Proposal Director

Adams Communication & Engineering Technology, Inc.

23h

About The Position

ACET is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Proposal Manager to lead enterprise-wide proposal development efforts in support of the CFT IDIQ and other high-value government contracting opportunities. This position is responsible for driving proposal excellence, improving win probability, and establishing scalable, repeatable processes across the full proposal lifecycle. The Proposal Director will operate at both the strategic and execution levels, overseeing proposal operations, managing cross-functional collaboration, and developing a high-performing proposal organization aligned with ACET’s growth objectives. This role requires strong leadership, disciplined process execution, and hands-on proposal expertise within a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. ACET, Incorporated is a Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) system engineering and information technology firm, incorporated in 1999. They support mission critical Information Technology (IT) business needs for clients within the intelligence community (IC), Department of Defense (DOD), Veteran Administration (VA) and for select commercial clients. ACET, Inc.’s technical, programmatic, and analytical professionals are experts in commercial technology, customized solutions, and proprietary government systems.

Requirements

Minimum of 5+ years leading high-value, competitive proposals within DoD, federal contracting, or related industries
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams under tight deadlines and influencing senior stakeholders
Strong knowledge of RFP/RFQ processes, compliance matrices, FAR/DFARS, and proposal development systems
Experience with structured methodologies (e.g., Shipley) and proposal lifecycle management tools
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, or related field

Nice To Haves

APMP certification preferred
Experience supporting IDIQ, MAC, and large-scale multi-award contract pursuits
Familiarity with DoD aviation, engineering, sustainment, or logistics programs
Experience integrating pricing strategy and technical solutions into winning proposals
Proven track record improving win rates and proposal efficiency metrics

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and continuously refine enterprise proposal processes, tools, and best practices (e.g., Shipley methodology, CRM integration)
Establish a scalable and repeatable proposal framework aligned to ACET’s long-term growth and capture strategy
Drive win strategy development and integration across all phases of the proposal lifecycle
Support executive leadership in bid/no-bid decisions and strategic pursuit prioritization
Lead the end-to-end proposal lifecycle, from pre-RFP shaping through submission and post-award debriefs
Ensure strict compliance with RFP/RFQ requirements, FAR/DFARS regulations, and customer expectations
Manage multiple concurrent proposals, ensuring adherence to schedules, milestones, and deliverables
Oversee development of compliance matrices, outlines, and structured proposal artifacts
Lead and manage a team of proposal managers, writers, coordinators, and support staff
Allocate resources based on opportunity value, workload, and strategic priorities
Mentor and develop personnel to build a high-performing, scalable proposal organization
Establish accountability metrics and performance standards for proposal staff
Translate operational performance into financial outcomes and forecasts.
Lead all color team reviews (Pink, Red, Gold, etc.) and final proposal evaluations
Ensure all submissions are compliant, compelling, and clearly aligned to win themes and discriminators
Implement continuous improvement processes leveraging lessons learned and customer feedback
Partner with Business Development, Capture Managers, Technical SMEs, Pricing, and Operations to ensure alignment
Drive seamless integration between capture strategy and proposal execution
Coordinate with finance and pricing teams to ensure alignment on cost strategy, pricing narratives, and compliance