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Salary: USD 106,000 - 146,000 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Proposal Manager II to support the Space Systems Business Development team, with a focus on satellite opportunities. Based in Littleton, CO, this role is responsible for creating compliant and compelling business proposals that win new business with US and international customers.
You will develop and execute comprehensive proposal plans, including analyzing RFPs, creating outlines, and building compliance matrices. You'll collaborate closely with the Business Development Manager and/or Director to craft winning proposal strategies and develop compelling messaging. Your responsibilities include writing and managing high-quality, compliant proposals that clearly address RFP requirements, taking ownership of specific proposal volumes, and leading proposal kick-off meetings to facilitate regular check-ins with contributors.
You will coordinate with internal teams—including engineering, finance, and legal—to gather and refine proposal content. You'll create and manage proposal templates, reusable content, and visual elements such as charts, tables, and infographics. Quality assurance is critical: you'll conduct thorough reviews for grammar, consistency, and formatting to ensure polished submissions. You'll oversee final production and submission, ensuring proposals are delivered on time and meet customer requirements. Additionally, you'll document lessons learned and recommend process improvements for future proposals. Travel is required approximately 10% of the time.
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, and expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The company moves fast, builds real hardware for meaningful missions, and makes the impossible routine.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in technical, management, or business discipline
- 8+ 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
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Active U.S. security clearance
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel
- Experience using 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 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
