Proposal Manager/Writer

Job Title:                    Proposal Manager/Writer

Reports to:                 Director of Business Development

Classification:            Exempt            

Time Commitment:    Part-time/Contractor       

Position Summary

AIRtec is actively seeking a motivated defense/aerospace Proposal Manager to support our Corporate Office located in California, MD. The Proposal Manager will play a critical role in the business development, capture, and proposal life-cycle process and will provide opportunities beyond managing individual proposals. The Proposal Manager’s primary responsibility will consist of coordinating all phases (e.g., response outlines, draft development, color team coordination and recovery, writing, editing, compliance, submission coordination) of the company’s proposal process in response to Request for Information (RFI), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotes (RFQs), and unsolicited requirements. The successful candidate must have demonstrated ability to proactively create, cultivate and enhance relationships with current and potential customers and key contacts. The responsibilities of the position will balance external customer relationship management activities with internal support of the daily operations. The main responsibility of this highly dynamic and wide-authority position is to identify, develop, and capture new business opportunities to provide cutting edge technology and sensor solutions to meet mission needs for airborne surveillance and science customers and government. The ability to meet deadlines, a commitment to teamwork, intelligent management of all roles (subject matter experts, strategic partners, writers, and corporate staff), and detailed follow-through will be the keys to success in this role. 

Essential Functions

• Develop and maintain relationships with current and potential customers and stakeholders within our Business Segment.
• Gather intelligence through customer interaction and market analysis to identify strategic new business opportunities.
• Prepare consolidated business development capture plans and pursuit briefings in support of new business acquisition.
• Proactively work with external customers and internal stakeholders across departments and business segments to execute structured and planned business development and capture initiatives.
• Lead overall proposal process and manage the successful development of compliant, competitive, cogent, and compelling proposals through effective collaboration across teams that include internal staff, corporate partners, consultants, and supporting team members.
• Perform detailed analysis of RFI/RFQ/RFP requirements.
• Develop the proposal schedule, outline, compliance matrix, and Proposal Development Plan utilizing the Shipley Process.
• Establish and maintain the SharePoint collaboration site and proposal repository.
• Prepare and lead efficient Proposal Kickoff meetings and daily status calls.
• Determine author assignments, integrate win strategy, themes, and discriminators into proposal.
• Provide insight, leadership, and work guidance to authors on all proposal content.
• Conduct compliance checks and provide related process training and guidance to proposal teams.
• Facilitate all proposal reviews and lead debrief meetings, solidifying recovery plans with specific recommendations for content improvement and/or compliance.
• Edit and coordinate technical proposal sections as they develop and maintain close liaison with technical/SME staff.
• Review and edit submissions from partners, ensuring their input meets specified requirements and expected level of quality.
• Direct production activities and ensure timely submission of all RFP deliverables.
• Conduct and document proposal lessons learned and implement actions to improve process efficiency.
• Coordinate customer visits, internal meetings, and web-based conferences in support of new business development.
• Perform research activities in support of new business development, capture strategy, and proposal development.
• Maintain the business development CRM database for all active new business opportunities and pursuits.

Skills Required 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in Military, Business Development/Marketing or related roles with a strong DoD background.
• 4 year / Bachelor's Degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• US citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance.
• Candidates must have demonstrated professional management and customer stakeholder communication skills and experience.
• Self-Starter with excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills.
• Team player who is results driven and winner mentality.
• Demonstrated experience in effective and successful negotiations.
• A working knowledge of government and military contracts, GWACs, IDIQs, GSA Schedules, and open market purchases with demonstrated track record of preparing and submitting winning proposals utilizing a Shipley based proposal process.
• Working knowledge of the FAR is required.
• The skill to independently define, schedule, and manage the proposal preparation process, including the ability to understand and analyze the details of a highly complex Government RFP is an absolute must. Candidates will be required to demonstrate these skills during the interview process.
• Demonstration of the necessary personality and leadership skills to engage and motivate a diverse group of Project Managers, Subject Matter Experts, Teammates, Consultants and Subcontractors is required.
• Exceptional facilitation and organization skills are required. Strong time management skills and ability to manage overlapping projects.
• 25% Domestic and International travel required. 

Desired Attributes 

• Familiarity with Sales Force software platform.
• Shipley Training.
• Former Military experience.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Strong communication skills (oral and written), including first-rate spelling and grammar skills in American English. 

 Please Note: Contractors are not provided with any AIRTEC benefit offerings. 

AIRtec, 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.