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Salary: USD 116,000 - 160,000 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Proposal Manager II based in Chantilly, VA to lead the creation of compliant and compelling business proposals that win new business with US and international customers. This role primarily supports the Space Systems Business Development team, with a specific focus on satellite opportunities.
You will develop and execute proposal plans, including analyzing RFPs, creating outlines, and building compliance matrices. You'll collaborate with the Business Development Manager and/or Director to craft winning proposal strategies and develop compelling messaging. You will write and manage compliant, high-quality proposals that clearly address RFP requirements and take responsibility for specific volumes of proposals, ensuring they are well-written, compliant, and aligned with overall strategy.
Key responsibilities include leading proposal kick-off meetings and facilitating regular check-ins with contributors to ensure timelines are met, coordinating with internal teams (engineering, finance, legal) to gather and refine proposal content, and creating and managing proposal templates, reusable content, and visual elements. You will conduct quality assurance reviews for grammar, consistency, and formatting to ensure polished submissions, oversee final production and submission to meet customer requirements, and document lessons learned to recommend process improvements. 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 Business Development team connects customers across government and commercial sectors with industry-leading mission solutions spanning launch and space systems.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 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 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
