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David Careers

Proposal Manager

Posted 42 days ago

jacobsArlington (VA)
Project Management SpecialistsOther Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

SENIORITY

Senior

SALARY

$127,700.00 - $205,200.00

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About the role

Job ID: 42902
Location: Arlington, Virginia, United States
Capabilities: Environmental Office Setup: Hybrid
Salary: $127,700.00 - $205,200.00
Company: JacobsAt Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact: Our proposal professional careers provide you the opportunity to support and lead business development pursuits to capture quality business for the enterprise. As a Proposal Manager, you will lead the preparation and production of proposals for federal sector opportunities of various sizes and types. Based out of any US office, this position requires strong leadership and communication skills, knowledge of business and proposal development processes, and the ability to unite multidisciplinary teams from various business functions to execute a coherent capture plan. As a leader of proposals and sales deliverables for a variety of environmental services projects, you are responsible for the quality of the final product as measured through the four C's—compelling, compliant, clear, and credible. You will lead the management of client deliverables across the pursuit lifecycle with a focus on strategy development for positioning and proposal deliverables. You will facilitate the development of win strategy sessions with associated action plans, client-focused value propositions and win themes and drive a disciplined relationship-based sales (RBS) process to achieve consistent, quality results. You should be a self-motivated professional and leader that has demonstrated experience in an Architect-Engineer, environmental consulting, or related technical industry, with a demonstrated history of winning work with existing clients. The successful candidate balances leadership with hands-on proposal capability including writing skills. As a Proposal Manager you will:
  • Facilitate strategy sessions for specific opportunities, clients, accounts, and/or geographies.
  • Support account and capture teams in integrating pursuit strategy and win themes. Lead the integration of the pursuit strategy/win themes into proposals.
  • Analyze complex issues and use sound judgment and experience to develop solutions for a wide range of sales-related activities and issues.
  • Lead proposal efforts and deliverables including win strategy development, active middle game activities, and proposal deliverables.
  • Lead the proposal development process, including meeting client requirements, internal and external schedule milestones, and proposal budget.
  • Proactively communicate issues/variances, resource needs, or other issues; seek input and support and help develop solutions in a timely manner.
  • Independently perform research, writing, editing, and proposal production and coordination for various sales/business development efforts.
  • Assemble and charter proposal team, production staff (graphic design, document publishing, production staff, technical writer/editor), and review teams to streamline proposal development and maximize the document quality.
  • Work with technical teams to develop outlines for compliant, responsive technical content and conceptual-level proposal graphics.
  • Facilitate effective communication between supporting functions including technology, estimating, contracting, and project controls staff during proposal development.
  • Understand and apply Jacobs' sales best practices and processes for opportunity assessment, proposal development, and knowledge management.
  • Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication and active listening skills.
  • Use communication and negotiation skills to guide, influence, and coordinate others.
  • Implement company image/brand guidelines on assigned projects.
  • Accurately budget and track level of effort for proposal team. Here's what you'll needBS/BA in management, journalism, English, or related humanities or technical discipline OR 5+ years of relevant proposal management experience in lieu of degree
  • Relevant experience managing and developing proposals, presentations, and related sales or business development deliverables
  • Proposal experience in the engineering and/or environmental industries
  • Strong English writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with an eye towards sales messaging, themes, proposal aesthetics, quality, and content
  • Strong business acumen to help drive competitive positioning on pursuits
  • Well organized to manage multiple tasks concurrently and effectively engage with various stakeholders, disciplines, and leaders across all levels of the firm
  • Strong leadership capabilities to help drive the sales process and coordinate with teams both in person and remotely
  • Ideally, you'll also have:
  • Knowledge of company markets, partner/competitor/subconsultant firms, clients, and emerging business and industry trends, and the ability to actively integrate that knowledge into work activities
  • Marketing and proposal experience for federal clients
  • Ability to work to a deadline
  • Willing to travel as needed to support pursuits
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (mandatory) and Adobe creative suite including InDesign (preferred); experience with a customer relationship management (CRM) system (Salesforce preferred)
  • Team player with advanced communications skills to work with a range of personalities, driving them together to achieve the end mission on time
Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock. The base salary range for this position is $127,700.00 to $205,200.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on August 10, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days. At Jacobs, we're partnering across the globe to create the best project outcomes by maximizing the design, digital technology, and support capabilities of our Global Integrated Delivery (GID) teammates. By joining Jacobs, you'll commit to supporting and engaging with these teams, as we work to build a company like no other. We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work. Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support. Locations CityStateCountryDallasTexasUnited States WashingtonDistrict of Columbia United States HoustonTexasUnited States MilwaukeeWisconsinUnited States SeattleWashingtonUnited StatesMobileAlabamaUnited StatesBaton Rouge LouisianaUnited StatesFort Lauderdale FloridaUnited StatesTempeArizonaUnited StatesBostonMassachusettsUnited States ArlingtonVirginiaUnited States

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