Proposal Writer

Our client is currently seeking a Proposal Writer for a contract-to-hire position.

Seeking an experienced and highly motivated Proposal Writer to join our Business Development and Capture team. The ideal candidate will be Shipley-trained and possess a strong understanding of federal government proposal development processes, particularly within the Department of Defense (DoD) market. This role is responsible for developing compelling, compliant, and persuasive proposal content that effectively communicates our technical capabilities, management approach, and value proposition.

The Proposal Writer will collaborate closely with capture managers, subject matter experts, program managers, and executive leadership to develop winning proposals in response to federal solicitations. Our Proposal Writer is responsible for developing, writing, and submitting compelling and compliant proposals in response to government solicitations (e.g., Requests for Proposals or RFPs). The writer works within our internal teams, subject matter experts (SMEs), and business development staff to produce high-quality, persuasive documents that meet strict deadlines and complex regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:
•Analysis and planning: Analyze government solicitations (RFPs, RFQs, etc.) and related documents to understand requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. Develop proposal outlines, compliance matrices, and writing plans.
•Content development: Develop/write and edit proposal volumes and sections, including technical, management, past performance, staffing, and executive summaries. Synthesize complex information from multiple sources into a clear and compelling narrative.
•Collaboration: Work with SMEs to gather information and translate technical concepts into persuasive, easy-to-understand language. Coordinate with the contracts and pricing teams to ensure proposal accuracy.
•Compliance and quality control: Ensure proposals strictly adhere to all government regulations, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Perform final edits, proofreads, and quality control checks for grammar, consistency, and formatting.
•Management and coordination: Manage proposal schedules and deliverables to meet all submission deadlines. Coordinate production, including final document formatting, printing, binding, and submission.
•Content management: Maintain and update a library of reusable proposal content, templates, and graphics.
•Post-submission activities: Participate in post-submission activities like addressing clarification questions and attending debrief meetings.

Required Qualifications:
•Education: A bachelor's degree in communications, English, Business, or a related field is highly desired.

oFormal Shipley Associates training or demonstrated experience applying Shipley proposal methodologies.
•Experience: A minimum of 2-4 years of proven experience in federal government and/or defense contracting proposal writing
•Technical knowledge: Familiarity with government procurement processes and regulations (e.g., FAR and DFARS) is crucial.
•Communication: Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
•Organizational skills: Strong project management and organizational skills to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines. Ability to manage multiple proposals and deadlines simultaneously.
•Software proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (especially Word)
•Detail-oriented: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure 100% compliance with all solicitation requirements.

Preferred Qualifications
•Experience supporting proposals for the Department of Defense, Navy, Army, Air Force, Space Force, or other federal agencies.
•Familiarity with capture management and business development processes.
•APMP or Shipley training/certification
•Knowledge of technical disciplines such as engineering, cybersecurity, IT services, logistics, training, or systems integration.

Key Competencies
•Superior written and verbal communication skills
•Critical thinking and analytical ability
•Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills
•Compliance-focused mindset
•Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines
•Self-starter with strong initiative and accountability