Proposal Manager

SES Space & Defense•Reston, VA

4d•Remote

About The Position

At SES Space & Defense, the Proposal Manager leads and coordinates the development of high-quality, compliant, and competitive proposals for U.S. Government and other customer opportunities. The role manages the proposal lifecycle from initial RFP review and planning through proposal development, reviews, final submission, and post-submission activities, ensuring responses meet customer requirements, submission instructions, and company quality standards. The Proposal Manager works with Business Development, Capture, Program Management, technical subject matter experts, and proposal support teams. The role organizes contributors, manages schedules and deliverables, translates capture strategies into compelling proposal content, and helps improve the processes, tools, and resources that support future pursuits.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, English, Marketing, Management, or a related discipline.
Knowledge of project management principles and the full proposal management lifecycle, including planning, development, reviews, production, and submission.
Familiarity with U.S. federal, state, and local government acquisition processes, procurement requirements, and proposal development practices.
APMP certification required.
Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple contributors, manage schedules, and meet demanding deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing, editing, and presentation abilities.
Demonstrated ability to build effective teams, coordinate cross-functional stakeholders, and maintain productive working relationships.
Ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently, exercise sound judgment, and work professionally under pressure.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with technical, business, and executive stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting proposal development within the defense industry.
Knowledge of satellite communications (SATCOM) technologies, services, or related markets.
Familiarity with SharePoint, Salesforce, or similar collaboration and customer relationship management platforms.
Master's degree.
Shipley proposal management training.

Responsibilities

Manage and coordinate proposal development and submissions in accordance with company proposal processes, customer requirements, RFP instructions, and internal quality standards.
Organize and lead proposal teams, defining roles, responsibilities, assignments, and deliverables while coordinating internal stakeholders, remote contributors, and external consultants.
Develop and manage proposal plans, including schedules, writing assignments, outlines, volume structures, milestones, reviews, and submission requirements.
Lead RFP reviews to identify customer requirements, evaluation criteria, compliance obligations, and opportunities for questions or clarifications.
Work with volume leads and technical contributors to develop proposal outlines and content structures aligned with RFP instructions and evaluation requirements.
Plan and conduct proposal kickoff meetings, establish team expectations, and provide proposal process training as needed.
Coordinate with Business Development, Capture, and Program Management to transition capture information, strategies, and customer insights into proposal development.
Ensure capture and proposal strategies are reflected in win themes, proposal storyboards, section themes, and supporting content.
Schedule, coordinate, and lead color team reviews and other proposal assessments, including Black Hat and Blue Team reviews; track feedback, coordinate revisions, and maintain proposal baselines.
Coordinate proposal support resources, including desktop publishing, graphics, technical writing, and collaborative tools such as SharePoint.
Monitor proposal progress, identify schedule or resource constraints, resolve coordination issues, and maintain communication across contributors to meet deadlines and quality expectations.
Manage final proposal production and submission, including compliance checks, delivery confirmation, evaluation notices, and Best and Final Offer submissions when required.
Establish and maintain effective communication and collaboration among proposal team members, including local and remote employees, technical contributors, and consultants.
Develop, maintain, and improve proposal methodologies, templates, process documentation, and reusable materials.
Support and reinforce the mission, values, and culture of SES Space & Defense.