oversight.
• Discuss and write key strategic win theme development and messaging.
• Organize resources to support overall proposal effort (graphics, other proposal specialists, print production, operations, etc.) and requires no direct oversight from Manager to produce a quality proposal.
• Proactively identify opportunities in the pipeline that should start capture and then initiate with the business line, promote, and lead Capture Planning support efforts for longer-term, complex opportunities concurrently with no oversight required by Manager.
• Proactively research and drive the development of the opportunity with the Capture Manager.
• Concurrently work across multiple opportunities at any given time and establish priorities per each opportunity in alignment with the Capture Manager.
• Keep all CRM documentation updated.
• Use capture management plans in accordance with company templates and standards.
• Coordinate with respective MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for the business line for early opportunity pre-positioning activities that will be led by MARCOM and overseen by the BD&P Manager.
• In support of the client manager, develop client and teaming relationships at the direction of the client or capture managers.
• Develop understanding of the pursuit through industry activities, such as trade shows to develop relationships and develop opportunities in support of the business line.
• Lead any Tier 1 and/or 2 client management plans for a single business line with no oversight from Manager required.
• Communicate/prioritize BDM support efforts based on understanding of business plan.
• Facilitate client management meetings and assure documentation in CRM.
• Coordinate with respective MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for the business line for early client pre-positioning activities that will be led by MARCOM and overseen by the BD&P Manager.

Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• 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