Proposals Manager

Scale AI•Washington, DC

3h•$120,000 - $175,000•Remote

About The Position

Scale is a rapidly growing, venture-backed startup that is changing the way organizations around the world build AI applications. We are looking for a highly driven and operationally focused Proposals Manager to support our growing Public Sector business, with a particular focus on delivering AI/ML solutions to the U.S. Federal Government. Scale is at the forefront of enabling the next wave of AI/ML technologies for the U.S. government, and we are expanding our Public Sector Proposals team to help drive this mission. This position requires a self-motivated, independent operator who is deeply analytical, hands-on, and able to thrive in a rapidly changing, high-stakes environment. You must be comfortable taking ownership of your work and driving initiatives forward with exceptional written communication skills.

Requirements

3–6+ years of experience in Federal proposals management, ideally with technology, defense, or AI/ML organizations.
Eligible for a U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
Proven ability to lead complex, deadline-driven proposals in compliance with government solicitation requirements.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent proposals under tight deadlines with strong organizational and project management skills.
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical information for diverse audiences.
Strong knowledge of government contracting processes, FAR/DFARS compliance, and proposal best practices (Shipley or equivalent).
Experience collaborating cross-functionally with sales, technical, and executive stakeholders.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage compliance matrices, checklists, and review cycles.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting proposals for AI/ML, data science, cloud, or advanced technology offerings.
Familiarity with government acquisition pathways such as OTAs, SBIRs, BAAs, and IDIQ task orders.
Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or higher).
Experience in a startup or high-growth environment.

Responsibilities

Manage the end-to-end proposal development process for U.S. Federal opportunities, including RFPs, RFIs, BAAs, and unsolicited proposals.
Drive the creation of compelling, compliant, and customer-focused proposal narratives that clearly articulate Scale’s technical solutions, differentiators, and value.
Collaborate with GTM, engineering, product, security, and legal teams to gather technical inputs and translate them into accessible proposal language.
Ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR/DFARS), solicitation requirements, and agency-specific guidelines.
Develop and manage proposal schedules, assignments, and workflows to ensure timely submission of high-quality responses.
Maintain and expand a reusable library of proposal content, past performance references, resumes, and templates to streamline future responses.
Coordinate and facilitate color team reviews, compliance checks, and executive approvals.
Track and analyze win/loss outcomes, capturing lessons learned to improve future proposal strategy and execution.