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Proposal Manager Jobs in Frederick, MD (NOW HIRING)

Essential Software Inc

Proposal Manager

Rockville, MD · On-site

$100K - $145K/yr

Proposal Manager ( Federal IT Capture & Proposals) ESI is an established federal technology contractor with more than a decade of continuous performance delivering mission-critical IT solutions ...

Essential Software Inc

Proposal Manager

Rockville, MD · On-site

$100K - $145K/yr

Proposal Manager ( Federal IT Capture & Proposals) ESI is an established federal technology contractor with more than a decade of continuous performance delivering mission-critical IT solutions ...

The Emmes Company, LLC

Proposal Manager

Rockville, MD · On-site

Overview Proposal Manager US Remote Emmes Group: Building a better future for us all. Emmes Group is transforming the future of clinical research, bringing the promise of new medical discovery closer ...

Emmes

Proposal Manager

Rockville, MD · On-site +1

Overview Proposal Manager US Remote Emmes Group: Building a better future for us all. Emmes Group is transforming the future of clinical research, bringing the promise of new medical discovery closer ...

Quantum Space

Proposal Manager

Rockville, MD · On-site

Who We're Looking For We are seeking an experienced Proposal Manager to lead and manage strategic proposal efforts that support Quantum Space's growth across national security, civil, and commercial ...

Emmes Group

Proposal Manager

Rockville, MD · On-site

Overview Proposal Manager US Remote Emmes Group: Building a better future for us all. Emmes Group is transforming the future of clinical research, bringing the promise of new medical discovery closer ...

Southland Industries

Senior Proposal Manager

Dulles, VA · On-site

Position Summary Join Southland's Proposal Team as a Senior Proposal Manager of our East Region. In this role, you will lead and oversee a team of Proposal Specialists responsible for the development ...

AeroVironment

Senior Proposal Manager

Germantown, MD · On-site

$93K - $141K/yr

The Senior Proposal Manager will gather, research, organize, and analyze information and coordinate information requirements from many sources to generate cohesive and compelling proposals and ...

Leidos

Project Lead/Program Manager

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$73K - $132K/yr

Cross-Program Operations, Proposal Management, AI Initiatives, and Program Efficiencies Key Responsibilities Cross Program Coordination & Management * Serve as POC for Cross Program cost analysis ...

Leidos

Project Lead/Program Manager

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$73K - $132K/yr

Cross-Program Operations, Proposal Management, AI Initiatives, and Program Efficiencies Key Responsibilities Cross Program Coordination & Management * Serve as POC for Cross Program cost analysis ...

Leidos

Project Lead/Program Manager

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$73K - $132K/yr

Cross-Program Operations, Proposal Management, AI Initiatives, and Program Efficiencies Key Responsibilities Cross Program Coordination & Management * Serve as POC for Cross Program cost analysis ...

Via Logic LLC

Project Lead/Program Manager

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$73 - $133/hr

Cross-Program Operations, Proposal Management, AI Initiatives, and Program Efficiencies Key Responsibilities * Serve as POC for Cross Program cost analysis, metrics tracking, customer communications ...

New

Conduent, Inc.

Proposal Coordinator

Germantown, MD · On-site

The Proposal Center Coordinator II is responsible for managing all aspects of the production and formatting of government proposal response documentation. Documents range from a few pages to multi ...

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All JobsProposal JobsProposal Manager JobsProposal Manager Jobs in Frederick, MD

Proposal Manager information

See Frederick, MD salary details

$30.3K

$98.9K

$142.2K

How much do proposal manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for proposal manager in Frederick, MD is $98,920.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $117,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a proposal manager?

A Proposal Manager is a professional responsible for overseeing the creation, development, and submission of business proposals, often in response to requests for proposals (RFPs) from clients or government agencies. They coordinate teams, manage timelines, ensure compliance with requirements, and assemble all necessary documentation to create compelling and competitive proposals. Their goal is to increase the organization’s chances of winning contracts by delivering clear, persuasive, and compliant proposals. Proposal Managers work closely with sales, technical experts, and other stakeholders throughout the proposal process.

