Proposal Manager

C5MI is not your typical consulting firm. We are a high-performance team of SAP and supply chain experts who solve complex, mission critical challenges for organizations that cannot afford failure.

We hire consultants who thrive in complexity, move fast, take ownership, and deliver under pressure. At C5MI, you will not be siloed or stuck in theory. You will be hands on, client facing, and directly influencing outcomes that matter.

Our culture rewards initiative, accountability, and continuous growth. This is a place where your expertise is valued, your work is meaningful, and your performance truly matters. If you’re energized by learning through real-world challenges, collaborating with top-tier talent, and expanding your capabilities every day, C5MI is where strong consultants level up.

Position Summary:

C5MI is seeking a Proposal Manager to lead federal proposal efforts from solicitation release through submission. This fully remote position reports to the Director of Proposal Development and works closely with business development, capture, contracts, pricing, and technical subject matter experts (SMEs) to produce compliant, competitive proposals for defense and civilian federal customers.

The Proposal Manager owns day-to-day execution on assigned pursuits, which range from RFIs and sources sought responses to task orders, IDIQs, and contract vehicle on-ramps. You'll build the schedule and compliance matrix, run the kickoff and color reviews, write and edit content, and keep contributors on track toward the deadline. Our work centers on ERP, supply chains, logistics, and data analytics, so the Proposal Manager must translate complex technical solutions into clear narrative for government evaluation and scoring. This role is a strong fit for a proposal professional with several years of hands-on experience who aims to manage full pursuits independently and help shape how C5MI's proposal function grows.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Manage assigned proposals through the full lifecycle, including RFIs, sources sought notices, RFPs, RFQs, task orders, and contract vehicle on-ramps, often with multiple pursuits running concurrently

Analyze solicitations (Sections L and M, SOW/PWS, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions) and translate requirements into annotated outlines, compliance matrices, and clear writing assignments

Build and maintain proposal schedules, lead kickoff meetings, and hold contributors accountable to milestone deadlines

Partner with capture and business development leads to carry win themes, discriminators, and customer insight into proposal content

Write, edit, and rewrite technical, management, and past performance sections, turning SME input into polished, evaluator-friendly narrative

Coordinate color reviews, adjudicate reviewer comments, and track recovery actions to closure

Work with pricing and contracts to keep technical and cost volumes aligned on labor categories, staffing assumptions, and required representations and certifications

Coordinate with teaming partners and subcontractors on content, data calls, and document exchange

Perform final compliance, quality, and formatting checks, and manage electronic submission through government portals such as SAM.gov, PIEE, and GSA eBuy

Maintain and grow the proposal content library, including past performance write-ups, corporate content, etc.

Use approved AI tools to accelerate drafting, solicitation analysis, and content reuse, applying human review and C5MI data handling policy to all AI-assisted work

Capture lessons learned and debrief feedback and recommend improvements to templates, tools, and processes

Provide day-to-day direction and writing feedback to proposal coordinators, writers, and SMEs on assigned efforts

Adhere to all certified processes as part of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and information security, which includes actively participating in quality assurance activities and ensuring the protection of sensitive information in accordance with our security policies

Perform other related tasks as assigned by direct supervisor

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience

5-7 years of experience in proposal development, proposal management, or technical writing; 7-10 years of experience with no degree.

At least 2 years managing federal government proposals from release through submission

Working knowledge of the federal acquisition process, including FAR-based procurements, Section L and M structure, and common contract types (IDIQ, GWAC, BPA, and task orders)

Hands-on experience running color team reviews within a structured methodology such as Shipley or APMP best practices

Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts in plain, persuasive language for government evaluators

Demonstrated ability to manage several concurrent proposals under tight deadlines without sacrificing quality

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint

Ability to work effectively in a fully remote environment and collaborate with distributed teams across time zones

Nice to Have:

APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification

Formal Shipley training

Proposal experience with DoD customers, particularly defense logistics and sustainment programs

Familiarity with SAP, ERP modernization, supply chain, or data analytics – enough to engage technical SMEs in productive conversation

Experience supporting contract vehicle on-ramps or agency multiple-award IDIQs

Exposure to cost volumes, basis of estimate (BOE) development, or pricing narratives

Basic graphics and desktop publishing skills in PowerPoint, Word, etc.

Experience with market research and pipeline tools such as GovWin IQ, HigherGov, or SAM.gov

Support for oral presentations and technical demonstrations

Active security clearance or the ability to obtain one

Practical experience using AI tools such as Claude or ChatGPT in proposal development

Experience at a small or mid-size government contractor where proposal staff wear multiple hats

Compensation: In accordance with pay transparency law, the expected salary range for this position is $100,000 – $130,000 annually. The actual compensation offered will be determined based on factors such as the candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. We are committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This posted range reflects our good faith estimate of the compensation we reasonably expect to offer for this role at the time of posting.

Application Deadline: We anticipate this job posting will be posted until 12/1/2026.

Benefits:

C5MI offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off. See more information on our benefits here: C5MI Benefits

Our employees are key to our success, so we strive to be more than just a team; we’re a community built upon a set of Core Values that guide our every action:

Challenge – We believe in challenging the present – it’s the only way to shape the future. We must be exceptional communicators and collaborators while always learning. We also understand that speaking your mind requires equal parts brain (what to say), thoughtfulness (when to say it), and caring (how it’s said). Incremental won’t win.

Have Fun – We are on a journey, together. Take care of your family, take care of yourself, and take care of each other. Live your happiness. Stay human, take care of each other and invest in your community. Life isn’t all about work. Live your happiness. Be healthy.

All In – You can’t fake passion – show your energy. Own it – take charge and lead. Our team is made up