Proposal Manager

Title:Proposal Manager
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: SterlingVA
FLSA:Exempt
Reports To: Director of Business Development

About Our Company:
At Heven Aerotech (Heven) we dont just believe in the power of peoplewe build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones weve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives collaboration is second nature and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble hungry and smartthose who put team success first take initiative to continuously improve and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven your voice matters your ideas are heard and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary:
The Proposal Manager leads the end-to-end development of compliant compelling and competitively differentiated proposals in response to government and commercial solicitations (RFPs RFIs RFQs and BAAs) as well as Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) solicitations issued through OT consortia and directly by OT authorities. Serving as the central point of coordination between Business Development Capture Engineering Contracts Pricing and Program Management this role owns the proposal schedule compliance matrix and color team review process from capture handoff through submission ensuring every proposal FAR-based or OTA reflects Heven Aerotechs win themes technical solutions and value proposition while meeting all solicitation and regulatory requirements.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Analyze solicitation documents (RFP/RFI/RFQ/BAA) to develop compliance matrices proposal outlines and win strategy alignment with Capture and Business Development leadership.
• Develop and maintain integrated proposal schedules including milestones for storyboarding drafting color team reviews (Pink Red Gold) and final production.
• Facilitate proposal kickoff meetings ensuring writers subject matter experts (SMEs) and reviewers understand assignments win themes and evaluation criteria.
• Identify staffing needs and coordinate with functional leads to secure proposal writers SMEs and reviewers for each pursuit.
• Lead proposal development for Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. 4021 (prototype) and 4022 (follow-on production) including submissions made through OT consortia (e.g. SOSSEC S2C2 NSIN DEFENSEWERX) and directly to government OT authorities.
• Tailor proposal structure and response strategy to OTA solicitation instructions which follow consortium- or agency-specific formats rather than standard FAR-based Sections L and M.
• Coordinate with Contracts on OTA-specific terms unique to these vehicles including intellectual property rights cost-share provisions and milestone-based payment structures.
• Track consortium membership requirements base agreement terms and call-specific deadlines across the OT consortia Heven Aerotech participates in given the growing volume of OTA pursuits.
• Guide and where necessary author technical management and past performance volumes in coordination with SMEs ensuring content is responsive compliant and persuasive.
• Translate technical and engineering input into clear customer-focused narrative aligned with win themes and discriminators.
• Coordinate the development of graphics tables and other visual aids that strengthen proposal clarity and competitiveness.
• Manage proposal templates boilerplate libraries and past performance/resume repositories to improve efficiency across pursuits.
• Maintain a detailed compliance matrix mapping every solicitation requirement (Sections L and M or equivalent) to proposal content ensuring full responsiveness.
• Lead Pink Red and Gold Team reviews; incorporate reviewer feedback and drive resolution of open issues to closure.
• Ensure final proposal packages meet all formatting page limit and submission requirements prior to release including electronic upload to portals such as or agency-specific systems.
• Coordinate final proofreading editing and production (print and electronic) to ensure a polished error-free submission.
• For OTA submissions ensure responses conform to the applicable consortiums proposal instructions and base agreement terms rather than the FAR/DFARS compliance matrix process used for traditional contracts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for proposal-related matters across Business Development Capture Engineering Contracts Pricing/Finance and Program Management.
• Coordinate with the Contracts team to ensure terms and conditions representations and certifications are properly addressed.
• Partner with Pricing/Finance to integrate cost volume narrative with technical and management volumes ensuring a consistent and compliant overall submission.
• Brief executive leadership on proposal status risks and resource needs throughout the proposal lifecycle.
• Conduct after-action reviews (lessons learned) following each proposal submission and customer debrief; incorporate findings into process improvements.
• Develop and maintain proposal development procedures templates and training materials to build organizational proposal maturity (e.g. Shipley-based methodology).
• Track proposal win/loss metrics and support continuous improvement of the capture-to-proposal handoff process.

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• Bachelors degree in Business English Communications Engineering or a related field; equivalent experience considered in lieu of degree.
• Minimum 57 years of experience managing proposals in a government contracting environment preferably within the defense or aerospace industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full proposal lifecycle including compliance matrix development color team reviews and production for complex multi-volume submissions.
• Strong working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) as they pertain to proposal submissions.
• Direct experience preparing and submitting proposals under Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) including through OT consortia; working knowledge of 10 U.S.C. and how OTA acquisition differs from FAR-based procurement.
• Excellent writing editing and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical content into clear persuasive proposal narrative.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent proposal efforts under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word Excel PowerPoint Project) and Adobe Acrobat.
• Professional working proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required to perform the responsibilities of this role.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future.
• If this role requires access to information controlled under U.S. export control laws (ITAR/EAR) applicants must also qualify as a U.S. person under 22 CFR 120.62 (U.S. citizen U.S. national lawful permanent resident or protected individual such as an asylee or refugee).

Preferred:

• Active or recent DoD security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Foundation Practitioner or Professional certification.
• Shipley or similar proposal development methodology training.
• Experience with proposal automation and knowledge management tools (e.g. SharePoint Privia RFPIO/Loopio).
• Familiarity with ITAR/export control considerations affecting proposal content and distribution.
• Existing membership familiarity or prior submission experience with specific OT consortia relevant to Heven Aerotechs pursuits.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing writing and operating office equipment.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work extended hours including evenings and weekends during proposal crunch periods to meet solicitation deadlines.
• Occasional travel to customer sites industry conferences and company facilities to support capture activities and color team reviews.
• Visual acuity sufficient to review detailed technical contractual and pricing documents.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g. proposal materials binders presentation equipment).

Benefits Overview:
Heven Aerotech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health financial security and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits in protectional dental and vision coverage retirement plans paid time off/sick and additional protections such as critical illness hospital indemnity accident coverage and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Heven Aerotech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability veteran status or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.