We are seeking a highly organized and execution-driven Proposal Operations Manager to support proposal development and submission activities for opportunities within the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) SHIELD portfolio.

This role is responsible for managing the full proposal lifecycle—from solicitation release through submission—ensuring compliance, coordination, and high-quality deliverables under tight deadlines. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments and brings deep experience in federal proposal operations, particularly within small business and SDVOSB environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end proposal lifecycle for MDA SHIELD opportunities, from solicitation release through submission
• Lead proposal response management, ensuring all volumes are complete, compliant, and delivered on schedule
• Analyze RFPs/RFQs and develop proposal outlines, compliance matrices, and detailed schedules
• Drive RFP management activities, including requirement analysis, task assignments, and adherence to submission instructions
• Lead proposal kickoffs, daily stand-ups, and color team reviews (Pink/Red/Gold) to ensure progress and alignment
• Coordinate across technical, pricing, contracts, and leadership teams to ensure on-time, compliant submissions
• Ensure all proposal content meets customer requirements, evaluation criteria, and formatting instructions
• Manage proposal artifacts, version control, and content repositories to maintain consistency and efficiency
• Integrate win themes, discriminators, and customer insights into proposal responses
• Identify risks, gaps, and compliance issues early and drive resolution across teams
• Track and report proposal status, schedules, and resource needs to leadership
• Support continuous improvement efforts to enhance proposal quality and efficiency
• Supervise and mentor proposal staff, writers, or coordinators as needed

Required Experience

• Proposal Response Management – 5+ years of experience
• RFP Management – 5+ years of experience
• Experience supporting a Federal Prime Contractor (SDVOSB) – 5+ years
• Experience supporting a Federal Prime Contractor (Small Business) – 5+ years

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) in a scientific, mathematics, engineering, biology, medical, or related field
• Military veteran status preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of experience in federal proposal management or proposal operations
• Experience supporting MDA, DoD, or defense-related programs (SHIELD experience strongly preferred)
• Strong understanding of the federal proposal lifecycle and evaluation processes
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent proposals under tight deadlines
• Experience with proposal tools (e.g., SharePoint, Teams, proposal automation tools, CRM systems)
• Familiarity with price-to-win concepts and cost/price coordination
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills