Contract Proposal Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Overview

Proposal Manager

LOCATION: Huntsville, AL; Arlington, VA; Colorado Springs, CO (HYBRID)

JOB STATUS: Full-time

CLEARANCE: Secret or higher (Ability to Obtain & Maintain)

TRAVEL: As Needed

SALARY RANGE: $84K - $141K (Final compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and location)

Astrion has an exciting opportunity for a skilled and motivated Proposal Manager to lead the development of compliant, compelling, and competitive proposals in support of our U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal customers. This role is critical to Astrion’s mission to deliver innovative solutions that advance defense capabilities and national security objectives. The Proposal Manager will partner with Capture Managers, Technical Solution Architects, Pricing Leads, Contracts, and senior leadership to manage the end-to-end proposal lifecycle, ensuring timely delivery of winning proposals that align with Astrion’s growth strategy. The Proposal Manager must be outcome-focused, ensuring not just compliant submissions but also persuasive, competitive responses that drive Astrion’s growth objectives.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, English, Political Science, or related field (Master’s preferred).
  • 5+ years of experience managing U.S. Federal Government proposals; at least 2+ in DoD/Defense sector preferred.
  • Demonstrated track record of leading large, complex proposals (>$100M) across multiple volumes.
• Technical & Professional Skills
  • In-depth knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), and DoD procurement processes.
  • Proficiency with proposal development tools (SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office Suite, scheduling tools).
  • Familiarity with Shipley methodologies and APMP best practices; APMP certification (Foundation/Practitioner/Professional) preferred.
  • Fluency in leveraging technology and collaboration platforms — including emerging AI-enabled tools for proposal development — is strongly preferred.
• Leadership & Collaboration
  • Exceptional leadership, facilitation, and interpersonal skills with the abilityto lead diverse, cross-functional teams.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple, concurrent deadlines.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; adept at influencing senior stakeholders.
• Other Requirements
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (Secret or higher).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proposal Leadership
  • Serve as the overall manager for assigned proposals, accountable for the development and submission of high-quality, compliant, and persuasive responses.
  • Lead and facilitate proposal kickoff meetings, daily standups, and milestone reviews.
  • Translate capture strategy, win themes, and discriminators into proposal content and visuals.
• Planning & Management
  • Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Proposal Management Plan aligned to Astrion’s standard process (IAW Shipley/industry best practices).
  • Build and maintain the proposal schedule, compliance matrix, data calls, and responsibility assignments (RACI).
  • Coordinate color team reviews (Pink, Red, Gold) and adjudicate reviewer feedback with Capture and Technical Leads.
• Collaboration & Integration
  • Partner with Capture Managers to ensure alignment of solution, pricing, and technical volumes.
  • Collaborate with writers, graphic artists, coordinators, and subject matter experts (SMEs) to deliver complete and responsive content.
  • Interface with Contracts, Pricing, Security, HR, and Recruiting teams to gather supporting information.
• Process Discipline
  • Ensure adherence to Astrion’s proposal development processes, compliance standards, and corporate quality benchmarks.
  • Document lessons learned and support continuous improvement of Astrion’s Proposal Center of Excellence (PCOE).
• Execution Excellence
  • Drive efficient proposal execution under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Maintain a bias for action, proactively addressing risks, removing blockers, and driving the team toward milestones with urgency.
  • Ensure secure handling of proposal materials, version control, and compliance with ITAR/DFARS/contract requirements.
  • Deliver final proposals (electronic and/or hardcopy) on time, with zero compliance deficiencies.