Proposal Manager

Excella • Arlington, VA

24d • Remote

About The Position

Excella is a transformative technology firm that helps organizations unlock new possibilities. We believe the key to helping clients challenge the status quo and reach new heights lies in our talented people. That’s why we’re committed to developing talent and providing opportunities for career growth at every stage. Join our collaborative team dedicated to solving complex problems with sustainable solutions while building your future as a leader. At Excella, you’re empowered to make lasting impact, turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s mission successes. Workplace locations look different for everyone. Excellians are a distributed workforce and whether you're working from your home office or a client site, we support a flexible work/life integration regardless of your location. The Proposal Manager leads the end-to-end proposal management process across all markets and client segments at Excella. This role ensures the timely development, compliance, and delivery of high-quality proposals and related submissions that advance Excella’s strategic growth goals. In addition to managing Excella’s proposal operations, tools, and templates, this leader is responsible for designing and driving AI-enabled process improvements that increase proposal quality, speed, and competitiveness. The Proposal Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping how Excella leverages emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, consistency, and innovation in proposal development. The core purpose of this role is to manage and continuously improve Excella’s proposal development lifecycle—ensuring compliant, high-quality, and persuasive submissions that position the company for successful recompetes and new business wins.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• APMP certification or equivalent proposal management training strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of experience managing federal proposal processes, including RFP response development and submission.
• Proven track record of achieving high compliance and win rates in competitive federal or commercial environments.
• Demonstrated understanding of federal acquisition regulations (FAR, DFARS) and compliance requirements.
• Proven experience managing proposal operations and leading cross- functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills with exceptional attention to detail and organization.
• Experience with proposal management and AI-enhanced platforms (e.g., RFPIO, Loopio, GovWin, ClickUp AI, MS Copilot, ChatGPT, Jasper).
• Demonstrated AI literacy—including prompt engineering, knowledge management, and ethical use of generative tools within regulated environment.
• Ability to design and implement new workflows that integrate technology and automation into proposal operations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with proactive problem-solving skills and the ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively across teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and Innovate the Full Proposal Lifecycle
• Ensure Compliance and Submission Quality
• Facilitate Proposal Strategy and Win Messaging
• Drive Proposal Operations, Governance, and Continuous Improvement
• Coordinate Resources and Develop Team Capability
• Measure and Report Proposal Performance
• Strengthen Cross-Functional Collaboration and Business Development Integration

Benefits

• We offer top of industry medical, dental, and vision benefits with multiple options to choose from such as an employer-contributed health savings account, infertility coverage, and orthodontia so you can select the plan that works best for you.
• We provide 8 weeks of Parental Leave, discounted pet insurance, and a Care.com membership with 3 back-up emergency child or elder care days annually – all available to you on your first day.
• Starting day one, every employee is bonus eligible and receives 15 days of paid vacation, 6 federal holidays, and 4 floating holidays.
• Excella’s TechEleX program provides you with multiple options to suit your technology needs. Choose between a variety of Mac or PC devices, and to ensure your hardware remains current, at the end of a 3-year period Excella will replace your existing computer with a new model from the program. Plus, we’ll even give you the original device to keep for your personal use!
• With Excella’s Annual Internet Reimbursement benefit, all employees receive an additional $25 per month to help offset the cost of internet access.
• We'll invest in your career by providing 3 days of paid professional development every year, including an allowance for registration fees to attend classes, conferences, or obtain professional certifications.
• We encourage mindfulness and overall well-being through employee wellness events, a HeadSpace membership, as well as access to TalkSpace and mental health coverage through our medical plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees