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Director Proposal Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Versar, Inc.

Director, Proposals

Washington, DC · On-site

$171K - $209K/yr

Proposal Management and Development * Develop and implement the company's proposal processes and ... Direct day-to-day the proposal team, including proposal managers, writers, editors, graphic ...

Sparibis

Proposal Manager

Alexandria, VA

Plan, organize, and direct all aspects of the proposal development lifecycle from opportunity assessment through final submission. * Lead proposal kickoff meetings, establish proposal schedules and ...

Sparibis

Proposal Manager

Alexandria, VA · On-site

Plan, organize, and direct all aspects of the proposal development lifecycle from opportunity assessment through final submission. * Lead proposal kickoff meetings, establish proposal schedules and ...

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Director Proposal Development information

See salary details

$50.5K

$92.3K

$128.5K

How much do director proposal development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for director proposal development in the United States is $92,290.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $111,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Proposal Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Proposal Development, you need expertise in proposal management, strategic planning, and persuasive writing, often supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with proposal automation tools (like RFPIO or Loopio), CRM systems, and certifications such as APMP are commonly required. Strong leadership, attention to detail, and exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for leading teams, producing compelling proposals, and securing business opportunities in competitive environments.

What does a Director of Proposal Development do?

A Director of Proposal Development oversees the creation, management, and submission of proposals, typically for business development or government contracts. They lead a team of proposal managers and writers, coordinate with subject matter experts, and ensure proposals meet requirements and deadlines. Their role involves strategic planning, quality control, and often working closely with sales and executive leadership to align proposal efforts with organizational goals. Success in this role requires strong leadership, project management, and communication skills.

How does a Director of Proposal Development typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the proposal process?

A Director of Proposal Development regularly works with subject matter experts, sales teams, project managers, and executives to gather the necessary information and create compelling, compliant proposals. This role involves coordinating input from various departments, leading meetings to align on strategy, and ensuring deadlines are met. Effective communication and project management skills are essential, as the director must balance multiple priorities while ensuring consistency and quality in every submission. Building strong relationships across departments is key to streamlining the proposal process and improving win rates.

What is the difference between Director Proposal Development vs Proposal Manager?

AspectDirector Proposal DevelopmentProposal Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees proposal strategy, manages teams, and ensures alignment with organizational goalsCoordinates proposal efforts, manages proposal timelines, and ensures compliance with RFP requirements
Required CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree, extensive proposal experience, and leadership skillsUsually requires a bachelor’s degree and experience in proposal coordination
Work EnvironmentStrategic, leadership-focused, often in corporate or government sectorsOperational, detail-oriented, often in government contracting or consulting firms

The main difference is that the Director Proposal Development focuses on strategic leadership and overseeing proposal teams, while the Proposal Manager handles day-to-day proposal coordination and compliance. Both roles require strong proposal experience, but the director role involves higher-level planning and management responsibilities.

More about Director Proposal Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Proposal Development jobs? Cities with the most Director Proposal Development job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Proposal Development jobs? The most popular types of Proposal Development jobs are:
What states have the most Director Proposal Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Proposal Development jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Director Proposal Development jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director Proposal Development jobs are:
Director Proposal Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Proposal Development job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 78% In-person, 11% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,290 per year, or $44.4 per hour.
Proposal Manager - Melbourne FL

Proposal Manager - Melbourne FL

Leonardo DRS

Melbourne, FL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Leonardo DRS rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 55 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

