Proposal Manager

SAIC is seeking a Proposal Manager for our Proposal Development Center in Reston, VA. The ideal candidate will have experience working with Subject Matter Experts to manage the development of written proposals and orals presentation slides. This position offers hybrid work opportunities, with primary work to be completed in the Reston, VA offices. The candidate should be local to the DMV area.

The Proposal Manager will manage proposal efforts and work closely with business development and operational personnel to develop and deliver winning, high-quality Federal Government proposals. The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

Proposal Lifecycle Management & Planning

• Manage all aspects of proposal lifecycle activities, including pre-proposal planning, kickoff meetings, schedule development and enforcement, compliance, action/issue tracking, writing instructions, and team guidance
• Develop and maintain proposal artifacts such as kickoff materials, compliance matrix, proposal structure, schedules, daily stand-up agendas, team contact lists, and review briefings
• Provide a structured methodology and process for both the creative and management aspects of complex responses for both written and oral Federal Government proposals
   

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance across the proposal by tracking solicitation updates, revising critical artifacts (e.g., schedules, outlines, matrices, slides), and performing regular compliance checks
• Review and analyze proposal sections for compliance with solicitation requirements and for clear, consistent messaging of win strategies
• Apply industry best practices with attention to compliance
• Participate in color team reviews and recovery, including facilitating post-review updates and implementing approved content changes
   

Strategy Development & Messaging

• Facilitate solution and collaborative strategy development sessions with capture and technical teams, identifying win themes, customer hot buttons, and innovative solution features/benefits to align client requirements across both written and orals proposals
• Capture and communicate proposed solutions during brainstorming sessions, applying critical thinking to refine, document, and align inputs with evaluator objectives
• Collaborate with capture and solution teams to develop strategic messaging, impactful graphics, and cohesive proposals that emphasize "Why SAIC" messaging
• Leverage advanced proposal tools and frameworks to enhance narrative impact and align content with SAIC's methodologies and win strategies
   

Writing, Content Development, and Feedback

• Provide constructive feedback and guidance to writers to refine content for accuracy, compliance, and narrative impact
• Develop, refine, and/or utilize templates, tools, and standardized processes to streamline proposal development in alignment with industry and SAIC best practices
   

Team Leadership, Communication & Coordination

• Facilitate team communication through daily stand-ups, regular updates, progress tracking, and the management of action items
• Clarify and enforce proposal roles and responsibilities, ensuring alignment and accountability across capture managers, technical and subject matter experts, writers, production staff, and leadership
• Collaborate with executive leadership, business development, and operations to allocate adequate resources and support high-quality, timely proposal submissions
• Identify risks, develop mitigation plans, and remove barriers for team members by escalating needs and addressing issues for timely resolution
• Navigate dynamic, high-tempo proposal environments with competing priorities by applying analytical expertise and data-driven decision-making

Required:

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of experience, or a master's degree and 8+ years of experience. An additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Must be a US Citizen with the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience managing winning competitive Federal Government proposals in a defined proposal role
• Knowledge of the proposal development life cycle and understanding of Shipley or other proposal development processes
• Experience managing large, complex, and highly technical proposals with many stakeholders, and multiple interrelated plans dealing with technical, management, staffing, pricing, quality, and past performance
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently and successfully under conditions of multiple deadlines and changing priorities
• Ability to effectively manage on site/in-person and off site/largely remote proposals
• Ability to collaborate and work as a leader
• Ability to successfully execute multiple tasks simultaneously
• Effective written, visual, and verbal communication skills to interact with all levels of management and content developers
• Willing to travel; willing to work surge hours
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal procurement environments, including specialized acquisition pathways such as AAS/FEDSIM, OTAs, etc.
   

Desired:

• Experience with AAS/FEDSIM acquisition, including orals slide development