Strategy and Business Development Proposal Manager

FirstDay Foundation•Zanesville, OH

54d

About The Position

The Strategy and Business Development (SBD) Manager plays a key role in driving the foundation’s growth strategy by leading and supporting high-impact business development initiatives across affiliate agencies. This position manages the full proposal lifecycle for grant and contract submissions, conducts proactive market and funding research, and maintains critical business intelligence to support capture planning and strategic-decision making. The SBD Manager collaborates closely with the internal teams and external affiliates to align opportunity pursuits with organizational priorities, ensure timely and compliant submissions, and support long-term positioning in competitive funding environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Communications, or a related field.
Minimum of four years of experience in business development, market research, proposal writing, or a related field.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
Ability to collect, interpret, and present industry and competitor data.
Ability to provide direction to project team members.
Experience with writing, formatting, and compliance in proposal submissions.
Expert level of accuracy in editing, formatting, and compliance verification.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to engage effectively with stakeholders, partners, and affiliates.
Pass a pre-employment drug screen and random drug screens throughout employment.
Provide proof of work eligibility status upon request.
Pass a pre-employment and biennial criminal background checks, as required.
Demonstrate expert computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications: OneDrive, SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Flexibility to travel, work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed or requested by supervisor.

Nice To Haves

Four or more years of experience with proposal and/or grant writing, federal and state funding sources, and proposal management software.
APMP Certification
Shipley Training or similar
Microsoft Office and Excel certifications

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional teams in the preparation, review, and submission of high-quality, compliant proposals to government, philanthropic, and private sector funders.
Develop proposal timelines, outlines, compliance matrices, and task assignments; oversee adherence to internal project deadlines.
Review and approve final proposal content for clarity, consistency, and alignment with funder requirements.
Track and report win/loss rates and conduct post-submission debriefs to improve processes and competitiveness.
Collaborate with program, finance, and compliance teams to ensure proposals are technically sound and financially feasible.
Conduct market research to identify potential clients, industry trends, and competitors.
Provide insights and data analysis to support business development strategies.
Lead writing sections of proposals, ensuring document compliance and quality.
Format/desktop publish and proofread proposals.
Identify and track potential business opportunities through CRM systems and market research.
Maintain an updated database of leads, funding opportunities, and key industry contacts.
Manage and maintain proposal templates, libraries, and other business development documentation.
Ensure all materials are up to date, well-organized, and compliant with best practices.
Support the preparation of client presentations and business development materials through data visualization.
Assist in developing reports and communications for affiliates regarding business development initiatives.