Proposal Manager

C5MI Insight

6d•$100,000 - $130,000•Remote

About The Position

C5MI is seeking a Proposal Manager to lead federal proposal efforts from solicitation release through submission. This fully remote position reports to the Director of Proposal Development and works closely with business development, capture, contracts, pricing, and technical subject matter experts (SMEs) to produce compliant, competitive proposals for defense and civilian federal customers. The Proposal Manager owns day-to-day execution on assigned pursuits, which range from RFIs and sources sought responses to task orders, IDIQs, and contract vehicle on-ramps. You'll build the schedule and compliance matrix, run the kickoff and color reviews, write and edit content, and keep contributors on track toward the deadline. Our work centers on ERP, supply chains, logistics, and data analytics, so the Proposal Manager must translate complex technical solutions into clear narrative for government evaluation and scoring. This role is a strong fit for a proposal professional with several years of hands-on experience who aims to manage full pursuits independently and help shape how C5MI's proposal function grows.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
5-7 years of experience in proposal development, proposal management, or technical writing; 7-10 years of experience with no degree.
At least 2 years managing federal government proposals from release through submission
Working knowledge of the federal acquisition process, including FAR-based procurements, Section L and M structure, and common contract types (IDIQ, GWAC, BPA, and task orders)
Hands-on experience running color team reviews within a structured methodology such as Shipley or APMP best practices
Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts in plain, persuasive language for government evaluators
Demonstrated ability to manage several concurrent proposals under tight deadlines without sacrificing quality
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint
Ability to work effectively in a fully remote environment and collaborate with distributed teams across time zones

Nice To Haves

APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification
Formal Shipley training
Proposal experience with DoD customers, particularly defense logistics and sustainment programs
Familiarity with SAP, ERP modernization, supply chain, or data analytics – enough to engage technical SMEs in productive conversation
Experience supporting contract vehicle on-ramps or agency multiple-award IDIQs
Exposure to cost volumes, basis of estimate (BOE) development, or pricing narratives
Basic graphics and desktop publishing skills in PowerPoint, Word, etc.
Experience with market research and pipeline tools such as GovWin IQ, HigherGov, or SAM.gov
Support for oral presentations and technical demonstrations
Active security clearance or the ability to obtain one
Practical experience using AI tools such as Claude or ChatGPT in proposal development
Experience at a small or mid-size government contractor where proposal staff wear multiple hats

Responsibilities

Manage assigned proposals through the full lifecycle, including RFIs, sources sought notices, RFPs, RFQs, task orders, and contract vehicle on-ramps, often with multiple pursuits running concurrently
Analyze solicitations (Sections L and M, SOW/PWS, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions) and translate requirements into annotated outlines, compliance matrices, and clear writing assignments
Build and maintain proposal schedules, lead kickoff meetings, and hold contributors accountable to milestone deadlines
Partner with capture and business development leads to carry win themes, discriminators, and customer insight into proposal content
Write, edit, and rewrite technical, management, and past performance sections, turning SME input into polished, evaluator-friendly narrative
Coordinate color reviews, adjudicate reviewer comments, and track recovery actions to closure
Work with pricing and contracts to keep technical and cost volumes aligned on labor categories, staffing assumptions, and required representations and certifications
Coordinate with teaming partners and subcontractors on content, data calls, and document exchange
Perform final compliance, quality, and formatting checks, and manage electronic submission through government portals such as SAM.gov, PIEE, and GSA eBuy
Maintain and grow the proposal content library, including past performance write-ups, corporate content, etc.
Use approved AI tools to accelerate drafting, solicitation analysis, and content reuse, applying human review and C5MI data handling policy to all AI-assisted work
Capture lessons learned and debrief feedback and recommend improvements to templates, tools, and processes
Provide day-to-day direction and writing feedback to proposal coordinators, writers, and SMEs on assigned efforts
Adhere to all certified processes as part of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and information security, which includes actively participating in quality assurance activities and ensuring the protection of sensitive information in accordance with our security policies
Perform other related tasks as assigned by direct supervisor