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Proposal Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

The Proposal Manager is responsible for leading all proposal preparation, development, coordination, and production activities. The Proposal Manager will also assist in developing opportunity ...

This Proposal Manager provides proposal support services to the company in its business/office operations. Weekend work can be expected when working on proposals in response to Government ...

Manage proposals, including all aspects of proposal development: pre-proposal planning activities, kick-off meeting, value proposition conveyance, theme development, schedule management, action/issue ...

Up to 95K The Proposal Coordinator is responsible for administering proposal processes, providing configuration management, providing guidance and assistance to authors, administering proposal ...

The Proposal Manager is responsible for leading all proposal preparation, development, coordination, and production activities. The Proposal Manager will also assist in developing opportunity ...

Up to 95K The Proposal Coordinator is responsible for administering proposal processes, providing configuration management, providing guidance and assistance to authors, administering proposal ...

Ability to lead the proposal process from pre-proposal groundwork (internal kickoff, external kickoff, and sessions for black hat, storyboarding, risk mitigation, and differentiators and win themes ...

Proposal Manager

Vienna, VA · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

The Proposal Manager will oversee the proposal lifecycle from solicitation analysis through submission, collaborating with business development, capture, technical teams, and subject matter experts ...

Proposal Manager

Dulles, VA · On-site +1

$90K - $125K/yr

Proposal Manager A/E/C Industry Experience SF330 Federal Proposal Experience Location: Hybrid in Virginia Beach or Dulles, VA We are currently seeking a Part-Time Proposal Manager to join our ...

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Proposal Writer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

The Proposal Writer is responsible for developing high-quality, compliant, and compelling proposals in response to solicitations (e.g., RFPs, RFQs, RFIs). This role collaborates with subject matter ...

This Proposal Coordinator provides proposal support services to the company in its business/office operations. Weekend work can be expected when working on proposals in response to Government ...

Proposal Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$125K - $140K/yr

The Proposal Manager is accountable for the quality and timeliness of Hadrian's proposal products and for maintaining the knowledge infrastructure that supports proposal development across the ...

Nightwing is looking for an on-site Proposal Manager to lead the preparation of compliant, compelling proposals of varying size and low complexity, classified and unclassified. This role works with ...

Proposal Manager

Gainesville, VA · On-site

$75K - $110K/yr

Lead the end-to-end proposal process from pre-RFP positioning through post-submission activities, ensuring adherence to MSM's standard operating procedures. * Compliance & Strategy: Analyze RFPs ...

Proposal Manager

Vienna, VA · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

The Proposal Manager will oversee the proposal lifecycle from solicitation analysis through submission, collaborating with business development, capture, technical teams, and subject matter experts ...

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Proposal information

See Reston, VA salary details

$31.8K

$103.7K

$149K

How much do proposal jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for proposal in Reston, VA is $103,696.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,900.00 and $123,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Proposal vs Bid Specialist?

AspectProposalBid Specialist
Primary FocusCreating detailed project proposals for clientsPreparing competitive bids for contracts
CredentialsOften requires writing, project management, or industry-specific certificationsRequires knowledge of bidding processes, industry standards, and sometimes certifications
Work EnvironmentOffice-based, collaborating with sales and project teamsOffice or field, working closely with sales and procurement teams
Industry UsageCommon in consulting, construction, and government contractingPrevalent in construction, engineering, and government projects

While both Proposal and Bid Specialist roles involve preparing documents to secure projects, proposals focus on detailed project plans and solutions, whereas bid specialists concentrate on competitive pricing and compliance to win contracts. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What are some common challenges faced by proposal managers during the proposal development process?

Proposal managers often encounter tight deadlines and rapidly changing requirements, which can make coordinating input from multiple stakeholders challenging. Balancing the need for a compelling, compliant submission with limited resources requires strong organizational and communication skills. Additionally, managing version control and ensuring consistency across all sections of the proposal are frequent hurdles. Successful proposal managers leverage collaborative tools and clear processes to overcome these challenges and deliver high-quality proposals on time.

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, persuasive writing skills, and a background in business development or a related field, often supported by a bachelor’s degree. Familiarity with proposal management software (such as RFPIO or Loopio), CRM systems, and knowledge of RFP processes are typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, collaboration, and time management skills help you coordinate teams and meet tight deadlines. These abilities are crucial for producing compelling proposals that win business and align with organizational goals.

What are proposal managers?

