Senior Director, Government Development

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in District of Columbia, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Oversee strategy, capture, proposal development, and operational management for federal, state, and local government grants and contracts.

• Enhance and expand JFF’s government funding portfolio by pinpointing promising public investment opportunities.

• Cultivate relationships with public agency clients, external partners, and potential government funders.

• Direct competitive capture strategies and ensure proposal teams produce robust submissions.

• Assist with project launches and transitions following new awards.

• Contribute to the Development strategy, objectives, and key performance indicators.

• Lead market research, opportunity identification, assessment, and go/no-go decisions.

• Develop capture plans that encompass client strategy, competitor analysis, positioning, partner strategy, pricing, and proposal planning.

• Maintain calendars for government funding, pipeline forecasts, and procurement tracking.

• Manage responses to complex government procurements, including contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.

• Assemble and oversee cross-functional proposal teams.

• Establish proposal work plans, define roles, set timelines, and outline review cycles and escalation paths.

• Coordinate technical responses and service delivery models with program leaders and subject matter experts.

• Act as the lead writer, editor, strategist, and quality assurance partner for high-priority proposals.

• Supervise narratives, technical approaches, management plans, past performance materials, staffing plans, partner documentation, budgets, and cost proposals.

• Guide pricing strategies, level-of-effort approaches, partner negotiations, and documentation.

• Pursue or revise relevant Government Wide Acquisition Contract agreements.

• Ensure submissions are compliant and timely.

• Provide advice on client management and launch readiness post-award.

• Analyze proposal outcomes and implement lessons learned.

• Build and lead the Government Development team, managing two direct reports.

• Mentor and coach staff while supporting their career development.

• Manage both internal and external consultants.

• Align staffing and capacity with the government pipeline.

• Create and deliver training on government capture, proposal development, pricing, partnership strategy, and proposal-team participation.

• Enhance Salesforce, Asana, SharePoint, proposal templates, standard operating procedures, and reusable content.

• Foster project management, documentation, review, and post-submission learning practices.

• Advance JFF’s mission through ethical and strategic public sector fundraising.

• Build trustworthy relationships across diverse backgrounds and promote an inclusive, accountable, and learning-oriented team culture.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in public sector business development, nonprofit leadership, capture, grants, contracts, fundraising, consulting, or a related field.

• Proven track record of leading successful federal and state grant and contract pursuits, including complex, cross-functional proposals.

• In-depth understanding of federal and state procurement and grant processes.

• Experience establishing relationships in federal agencies and with key stakeholders in the Washington, DC–Maryland–Virginia (DMV) region.

• Proven experience building relationships with government clients, partners, subcontractors, subrecipients, and external stakeholders.

• Background in developing or overseeing competitive pricing, budgets, cost proposals, and level-of-effort assumptions, including relevant FAR requirements.

• Ability to identify, qualify, and prioritize opportunities based on mission alignment, competitiveness, revenue potential, capacity, risk, and impact.

• Exceptional writing and editing skills.

• Experience in managing and developing staff, including providing feedback, coaching, and supporting career development.

• Strong project and people leadership skills.

• Ability to influence without formal authority and collaborate across functions.

• Orientation towards process and systems improvement.

• Familiarity with CRM, project management, and proposal management tools; knowledge of Salesforce, Asana, or similar platforms is advantageous.

• Sound judgment in balancing strategic priorities, technical requirements, resources, risk, and impact.

• Strong commitment to JFF’s mission and North Star goal.

• Ideal candidates should be located in Washington, D.C. or within close proximity to the region.

• Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship nor open to F-1 student visa holders.

• A resume and a thoughtful cover letter are required as part of the application process.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement benefits through a 403(b) plan, including employer contributions for eligible employees.

• Paid time off and paid leave benefits.

• Opportunities for professional development.

• Flexible work hours.

• Balanced workloads.

• Career advancement opportunities.

• Office equipment provided as needed.

• Option to work in-person, hybrid, or fully remote.

• Comprehensive benefits program.