Proposal Manager

Description

The Proposal Manager is responsible for leading, planning, scheduling, and overseeing the timely development and delivery of high-quality responses to federal business opportunities, from pre-RFP to post-submission activities. Additionally, the Proposal Manager serves as a corporate subject matter expert on the proposal process. The ideal candidate is a thought leader, able to see the big picture without overlooking the details, fosters a positive and responsive team environment, and can quickly adjust to dynamic proposal development schedules and requirements.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy

• Supports the establishment and ongoing implementation and improvement of company-wide proposal development process.
• Works collaboratively with Strategic Growth Team Lead and Program Directors as opportunities evolve to gain ongoing insights into customer strategy and cadence.
• Understands and communicates to Proposal Teams the latest developments, innovations, and best practices. within the proposal and capture management professions
• Collaborate with Strategic Growth team lead and program directors to identify and research viable opportunities, track trends, and build partner relationships.
• Develops and refines Capture and Win Strategy for qualified opportunities.
  
  

Proposal Management

• Serves as a key member of the Arbor Research Strategic Growth team.
• Collaborates with leadership and technical staff in all phases of proposal development, as well as responses to RFIs, sources sought notices, and other solicitations.
• Ensures deliverables are aligned with the solicitation requirements, internal assumptions, and are incorporated into a cohesive and persuasive format.
• Leads the proposal review process through the entire lifecycle – from late-stage capture through the proposal development phases e.g., manages, facilitates, and prepares for all color team reviews.
• Establishes the response team infrastructure, including kickoff meetings, stand up meeting cadence, outlines, response milestones, reviews, risk mitigation plans, compliance matrices, and both internal and client debriefs.
• Is a thought leader in the development of win themes, technical discriminators, storyboards, and innovative response strategies?
• Ensures win themes, technical discriminators, and innovations are reflected in the final proposal submission.
• Guides writers, technical SMEs, solution architects in proposal development
• Coordinates the support of pricing, contracts, and other supporting departments to ensure the compliant production of business volumes and related volumes e.g., administrative, conflict of interest.
• Manage the development of oral presentations, discussions, and proposal revisions.
  
  

Knowledge Management, Training, and Tools

• Maintain Salesforce CRM records and ensure data accuracy.
• In collaboration with other members of the Strategic Growth Team, maintains proposal folders, SharePoint sites, and other systems of record.
• Develops and maintains a library of boilerplate materials.
• Trains staff on proposal development best practices
• Creates tools and resources to support more efficient proposal development and adherence to company process.
• Suggests proposal strategies, in collaboration with stakeholders, to customize and improve the quality of proposals.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Track record of at least 5 years of successful proposal bids and wins
• Demonstrated experience with U.S. Government business development specifically within the HHS, proficiency with federal regulations (FAR, DFARS), strong writing and interpersonal skills, and independent work capability.
• Exceptional communication skills
• Ability to work on multiple concurrent proposals/projects.
• Comfortable communication with all levels of the organization and able to gain the trust of team members.
• Customer-focused and self-motivate with a great sense of urgency and follow through.
• Able to self-direct to accomplish the proposal objectives and develop a compelling and winning proposal.
  
  

Desirable Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with small business opportunities
• Experience with federal grant submissions
  
  

Core Values

Our core values define who we are as an organization and serve as the foundation of our code of ethics. Arbor Research expects all employees to embody these and demonstrate them in our day-to-day work.

• Collaborative Spirit
  
  

We expect each staff member to learn from and teach one another and ask each to exhibit a curiosity and respect for the contributions of others.

• Creativity
  
  

We strive to cultivate a challenging, stimulating, and supportive environment where our employees are expected to be inquisitive, take initiative, and demonstrate ingenuity.

• Credibility
  
  

Our employees are smart, thoughtful, and objective in their work. We expect them to be technically solid in their area of expertise, and for those conducting research to demonstrate scientific rigor.

• Dedication
  
  

Our team achieves success because of our dedication to carrying out high quality work and delivering trusted results.

Supervision Received

General administrative supervision is received from the Strategic Growth Lead. Close collaboration is expected with program directors and technical subject matter experts who will serve as technical proposal leaders.

Supervision Exercised

None

This position is classified as exempt according to FLSA guidelines.

Salary Range

$91,200 - $148,400