Sr. Proposal Manager - Military veterans preferred

Job Details

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Proposal Manager position is a full-time position responsible for leading, managing and executing the full lifecycle of proposal development activities, across all clients (federal, state and private sector) for MELE Associates, Inc. (MELE). This position requires a proactive, detail-oriented leader with strong organizational and communication skills, who can effectively manage complex, deadline-driven projects across multiple departments and teaming partners. The position will work in MELE’s Rockville, MD office (currently in a hybrid work environment – teleworking Mondays/Fridays and in-office Tuesdays-Thursdays, subject to change).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Proposal Leadership & Strategy Execution

• Lead and direct all phases of the proposal process to develop compliant, compelling, and winning responses to federal, state, and local government solicitations (RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, etc.).
• Translate capture strategies into clear proposal development plans and ensure alignment with solicitation requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Collaborate closely with Capture Managers, Vice Presidents (VPs), and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to shape and refine win strategies, themes, and discriminators.

Cross-Functional Team Management

• Manage proposal development teams, including volume leads, writers, editors, solution architects, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), proposal coordinators, and graphic designers.
• Facilitate and lead proposal meetings such as kickoffs, storyboarding sessions, color team reviews (Pink, Red, Gold, White Glove), and debriefs.
• Ensure adherence to the company’s proposal development framework, quality standards, and proposal processes.

Operational Execution & Compliance

• Oversee day-to-day proposal operations including schedule management, content development, editing, review cycles, production, and final submission.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all proposal-related inquiries, including internal stakeholders and external teaming partners.
• Ensure full compliance with solicitation instructions, evaluation criteria, and corporate policies.

Training, Development, and Process Improvement

• Develop and deliver training to staff on proposal best practices, tools, and templates to foster proposal literacy across the company.
• Mentor and support onboarding of current and new proposal personnel and provide continuous coaching to enhance team capabilities.
• Maintain and enhance reusable content libraries, proposal templates, and standardized resources.
• Identify gaps and lead the development of new processes, tools, and systems to support proposal quality, scalability, and success.

Project Planning & Time Management

• Establish and manage proposal timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure internal and external deadlines are consistently met.
• Proactively identify risks to proposal execution and lead mitigation strategies to keep efforts on track.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing federal government proposal efforts, including full lifecycle proposal development (RFPs, RFIs, RFQs) for a government contractor or consulting firm.
• Proven ability to lead and manage proposal teams through the design, development, and delivery of complex, compliant, and compelling proposals.
• Strong understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), federal procurement processes, and compliance standards.
• Demonstrated success coordinating and collaborating with cross-functional teams across organizational levels, including primes, subcontractors, consultants, and SMEs.
• Skilled in mentoring and managing members of a proposal team and building organizational proposal expertise.
• Ability to provide both administrative and technical support throughout the proposal process, ensuring alignment with solicitation requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Exceptional technical writing, editing, and persuasive communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical content into compelling proposal narratives.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to perform effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Proficiency in proposal management and collaboration tools, including Microsoft Office/Office 365, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, and other proposal automation or content management systems.

LOCATION: This is a hybrid position in Rockville, MD.

SALARY: Salaries are determined based on several factors including external market data, internal equity, and the candidate’s related knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position. The salary range for this position is $125-150k.

BENEFITS

• Employer Paid, High Quality Employee Medical, Dental & Vision Care
• Low-Cost Family Health Care offered
• 11 Federal Holidays and 3 weeks’ vacation
• 401k with Generous Employer Match
• Cross-training opportunities

About MELE Associates, Inc.

With over 300 employees and offices in Rockville, MD, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque, NM, MELE is a veteran and minority-owned government contractor empowering its customers with innovative solutions for more than three decades. MELE has team members located across the U.S. and has served more than a hundred countries across hundreds of project locations. The company offers technical, engineering, and programmatic support expertise to a host of U.S. federal and international agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, INTERPOL, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. MELE’s services include National Security and Intelligence, CBRNE Defense and Security, Facility Management and Engineering, Law Enforcement and Emergency Response Training, Technical, Analytica, and Program Management Support, and IT/Cybersecurity.

MELE Associates, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. MELE Associates, Inc. is an E-Verify employer.

Qualifications

Behaviors

Motivations

Education

Experience

Licenses & Certifications

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.