Proposal Manager - Aviation

We are seeking a Proposal Manager for our national Aviation practice to support strategic growth initiatives by leading the development of high-quality, compliant, and compelling pursuits for airport and aviation infrastructure clients nationwide. This role is ideal for a seasoned AEC proposal professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and brings a strong balance of proposal leadership, capture planning, interview development, and partnership with client service teams. You will play a critical role in managing complex pursuits, shaping strategic win themes, and translating technical concepts into clear, persuasive messaging that aligns with client priorities, procurement requirements, and evolving aviation industry needs. You will partner closely with capture managers, technical teams, business development leaders, and teaming partners to drive pursuit excellence from pre-positioning through interview delivery. This role may also include mentoring junior BD staff, contributing to proposal best practices and process improvements, and helping foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high performance across the BD & Marketing team. GFT Shared Service Services team, which includes Human Resources, Legal, Accounting & Finance, IT Services and Marketing & Communications, are essential for managing and supporting the company's global operations. Shared Services are part of a broader strategy to transform the business and improve efficiency. The support of this amazing team of professionals, is the backbone of our ability to deliver infrastructure consulting and design services. What you’ll be challenged to do: The Proposal Manager expands their complex proposal and interview skills while continuing to build on capture planning and client service skills. The Proposal Manager role may include people management. In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following: Capture Planning Working closely with the capture manager/team, facilitate kick-off and update meetings, identify and validate win themes and strategic messaging, and lead the development of pre-RFP proposal sections. Support teaming efforts by coordinating with internal and external partners and contributes to strategy development through active participation in major-level pursuits, including IFBP meetings, client relationship mapping, and content drafting. Determine the level of effort for the pursuit team. Estimate own workload and task durations to support effective resource planning and execution. Proposal Management Serving as Proposal Manager, manage major and priority-level pursuits, leading proposal strategy discussions, GNGs, and kick-off meetings to oversee strategic win themes applied effectively throughout the proposal. Ensure full RFP compliance by verifying and documenting adherence across all proposal elements. Oversee standard and agile-level pursuits, particularly those involving cross-team coordination with other BD units. Lead multi-level category proposals and contribute to proposal excellence through peer compliance reviews, not only for own pursuits but also for those of other teams. Assist with teaming outreach and relationship development, strengthening both internal and external connections. Develop and maintain detailed proposal plans and assigning or reviewing tasks for team members. Participate in client held pre-proposal meetings and debriefs to inform future strategy and enhance proposal effectiveness. Mentor junior BD staff; reviewing their work, and offering constructive feedback to support their growth and the success of the overall team. Writing Lead author for major-level proposals. Craft executive summaries and non-technical sections that articulate the firm’s strengths and align with client goals. Develop detailed content outlines and storyboards for technical sections, integrate win themes and strategic messaging identified during capture planning and kick-off sessions. Edit and refine technical approaches, providing input on layout, graphics, callouts, and key messaging to ensure clarity and consistency. Develop core content such as firm histories, qualifications, cover letters, personnel bios, project descriptions, and subconsultant qualifications. Interview Development Lead interview strategy and development for major-level pursuits. Guide the proposal team in presenting win themes and messages throughout the presentation process. Work closely with graphic designers to visually translate proposal strategies into impactful, on-brand presentation materials. Client Service Team Support Serve as the Client Service Team’s (CST’s) BD Partner for one or more Tier I clients, working alongside a strong Client Service Leader (CSL). Responsible for supporting and analyzing pipeline and client data, coordinating with operations staff to ensure accuracy and alignment. Research client history, contract awards, CIPs, budget documentation, and industry news to provide strategic insights for CST planning. Support the development of client meeting materials, capability briefings, and targeted marketing campaigns—coordinating with the MarCom team to ensure alignment with broader strategic initiatives. May represent the firm at Aviation client industry outreach events. Business Development & Marketing Collaborate with the MarCom team during capture planning and support marketing efforts that target Aviation clients and growth markets. May attend business development conferences and Aviation industry events on behalf of the firm or specific business groups to support brand presence and relationship development. BD Data/Processes/Practices Ensure opportunity records in CRM systems are maintained. Lead BD&M working groups focused on enhancing systems, processes, and best practices. Train colleagues in proposal management, interviews, and the broader BD process. Use approved AI tools (such as ChatGPT) to support writing, research, and proposal efficiency, and collaborate with others to explore and implement new use cases for AI that enhance business development performance. Communication/Collaboration/Culture This role demands high-level collaboration and interpersonal leadership. Resolve project-related conflicts and facilitate solutions across proposal types and teams. Manage relationships with a wide range of internal stakeholders—including capture managers, BD staff, and CSLs—as well as external teaming partners. Oversee cross-functional efforts for proposals ranging from agile to complex, ensuring transparent communication and efficient task coordination. Contribute to performance evaluations for team members they have supervised, identifying development opportunities and advocating for the necessary resources to support team success. May include formal people management responsibilities, including the direct supervision and development of Assistant Proposal Specialists and/or Proposal Specialists I. What you will bring to our firm: Normally, a 4-year degree in English, Marketing, Journalism, Communications, or applicable field - or comparable experience - is required. 8 years of practical working experience preferred. Normally 8+ years of total combined experience in the full lifecycle of business development (client, capture, and proposal and interview phases) Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience supporting, facilitating, and participating in capture planning support Demonstrated success in winning major pursuits and leading multidisciplinary teams. Proposal experience in the AEC and/or Aviation industries What we prefer you bring: Demonstrated success in taking opportunities successfully from capture support though and including successfully performing all phases of proposal management responsibilities. Demonstrated experience and detailed understanding of the business development lifecycle phases; marketing, client accounts, capture, proposals and interviews Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (mandatory) and Adobe creative suite including InDesign (preferred); experience with a customer relationship management (CRM) system (Deltek Vantagepoint preferred) Normally would have completed some continuing education/professional association training relevant to business development in the AEC industry Compensation: The salary range for this role is $100,000 - $125,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location. Featured Benefits: • Remote work environment.• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations• Incentive compensation for eligible positions. At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more. Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives. GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law. Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT. GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions. Location: Remote Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Employment Status: Full-Time Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Applicants in the City of San Francisco- Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Applicants in the State of California -Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.