133rd of 527 rated manufacturers

Job description

Job ID: 113235
Location: Melbourne FL
Schedule: 9/80
The Electro Optical Infrared Systems (EOIS) line of business within DRS has locations in Dallas and Austin, TX, Melbourne, FL, and Cypress, CA. EOIS develops, manufactures, and supports infrared and electro-optical solutions for soldiers, ground vehicles and airborne platforms. We offer an exciting and challenging work environment, a competitive salary and benefits package, and a business culture that rewards performance.
Employing the world's brightest. Supporting the world's bravest.
Job Summary
Leonardo DRS Electro Optical Infrared Systems (EOIS) business unit has an opening for a full-time Proposal Manager. This position reposts to the Director of Proposal Management and supports multiple competitive captures by the various Lines of Business within EOIS. We seek an individual who I organized, creative, flexible and able to fit a collaborative corporate culture. This position involves the proposal process, preparing the actual proposals and submitting them to Customers in accordance with the DRS Capture and Pursuit Process. As Director Proposal Management, you will often work on tight deadlines and have to delegate tasks required to complete a proposal, such as technical writing, research, editing and other efforts associated with the process. This role will be responsible for management of multiple proposal teams at one time. We are seeking a candidate who is extremely organized and has excellent written and oral communication skills. They must also be able to supervise and train supporting staff, prepare presentations and maintain schedules. Strong time management skills are a key requirement. This position requires frequent interface with Business Development Capture Leads, senior leadership, Contracts, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance / Pricing and Program personnel.
Job Responsibilities
  • Responsible for ensuring that DRS proposals are professional, high quality and reflect the high standards and objectives of the corporation, and that the proposal submission is compliant and responsive to all customer requirements and to the instructions of the RFP
  • Manage and conduct proposal submissions in accordance with DRS Capture and Pursuit Process
  • Managers and oversees the entire proposal process from pre-RFP preparation, through solution preparation and writing, to final publication and submission
  • Tracks all proposal efforts, which may include work of proposal managers, writers, solutions architects, pricers, contracts personnel, and administrative support teams.
  • May work directly with the Capture Manager to support pre-RFP activities that directly relate to proposal creation.
  • Orchestrate team organization and support by determining team members, roles and responsibilities
  • Arrange the support from functional organizations
  • Arrange the facilities/resources
  • Manage the Proposal (document) Specialist and Graphics artist and other proposal support personnel
  • Manage the entire proposal department staff and all the proposals at a high level
  • Work closely with Capture, Program, Technical Leads
  • Develop the Proposal Plan (see draft Proposal Development Plan guidelines)
  • Migrate information from early phases of Capture and Pursuit into Proposal Development Plan
  • Manage and coordinate RFP review including managing Questions and Clarifications to customer via Contracts
  • Develop proposal specific info (eg, proposal schedule, writing assignments, outlines, volume structures, proposal admin, etc.); and works with volume leads to develop Management and Technical volume outlines in accordance with
  • RFP Bidder instructions
  • Prepare plan in support of Proposal Kick off
  • Conduct (OTJ) training for the proposal team as required

Job Responsibilities Part II
  • Responsible for complete Strategy and Implementation including: ensure that Capture and Pursuit strategy migrates into Win themes and proposal storyboards; storyboards are developed / reviewed / maintain baseline; establish section themes with Program and Capture leads; coordinate, monitor, manage, conduct as appropriate other Pursuit and Capture reviews and maintain baselines (e.g. Black hat, Blue Team, etc.)
  • Responsible for the Proposal Preparation including; manage proposal in accordance with Pursuit and Capture Process, conduct Kick-off meetings, conduct daily meetings and manage action item register, control and manage preparation costs and schedule, control proposal writing and artwork, arrange for Pink/ Red Team reviews and feedback, control and monitor costing and competitive procurements cycles, and act as 'gatekeeper' for CMMI Level 5 requirements (e.g. alternations to processes) that need to be approved prior to proposal development
  • Responsible for the Executive Review Process including; support the cycle of executive reviews that occur throughout the pursuit and capture phases in support of this proposal, ensure that baseline costing has Director of Engineering approval and signature prior to engaging pricing cycle, ensure that Competitive RFPs final pricing aligns with internal pricing cycle and that final pricing is ready for formal executive review within 7-10 days of bid submission; and ensure that corporate approval (when required) has 5 days to review and approve
  • Responsible for final proposal submission including; receipt for successful delivery, maintain final submission text (proposal/graphics library), coordinate and manage proposal clarifications and BAFO submission, and ensure that Contract has all originals of signed documents (certifications by us and or potential subcontractors)
  • Establish and maintain communications among all team members (local and remote employees, and teammates) using collaborative tools
  • Develop and maintain methodology/process artifacts for reuse in proposals
  • Support, communicate, reinforce and defend the mission, values and culture of the organization

Qualifications
  • 10+ years relevent experience
  • Bachelor's degree in marketing or engineering or related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Master's degree is preferred
  • Defense industry experience required
  • Subject matter expertise and knowledge
  • Project management best practices from sources such as Project Management Institute, Six Sigma and the Capability Maturity Model
  • Project and proposal management lifecycles; and Government Procurement/Capture/Proposal Management
  • Strong communication skills
  • Effective team building approach
  • Excellent oral and technical writing abilities

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.
Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
*Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only
Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Our Vision. To be the leading mid-tier defense technology company in the U.S.
Our Values. The Leonardo DRS culture is defined by our Core Values and Principles:
- Integrity
- Agility
- Excellence
- Customer Focus
- Community & Respect
- Innovation
We strive to uphold them in all aspects of our business practices to inspire our employees and provide outstanding support for our customers.

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