Proposal Manager

Overview Lynker Corporation is a leading provider of innovative solutions in weather and climate science. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, Lynker leverages cutting-edge technologies and scientific expertise to support the creation and delivery of improved operational weather forecasts. As part of our ongoing growth and expansion, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Proposal Manager to join our growing team. The Proposal Manager will play a critical role in supporting Lynker's growth by leading the development of high-quality, compliant, and compelling Federal proposals across the company's priority markets. This is a hands-on proposal leadership role for an experienced Federal proposal professional capable of personally managing major strategic proposals in the $100M–$300M+ range while concurrently supporting multiple smaller task-order, BPA, IDIQ, and rapid-turn proposal efforts. The successful candidate will combine disciplined proposal management with strong writing, editing, compliance, facilitation, and production skills. This individual must be comfortable leading complex, multi-company proposal teams while also personally developing outlines, compliance matrices, schedules, storyboards, proposal content, review materials, and final submissions. The position will also support the Chief Growth Officer in refining and institutionalizing Lynker's business development, capture-to-proposal, and proposal-management processes. Responsibilities Duties of the Proposal Manager will include the following: Proposal Management and Execution Lead complex Federal proposals from solicitation analysis through final submission, including strategic pursuits valued at $100M–$300M+ and multiple concurrent task-order or rapid-response proposals. Develop and manage proposal schedules, compliance matrices, outlines, annotated outlines, assignment matrices, review schedules, production plans, and submission requirements. Translate solicitation requirements and evaluation criteria into clear proposal strategies, section structures, writing assignments, and reviewer guidance. Lead proposal kickoff meetings, daily standups, solution sessions, color-team reviews, recovery meetings, and final production activities. Maintain rigorous compliance with solicitation instructions, evaluation criteria, amendments, questions and answers, page limits, formatting requirements, and submission procedures. Coordinate closely with capture managers to translate capture strategy, customer insight, competitive positioning, win themes, discriminators, and solution concepts into evaluator-focused proposal content. Personally write, rewrite, edit, and integrate proposal content when needed rather than functioning solely as a process administrator. Identify weaknesses, gaps, inconsistencies, unsupported claims, and compliance risks early enough for corrective action. Manage proposal partners, subcontractor inputs, resumes, past performance, technical contributions, and other data calls. Coordinate graphics, desktop publishing, final quality control, document production, and electronic submission. Maintain proposal records, lessons learned, reusable content, and final proposal artifacts. Strategic Proposal Leadership Lead large, complex proposals involving multiple technical disciplines, business units, subcontractors, consultants, and executive stakeholders. Establish an evaluator-focused proposal strategy that makes strengths, discriminators, proof points, and benefits easy to identify and score. Work with capture and technical leaders to identify proposal strengths and convert them into specific, substantiated solution features and customer benefits. Facilitate development of technical, management, staffing, transition, past-performance, and corporate-experience narratives. Maintain proposal momentum and accountability under compressed schedules and competing organizational priorities. Escalate material compliance, solution, staffing, pricing, or schedule risks to the CGO and capture leadership when necessary. Task-Order and Rapid Proposal Management Manage multiple smaller task-order, BPA, IDIQ, and other rapid-turn proposals concurrently with major strategic pursuits. Tailor the proposal process to the size, complexity, value, and evaluation methodology of each opportunity rather than applying unnecessary process overhead. Establish repeatable approaches for high-volume proposal activity while maintaining compliance and proposal quality. Support short-turnaround responses, oral presentations, RFIs, sources-sought responses, capability statements, and other growth-related submissions as required. Business Development and Proposal Process Improvement Partner with the CGO, capture leadership, Business Unit Leaders, and technical teams to continuously improve Lynker's business development and proposal lifecycle. Help refine capture-to-proposal handoffs, proposal readiness criteria, gate reviews, color-team processes, compliance reviews, content development, lessons learned, and post-submission activities. Develop and maintain proposal templates, checklists, standard operating procedures, review guidance, reusable content, and proposal-management tools. Identify recurring proposal weaknesses or inefficiencies and recommend practical process improvements. Support development of scalable processes appropriate for both large strategic bids and smaller task-order competitions. Help strengthen integration among pipeline management, capture, solution development, proposal development, pricing, staffing, and executive reviews. Contribute to development and maintenance of