Proposal managers are professionals responsible for overseeing the creation and submission of business proposals, typically in response to requests for proposals (RFPs) from clients or government agencies. They coordinate teams, manage timelines, and ensure that proposals meet all requirements and effectively communicate the value of the organization’s services or products. Proposal managers play a key role in helping companies win new business by producing compelling, compliant, and competitive proposals.
What are the most commonly searched types of Proposal jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Proposal jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Proposal jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Proposal job openings:
Infographic showing various Proposal job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,696 per year, or $49.9 per hour.
Proposal Manager

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

The Proposal Manager is responsible for leading all proposal preparation, development, coordination, and production activities. The Proposal Manager will also assist in developing opportunity planning and capture actions. The successful candidate will lead teams consisting of consultants, subcontractors and SMEs through the opportunity lifecycle. This role requires a seasoned leader with excellent communication skills, and who has a deep understanding of how to effectively develop and manage a winning federal proposal team.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Oversee proposal development to ensure the critical strategic messages are embodied in the proposal and that the win strategy is evident in the final product to maximize probability of win.
  • Ensure that the proper resources are available to deliver a compliant, complete proposal on time and within budget.
  • Organize strategy meetings to establish win themes
  • Conduct formal management reviews (red/pink/gold, etc.), including the collection and distribution of comments.
  • Assist management in competitive analysis and solution strategy.
  • Organize, schedule, and conduct proposal kick-off meeting for all participants.
    • Summarize RFP requirements and ensure all participants have most current information
    • Develop win themes and team differentiators for emphasis across all proposal volumes
    • Establish method for proposal team communication (e.g. posting changes to solicitations, responses to Q&A, sharing of drafts, etc.)
    • Establish proposal master schedule
    • Establish formatted volume templates and provide to volume managers
  • Manage overall proposal efforts to include:
    • Coordinate posting and integration of draft proposal deliverables
    • Translate bid strategies into proposal narrative
    • Develop detailed proposal schedules, milestones, and plans and manage all proposal activities required to meet them
    • Monitor and enforce milestones
    • Administer writing assignments
    • Oversee volume outlines
    • Coordinate appropriate review/approval
    • Develop value proposition creation, and
    • Write or revise proposal content to achieve target message throughout the proposal
    • Manage and effectively interact with a wide diversity of people and technical disciplines in a high-pressure work environment

Skills:

  • Must have proven history of proposal successes in the Federal market.
  • Proven experience and success in managing pursuit deal sizes from $10M – $50M.
  • Must have a strong knowledge of business practices.
  • Must possess a successful track record of wins leading complex bid opportunities.
  • Must be comfortable and flexible in unstructured situations; at ease with senior executives internal and external to the company.
  • Must have a thorough understanding of federal contract proposal efforts, documentation, procurement process, proposal preparation, evaluation, and compliance auditing.
  • Experience working with management for initial opportunity identification and development of the capture strategy, through the final proposal team lessons learned debriefing.
  • Must be familiar with the federal procurement lifecycle from development of requirements through award of contracts and must demonstrate a thorough and detailed understanding of the Government acquisition and source selection process.
  • Must have a working knowledge of the current Federal Acquisition Regulations and all its subsidiaries (DFAR, AFAR, GFAR, etc.) and the ability to read and interpret government synopsis, Requests for Proposal (RFP), Requests for Quote (RFQ), Request for Information (RFI) and solicitations.
  • Must be an accomplished writer with in-depth experience creating proposal related documents; i.e. proposal directives, executive summaries, compliance matrixes, proposal outlines, proposal related customer questions, storyboards, color review documents, finalized proposal documents, oral presentations, and lessons learned.
  • Must have superior communication and facilitation skills, with the proven ability to manage a large diverse team of technical and management personnel.
  • Must have experience with Government proposal preparation and processes.
  • Ability to work independently on assigned tasks, as well as, accept direction on given assignments.

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in a technical field is required. Eight (8) years of experience may be substituted for the degree.

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in a fast-paced high volume proposal environment as Manager leading teams with at least one major (>$20M) successful opportunity (Greater than >$50M opportunity preferred).

Other Requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be able to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Visio.
  • Familiar with collaboration tools such as Microsoft TEAMS.
  • Familiar with web-based Customer Resource Management (CRM) tools.
  • Must possess strong negotiation and interpersonal skills and the ability to work with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
  • Willingness and ability to work long hours when required.
  • Exceptional organizational skills.
  • Excellent oral and written communications skills.
  • Top Secret Clearance Preferred

Benefits:   K2 Group’s benefit offerings include:  Medical/ Dental/ Vision Insurance; FSA Medical & FSA Dependent Care; Pre-tax 401(k) & ROTH 401(k) plans; Profit Sharing Plan; Life & Accidental Death Insurance; Short Term/ Long Term Disability; Voluntary Group Life Insurance option; Tuition Reimbursement; Job-related Course Reimbursement; Holiday Pay; and Paid Time-Off.