What is a capture manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

A capture manager leads the pursuit of new business opportunities in government contracting. They work with business development and proposal teams to develop capture plans, identify potential customers, and build relationships with key decision-makers. The capture manager also leads competitive analysis, conducts market research, and develops pursuit strategies. They require skills in team leadership, strategic planning, and communication. Ultimately, the capture manager aims to win contracts that align with the company's goals while maximizing profitability.

What's a day at work look like for a capture manager?

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

Program Director & Assistant Professor, Maryville University

A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!

ScoreCapture ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.9

Avg. Salary $110,790

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.90%

Black or African American 7.54%

Hispanic or Latino 12.64%

Unknown 4.69%

White 65.57%

Gender

female 23.48%

male 76.52%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Complexity level

1.8

Complexity level is simple

7 - challenging

What are the pros and cons of being a capture manager?

Pros

Opportunity to lead and manage a team
Potential for a lucrative salary and bonuses
Opportunity to network with industry professionals
Potential for career advancement within the company
Access to training and development opportunities

Cons

Constant competition with other companies
Need to stay current with changing regulations and industry trends
Risk of losing bids and potential revenue for the company
Requirement to travel frequently for meetings and site visits
Limited control over external factors such as government budgets or political changes that may affect contract opportunities

Key steps to become a capture manager

Explore capture manager education requirements

Most common capture manager degrees

Bachelor's

64.3 %

Master's

24.7 %

Associate

6.7 %

Start to develop specific capture manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Capture Management	15.45%
Business Development	10.98%
Veterans	5.48%
DOD	5.08%
Federal Government	4.65%

Research capture manager duties and responsibilities

Project manage the complex pursuits using APMP best practice principles.
Coordinate with writers, assign leads, SMEs, and teaming partners.
Manage capture process for specific opportunities in DoD or civilian market as assigned.
Manage internal portal site (SharePoint) to insure proper bid documentation and version control.

Apply for capture manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a capture manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do capture managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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1 star

Capture manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019

Pros

How clean and user friend the information was, very direct and to the point