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Salary: USD 94,000 - 130,000 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Proposal Manager to join its Business Development team at the Chantilly, VA site. This role is central to creating compliant and compelling business proposals that win new business with US and international customers, with a specific focus on satellite opportunities within the Space Systems division.
You will develop and execute comprehensive proposal plans, including analyzing RFPs, creating detailed outlines, and building compliance matrices. Working closely with the Business Development Manager and/or Director, you will craft winning proposal strategies and develop compelling messaging that resonates with customers. You will take ownership of specific proposal volumes, ensuring they are well-written, compliant, and strategically aligned.
Key responsibilities include leading proposal kick-off meetings and facilitating regular check-ins with contributors to ensure timelines are met. You will coordinate with internal teams—including engineering, finance, and legal—to gather and refine proposal content. You will create and manage proposal templates, reusable content libraries, and visual elements such as charts, tables, and infographics. Quality assurance is critical: you will conduct thorough reviews for grammar, consistency, and formatting to ensure polished submissions. You will oversee final production and submission, ensuring proposals are delivered on time and meet all customer requirements. Additionally, you will document lessons learned and recommend process improvements for future proposals. Travel is expected at approximately 10%.
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. The Business Development team connects customers across government and commercial sectors with industry-leading mission solutions spanning launch and space systems. The team works closely with new and existing customers to understand their needs and develop tailored solutions.
QUALIFICATIONS (Required):
- Bachelor's degree in technical, management, or business discipline
- 5+ years of experience in proposal management
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Demonstrated success leading proposals with values greater than $100 million
- Technical writing expertise with proven ability to translate complex technical information into clear, concise, and persuasive language tailored to different audiences
- Project management experience with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines while ensuring high-quality deliverables
- Experience leading cross-functional teams to achieve proposal objectives
QUALIFICATIONS (Nice to Have):
- Active U.S. security clearance
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel
- Experience using tools such as Salesforce and SharePoint
- Exceptional attention to detail and ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks
- Background in organizational effectiveness and operations, implementing best practices
- Experience with proposal frameworks and methodologies
- Familiarity with industry-standard proposal processes such as Shipley or APMP
- Familiarity with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
- Aerospace or defense industry experience with strong understanding of competitive landscape, customer base, and technology trends
- Ability to effectively present proposal concepts and strategies to internal stakeholders
- Proven ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders including engineers, leadership, and cross-functional team members
