Proposal Manager

Leonardo DRS, Inc. • Richland Township, MD

9d • $105,000 - $185,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Leonardo DRS Naval Electronics is seeking an experienced, collaborative Proposal Manager to lead the development and delivery of compelling, compliant, customer-focused proposals for U.S. Government and international defense opportunities. The role owns the proposal process from opportunity assessment through final submission, coordinating cross-functional teams to develop winning strategies, persuasive content, accurate cost and technical inputs, and compliant deliverables. Success requires defense-industry knowledge, strong communication and internal influence skills, attention to detail, and the ability to drive accountability across diverse teams in a fast-paced environment.

The position is hybrid and may be based in Washington, DC; Frederick, MD; Twin Cities, MN; Johnstown, PA; or Largo, FL. The schedule is 9/80, and periodic travel to company sites, customer locations, and proposal review events is estimated at less than 10%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, English, Engineering, Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered instead of a degree.
• At least 7 years of progressive proposal management, capture support, business development, contracts, program management, or related experience in aerospace, defense, government contracting, or a similarly complex technical industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing competitive, high-value proposals for U.S. Government customers, including Department of Defense organizations.
• Thorough understanding of the federal acquisition environment, including solicitation requirements, proposal compliance, evaluation criteria, and common proposal-development practices.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities under aggressive deadlines.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to influence stakeholders and gain commitment without direct authority.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a demonstrated commitment to compliance, quality, accuracy, and configuration control.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a related discipline.
• APMP certification or equivalent formal proposal-management training.
• Experience supporting proposals involving complex hardware, software, systems integration, sustainment, manufacturing, or defense services.
• Familiarity with FAR/DFARS requirements and government-contracting terminology.
• Experience with proposal automation, collaboration, content-management, workflow, and knowledge-management tools.
• Familiarity with responsible use of artificial intelligence, generative AI, automation, and other digital tools to improve proposal planning, content development, compliance reviews, data analysis, collaboration, and workflow efficiency, including protecting proprietary, controlled, export-controlled, customer, and other sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned proposal efforts from kickoff through submission and lessons learned, developing proposal plans, schedules, outlines, compliance matrices, action trackers, review plans, and production checklists.
• Analyze solicitations, amendments, and customer documentation to identify requirements, evaluation criteria, compliance obligations, risks, deliverables, and response-strategy considerations.
• Partner with Strategic Growth, Business Development, Capture Management, Engineering, Program Management, Contracts, Pricing, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, Quality, and executive leadership to develop cohesive, competitive, customer-focused responses.
• Facilitate proposal strategy sessions and align teams around customer requirements, win themes, differentiators, proof points, and value propositions; ensure those elements are integrated throughout proposal volumes.
• Lead and influence cross-functional proposal teams without direct authority, establish responsibilities and deadlines, secure timely inputs, and resolve issues affecting quality, compliance, competitiveness, or schedule.
• Coordinate proposal reviews and incorporate stakeholder feedback while maintaining version control, configuration management, compliance discipline, and submission readiness.
• Ensure proposal content is accurate, responsive, well-integrated, persuasive, and tailored to customer requirements and evaluation methodology.
• Improve proposal capabilities through better processes, reusable content, templates, knowledge-management practices, and responsible use of digital tools, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.
• Use discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive business, customer, technical, and proprietary information.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Employer matching 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Paid parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Professional development support.
• Life and disability insurance coverage.
• Company contribution to a health savings account.
• Telemedicine.
• Legal insurance.
• Wellness programs supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
• Flexible work schedules through the 9/80 program.
• Community service hours.
• Employees may be eligible for annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay for non-exempt employees, as applicable.

What This Job Offers

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