proposal metrics, including proposal volume, win rates, review findings, compliance issues, production performance, and lessons learned. Internal Collaboration Partner closely with the CGO, Capture Managers, Business Unit Leaders, pricing, contracts, recruiting, technical SMEs, and executive leadership. Establish clear roles, deadlines, and accountability across proposal teams. Work effectively with senior executives and highly technical SMEs who may have limited proposal-development experience. Provide constructive editorial and strategic direction while maintaining productive relationships under deadline pressure. Mentor proposal coordinators, writers, technical contributors, and less-experienced proposal personnel. Support surge proposal activity when priorities require hands-on involvement outside assigned pursuits. Qualifications The Proposal Manager selected should have the following: 8–12+ years of progressively responsible Federal proposal management, proposal development, capture/proposal integration, or related experience. Demonstrated experience serving as the lead Proposal Manager on major Federal procurements, preferably including proposals valued at $100M–$300M+. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent proposals, including smaller task-order and rapid-turn competitions. Strong knowledge of Federal procurement processes and proposal practices, including FAR-based acquisitions, IDIQs, GWACs, BPAs, task orders, and best-value competitions. Demonstrated proficiency developing compliance matrices, proposal outlines, schedules, writing assignments, review plans, and production schedules. Strong understanding of Federal evaluation methodologies and ability to organize proposal responses so evaluators can quickly identify compliance, strengths, discriminators, proof, and benefits. Demonstrated ability to lead Pink Team, Red Team, Gold Team, compliance, and final-production reviews. Exceptional writing, rewriting, editing, and document-integration skills. Ability to convert complex technical information into clear, persuasive, evaluator-focused proposal language. Experience coordinating subcontractors, consultants, SMEs, executives, and geographically distributed proposal teams. Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and make sound decisions under compressed deadlines. Strong interpersonal, facilitation, organizational, and executive communication skills. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, and collaborative document-development environments. Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. The Ideal Proposal Manager will have the following: Experience leading proposals supporting NOAA, NASA, DoD, DHS, DOE, DOI, FAA, or other Federal science, engineering, environmental, or mission-technology customers. Experience with proposals involving science, engineering, environmental services, AI/ML, cloud/HPC, cybersecurity, software development, data systems, or mission-critical IT. Experience managing proposals for a growing small or mid-tier Federal contractor where Proposal Managers are expected to personally execute the work, not simply oversee a large proposal staff. Experience supporting both unrestricted and small-business acquisitions. Experience with technical solution development, oral presentations, scenario-based evaluations, or technical challenges. Experience supporting proposal pricing, staffing, workshare, and teaming strategy development. Experience developing or improving formal BD, capture, and proposal processes. Shipley proposal training, Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) certification, or equivalent formal proposal-management training. Experience with TechnoMile CRM, GovWin IQ, Microsoft SharePoint, and Federal opportunity-tracking systems. Success Measures Success in this role hould be measured by both proposal outcomes and the quality of the proposal-development process. Key indicators include: Delivery of compliant, compelling, evaluator-focused proposals on schedule. Successful leadership of major $100M–$300M+ strategic proposals. Ability to manage multiple concurrent task-order and smaller proposal efforts without sacrificing quality. Improved proposal readiness at kickoff and stronger capture-to-proposal handoffs. Reduction in late-stage compliance findings, unresolved content gaps, and production risk. Consistent incorporation of differentiated win themes, customer benefits, and substantiated proof points. Effective management of proposal contributors, subcontractors, SMEs, and executive reviewers. Measurable improvement in proposal processes, templates, tools, reviews, and reusable content. Positive proposal-team and executive feedback regarding leadership, organization, judgment, and execution. Contribution to improved proposal quality and competitive win rate over time. About Lynker Lynker is a growing, employee owned business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement. We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively. Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following: Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners! Flexible spending accounts Employee assistance program (EAP) Short- and long-term disability insurance Life and accident insurance Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year Spot bonuses for exceptional performance Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses Employee Referral Program Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace Personalized career growth plans for every employee Lynker is an E-Verify employer. Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws. Lynker Corporation