Proposal Manager – Federal Civilian Proposal Team Lead

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in New Mexico.

📋 Description

• Collaborate with regional and Business Line teams on key pursuits, encompassing pre-positioning, RFQ and RFP responses, as well as shortlist interviews.

• Promote effective communication and teamwork among proposal, marketing, client account, business line, and regional teams.

• Mentor and guide direct reports alongside other members of the proposal team.

• Distribute workload throughout the Federal portfolio while encouraging cross-skilling and upskilling of junior and mid-level staff.

• Oversee team performance to ensure compliant, high-quality deliverables.

• Track and report on the progress of essential pursuits, including win strategies, positioning, and proposal development.

• Act as a color team and/or compliance reviewer for critical pursuits.

• Spearhead team initiatives and special projects, focusing on process enhancement and AI integration.

• Engage in strategic planning, assess marketing intelligence, identify customer concerns, and develop win strategies.

• Lead significant, complex, priority must-win pursuits from capture through to the interview stage.

• Create pursuit schedules, templates, content plans, annotated outlines, initial drafts, compliance matrices, and production plans.

• Write and refine executive summaries, resumes, experience/past performance, management, and other non-technical proposal sections.

• Participate in Go/No-Go evaluations, capture strategy discussions, and greenlight analyses.

• Ensure compliance with delegation of authority guidelines during capture planning and positioning efforts.

• Facilitate color team and quality reviews, applying lessons learned effectively.

• Manage revisions to proposals and presentations based on feedback from the review team.

• Review and support pursuits led by other proposal managers, serving as a pink/red team reviewer.

• Conduct and analyze debriefs and incorporate lessons learned into future pursuits.

• Provide strategic direction and leadership across the Federal proposal pipeline.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Marketing, or a related field, accompanied by 8+ years of relevant experience—or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 3+ years of experience in people management.

• Proven track record of recruiting, developing, mentoring, and retaining talent.

• Solid understanding of the Architecture/Engineering industry, particularly AECOM’s U.S. Federal clients, projects, teams, credentials, and competitors.

• Ability to estimate effort levels, assign and balance workloads, lead diverse teams, and collaborate effectively with Business Lines, Client Account Managers, and marketing leadership.

• Successful experience leading complex, multi-discipline and/or multi-geography proposals valued over $20 million.

• Strong grasp of proposal and presentation best practices, including key messages, themes, differentiators, and evaluation criteria.

• Experience implementing industry best practices in positioning, client engagement, and business development.

• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a strong command of grammar, tone, and style.

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, and Photoshop.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.

• Capability to manage multiple priorities independently, with strong follow-through and attention to detail.

• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, diplomatic, and teamwork abilities.

• Discretion when handling confidential information.

• U.S. Citizenship is required.

• No sponsorship for United States work authorization is available now or in the future.

• Preferred: 10+ years of proposal-related experience, ideally supporting U.S. Federal clients.

• APMP and/or SMPS certification is preferred.

• Familiarity with CRM systems; Salesforce experience is preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.

• Life and AD&D insurance.

• Disability benefits.

• Paid time off.

• Leaves of absence.

• Voluntary benefits and perks.

• Flexible work options.

• Well-being resources.

• Employee assistance program.

• Business travel insurance.

• Service recognition awards.

• Retirement savings plan.

• Employee stock purchase plan.

• Relocation assistance and/or per diem is not available.