What does a proposal manager do?

As a proposal manager, your primary responsibilities involve preparing company proposals and working to ensure you meet goals on time. Your duties require you to collaborate with marketing, operations, business development, and other departments to review information and assess the most efficient and effective plan. You write a draft, prepare a presentation, and bring your recommendations to clients. You manage the request for proposal (RFP) from start to finish and assist along the way. You maintain the resource materials, check that you are following proper procedures and standards, and communicate with outside vendors as needed.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a proposal manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Proposal Manager, you need strong project management abilities, excellent writing and editing skills, and a background in business development or related fields, often supported by a bachelor's degree. Familiarity with proposal management software (such as RFPIO or Qvidian), CRM systems, and knowledge of RFP processes are typically required. Outstanding attention to detail, collaboration, and time management help Proposal Managers excel under tight deadlines and coordinate input from various stakeholders. These skills ensure that proposals are compliant, compelling, and delivered on time, increasing win rates and supporting business growth.

What are some common challenges proposal managers face when coordinating cross-functional teams during the proposal process?

Proposal Managers often encounter challenges such as aligning schedules and priorities across diverse departments, ensuring timely contributions from subject matter experts, and maintaining consistent messaging throughout the proposal. Effective communication and strong organizational skills are essential for navigating these hurdles. Additionally, Proposal Managers must be adept at managing tight deadlines and last-minute changes, all while fostering collaboration and keeping the team motivated.

What is the difference between Proposal Manager vs Proposal Coordinator?

AspectProposal ManagerProposal Coordinator
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire proposal process, manages teams, develops strategiesSupports proposal preparation, coordinates document collection, assists with editing
Required SkillsProject management, leadership, proposal developmentOrganizational skills, communication, document management
Work EnvironmentLeads proposal teams, interacts with executivesSupports proposal teams, collaborates with proposal managers
CertificationsOften requires PMP or industry-specific certificationsLess likely to require certifications, more administrative

The Proposal Manager typically leads the entire proposal process, focusing on strategy and team management, while the Proposal Coordinator provides essential support in document preparation and coordination. Both roles are vital in the proposal development cycle, with Proposal Managers holding more responsibility for overall success.

Is a proposal manager a stressful job?

A proposal manager's role involves coordinating and preparing bids and proposals, often under tight deadlines and with high attention to detail, which can lead to stressful situations. The level of stress depends on workload, organizational support, and experience, but managing multiple proposals can be demanding. Strong organizational skills and experience with proposal software can help mitigate stress.
More about Proposal Manager jobs

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The most popular types of Proposal jobs in Frederick, MD are:

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For Proposal Manager jobs in Frederick, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Cities near Frederick, MD with the most Proposal Manager job openings:

Proposal Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Proposal Manager job openings in Frederick, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,920 per year, or $47.6 per hour.

