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Proposal manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.,

Marcia Godwin Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical proposal manager skills. We ranked the top skills for proposal managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.9% of proposal manager resumes contained rfp as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a proposal manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 proposal manager skills for your resume and career

1. RFP

RFP stands for request for proposal and is a document that contains details about a project or bids from contractors who are responsible for completing the project.

Here's how proposal managers use rfp:

Followed detailed RFP instructions on proposal content/requirements/restrictions/deadlines.
Led overall solicitation response management and coordination within business segment, from RFP receipt through submission of finalized proposal to customer.

2. Proposal Management

Here's how proposal managers use proposal management:

Conducted and delivered a cost to benefits analysis of selected candidates for a corporate proposal management collaborative software environment.
Conducted and delivered a cost - benefits analysis for potential procurement of proposal management collaborative software for the company.

3. PowerPoint

Here's how proposal managers use powerpoint:

Consulted and assisted all field account managers in production of PowerPoint presentations and additional marketing materials.
Prepared business development and project-specific presentations utilizing Microsoft PowerPoint and various other graphic tools.

4. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how proposal managers use business development:

Conducted Business Development, attended agency and partner meetings, working closely with inter-departmental groups to develop win-solutions for proposal efforts.
Work with project executives to monitor and prioritize business development strategies, harness relationships, and share information effectively and efficiently.

5. Subject Matter Experts

Here's how proposal managers use subject matter experts:

Provided daily work direction to marketing communications specialists, proposal/technical writers, and administrative support staff and coached subject matter experts.
Interviewed subject matter experts, organized expert panel meetings, and ensured input from national and international subcontractors and consultants.

6. Project Management

Here's how proposal managers use project management:

Develop and formulate optimal costing models and analytic pricing strategies and project management plans for various government proposals and projects.
Managed the full proposal development process for national Fortune 500 Company specializing in project management, consulting and engineering.

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7. SharePoint

Here's how proposal managers use sharepoint:

Organize gate reviews and incorporate best practices using MS SharePoint proposal site development and work-flow implementations.
Automated parts of the editing and content submission procedures by integrating Adobe and Microsoft SharePoint technologies.

8. Compliance Matrices

A compliance matrix is a tool used for cross-referencing your proposal with the request for proposal (RFP).The table states each requirement stated in the RFP and lists where it can be found in your proposal.

Here's how proposal managers use compliance matrices:

Facilitate communication between stakeholders, gathering source data, developing and distributing responsibilities matrices, developing compliant outlines and compliance matrices.
Analyze customer solicitations to develop compliance matrices and proposal schedules.

9. Federal Government

The fеdеrаl gоvеrnmеnt іѕ a ѕуѕtеm thаt dіѕtrіbutеѕ power between a strong national gоvеrnmеnt and ѕmаllеr lосаl gоvеrnmеntѕ. It consists оf thrее dіѕtіnсt brаnсhеѕ: legislative, executive, аnd judісіаl, whose powers аrе dеlеgаtеd bу thе соuntrу'ѕ constitution, the president, аnd the fеdеrаl соurtѕ, rеѕресtіvеlу.

Here's how proposal managers use federal government:

Worked closely with the Director of Strategic Programs in developing and writing marketing collateral specifically targeted to the Federal Government.
Utilized extensive knowledge of the federal government procurement process.

10. RFIs

Here's how proposal managers use rfis:

Contributed to the development of over 200 proposals, requests for information (RFIs) and sources sought.
Submitted 5 RFIs positioning company for future business and growth markets.

11. Past Performance

Past performance refers to a process that was completed previously. This phrase is often used to compare how a process was done in the past to how it can be completed better (faster, more efficient, etc.) in the future. Many positions or elements may have past performances, such as an investor's portfolio or an athlete.

Here's how proposal managers use past performance:

Developed and maintained corporate briefings, past performance and resume databases, proposal archives/library, and boilerplate library.
Perform post-proposal submission duties, including lessons-learned reports, and archiving of boilerplate and past performance information.

12. Shipley

Here's how proposal managers use shipley:

Developed a customized response process for dedicated business unit task order proposals based on the Shipley Method.
Developed, implemented and maintained all proposal related policies, processes and procedures based on Shipley Methodology.

13. Proposal Outlines

Here's how proposal managers use proposal outlines:

Reviewed proposal outlines for adherence to requirements.
Reviewed solicitations, drafted proposal outlines, worked with cost and price volumes, coordinated with and directed teammates and subcontractors.

14. Proposal Content

A proposal content includes a brief description of the name, history, purpose, goals, costs, specific objectives, method and expected impact of a program/project/company. This section of the proposal set out the detailed work plan for the work and activities, including emphasizing its capacity to carry out the proposal, and how the program/project/business will be sustained in the future.

Here's how proposal managers use proposal content:

Develop tailored proposal content, marketing materials and external website copy to showcase capabilities, qualified personnel and services.
Improved current bid processes and proposal content / boilerplate by systematically reviewing and recommending updates and revisions.

15. Proofreading

Here's how proposal managers use proofreading:

Provided proofreading and editing of proposal ready content for style and grammar, flow and format.
Managed the proposal submission process, including: Editing and proofreading.

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What skills help Proposal Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What soft skills should all proposal managers possess?

TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, Auburn University at Montgomery

Writing skills including email writing, being able to work in teams, and knowing the workplace etiquettes.

What hard/technical skills are most important for proposal managers?

Marcia Godwin Ph.D.

Professor of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (MPA) Director, University of La Verne

There is no replacement for being able to write at a professional level, which we often don't recognize as a hard skill. Being able to read financial statements and work with spreadsheets are other critical skills. Being comfortable with technology and managing technical projects is as important as knowing particular software. It was hard to imagine a few decades ago how geographical informational systems, apps, and social media would become central to public service. Managers need to be constantly looking to the future and staying current with their professional development to stay on top of technological and social changes.

Do you want to know more?

List of proposal manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a proposal manager resume and required skills for a proposal manager to have include:

RFP
Proposal Management
PowerPoint
Business Development
Subject Matter Experts
Project Management
SharePoint
Compliance Matrices
Federal Government
RFIs
Past Performance
Shipley
Proposal Outlines
Proposal Content
Proofreading
Proposal Schedule

RFQ
CRM
DOD
SMEs
Proposal Strategy
Discriminators
Proposal Preparation
Proposal Responses
Proposal Efforts
Proposal Production
Executive Summaries
Proposal Sections
Market Research
Opportunity Management
Compliant Proposals
Project Descriptions

Proposal Submission
Capture Management
Proposal Support
Proposal Reviews
Color Reviews
Swot Analysis
Logistics
Proposal Templates
Technical Proposals
Data Calls
Process Improvement
IDIQ
Deltek Vision
Competitive Analysis

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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