Senior Proposal Manager

Role Summary

NIRA is seeking a Senior Proposal Professional to independently lead and execute complex government proposals. This role owns the proposal process from kickoff through submission and plays a critical role in driving company growth. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, process-driven, and comfortable operating with minimal oversight while managing multiple concurrent pursuits.

This is a hands-on role requiring deep experience with government RFPs and the ability to translate technical and operational inputs into clear, compliant, and compelling proposal narratives.

Key Responsibilities

Proposal Leadership & Execution

• Own the end-to-end proposal lifecycle for federal, state, and local government solicitations (RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, task orders)
• Develop and manage detailed proposal schedules, compliance matrices, outlines, and production plans
• Lead proposal kickoff meetings and clearly communicate expectations, deadlines, and deliverables
• Track progress daily and proactively resolve gaps, risks, and bottlenecks
  
  

Writing & Content Development

• Write and edit substantial portions of proposals, including technical approach, management approach, staffing plans, resumes, and past performance narratives
• Translate complex technical, operational, and programmatic information into clear, evaluator-focused responses
• Ensure consistency in tone, terminology, and messaging across all proposal sections
• Incorporate win themes, discriminators, and evaluation criteria into all written content
  
  

Compliance & Quality Control

• Perform detailed compliance checks to ensure full adherence to RFP instructions, formatting requirements, and evaluation criteria
• Review all proposal content for accuracy, clarity, completeness, and responsiveness
• Manage internal review cycles and incorporate reviewer feedback efficiently and accurately
• Conduct final "ready-to-submit" reviews to ensure zero compliance or production issues
  
  

Collaboration & Coordination

• Work closely with executives, capture managers, subject matter experts, and partners to gather inputs and approvals
• Coordinate inputs from subcontractors, including technical sections, resumes, and past performance
• Serve as the central point of accountability for proposal communication and document control
  
  

Process Improvement & Knowledge Management

• Maintain and improve proposal templates, boilerplate content, and internal libraries
• Document lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of proposal processes
• Support capture and pre-RFP activities as needed, including solution shaping and proposal planning
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 7 years of hands-on government proposal experience (federal strongly preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage and deliver complex, high-volume proposals
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Advanced writing and editing skills with a focus on clarity, compliance, and evaluator usability
• Strong understanding of government procurement processes and evaluation methodologies
• Proven ability to manage multiple proposals simultaneously under tight deadlines
• Experience working directly with senior leadership and cross-functional teams
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; comfort managing complex documents
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting technology, data, analytics, or consulting services proposals
• Experience with both prime contractor and subcontractor proposals
• Experience with state and local government proposals
• Familiarity with structured proposal processes and color team reviews
  
  

Why NIRA

• High-visibility role with direct impact on company growth
• Opportunity to own and shape proposal operations and standards
• Collaborative, fast-moving environment with access to senior leadership
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Flexible work environment