Proposal Manager

Essential Software Inc

Rockville, MD • On-site

$100K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

Proposal Manager (Federal IT Capture & Proposals)
ESI is an established federal technology contractor with more than a decade of continuous performance delivering mission-critical IT solutions across the federal government. Our portfolio spans cloud-hosted data systems, applied artificial intelligence and machine learning, and Agile software delivery in complex, data-intensive federal environments.
Building on this track record and a deep body of federal past performance, ESI is investing in the infrastructure required to compete for and win direct federal contract awards. As we expand our access to government-wide and agency-specific contract vehicles and mature our capture and proposal capabilities, we are building a dedicated proposal function that converts our technical credibility and past performance into compliant, competitive, winning responses.
The Proposal Manager leads the development of ESI's federal proposals from opportunity qualification through submission, owning the proposal process end to end. This role establishes and enforces compliance discipline, drives the writing and review schedule, and shapes technically strong, evaluator-focused responses. Working closely with capture leads, technical staff, executives, and teaming partners, the Proposal Manager turns win strategies into fully compliant proposals and is central to ESI's ability to grow its base of direct federal contract awards.
Roles & Responsibilities of the Proposal Manager:
  • Lead end-to-end management of federal IT proposals, including responses to OASIS+ task orders, agency-specific IDIQ vehicles, GSA Schedule orders, and full-and-open and set-aside solicitations.
  • Build and maintain compliance matrices against Section L instructions and ensure every proposal is fully responsive to Section M evaluation factors.
  • Develop annotated outlines reviewed against the evaluation criteria and manage each proposal through a structured color team review cadence - kickoff, Pink Team at draft, Red Team at near-final, and a compliance check before submission.
  • Run proposal kickoffs, establish and enforce production schedules, and coordinate contributions from technical staff, capture leads, teaming partners, and subject matter experts.
  • Write, edit, and shape Technical Approach, Management Approach, and Past Performance narratives that score competitively against published evaluation factors.
  • Build and maintain a bank of reusable technical narrative sections around ESI's core capabilities, including cloud architecture and migration, applied AI/ML, the Agile Delivery Framework, and FedRAMP and cloud compliance experience.
  • Partner with capture leads to translate win strategies, discriminators, and pre-solicitation intelligence developed during capture into the written proposal.
  • Support bid/no-bid decisions with realistic assessments of compliance requirements, level of effort, competitive positioning, and proposal risk.
  • Contribute to the maintenance of ESI's past performance library and reference list, ensuring funded values, quantified outcomes, and CPARS-relevant data are packaged and proposal-ready.
  • Manage proposal version control, final production, and on-time submission through government portals such as SAM.gov, GSA eBuy, and agency e-portals.
  • Mentor and guide contributors on federal proposal best practices, compliance discipline, and persuasive, evaluator-focused writing.
Basic Qualifications of the Proposal Manager:
  • Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in English, Communications, Business, a technical discipline, or a related field.
  • At least 5+ years of experience managing federal proposals, with demonstrated experience leading IT or professional services responses to a successful submission.
  • Demonstrated experience building compliance matrices against Section L and writing to Section M evaluation factors under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
  • Demonstrated experience managing proposals through a structured color team review process (Pink, Red, and Gold teams).
  • Direct experience with government-wide acquisition contracts and IDIQ vehicles - such as OASIS+, GSA MAS, NITAAC, or agency-specific vehicles - and their task order ordering procedures.
  • Hands-on experience with Deltek GovWin IQ for opportunity identification, pipeline management, and competitive intelligence.
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills, including the ability to translate complex technical content into clear, compliant, and persuasive narrative.
  • Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple concurrent pursuits under firm deadlines.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, SharePoint) and proposal collaboration tools.
  • Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills, with experience coordinating inputs from technical staff, executives, and teaming partners.
  • Ability to work effectively in a complex, fast-paced environment, including with government stakeholders and in adherence to government practices and processes.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) certification (Foundation, Practitioner, or Professional).
  • Familiarity with the Shipley or a comparable capture and proposal methodology.
  • Familiarity with FedRAMP, cloud-hosted solutions (AWS), and Agile delivery as they appear in technical proposals.
  • Prior experience supporting small business capture efforts and contract vehicle on-ramps (e.g., OASIS+).
Work With ESI
In a time when federal agencies have relied on novel technology solutions, ESI stands as a trusted partner. We have built our success on our commitment to technology, teamwork, and trust. At ESI, we acknowledge and celebrate our talented staff who consistently strive for and achieve excellence.
ESI offers a robust benefits package that includes health care, paid time off, 401(k) retirement savings, professional development opportunities, and more.
Salary range: $100,000-$145,000 per year, depending on skills and experience.
Work Location: Hybrid (1 day in office, 4 days off-site per week) in Rockville, MD 20850
Equal Opportunity Employer
ESI is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, including equitable hiring and promotion practices, and ongoing learning that supports belonging for every team member.
Work Authorization Notice
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. ESI is unable to provide employment visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Because this role may be performed in support of government contract work and does not allow ESI to provide the level of direct employer oversight and training administration required for certain temporary work authorization categories, ESI cannot support those employer-specific training obligations for this position.
Essential Software Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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