How to hire a senior proposal manager

How to hire a senior proposal manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior proposal manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior proposal manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior proposal manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a senior proposal manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior proposal manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior proposal manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior proposal managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior proposal managers.

   Type of Senior Proposal Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Proposal Manager		$29-65
   Project Administrator	A project administrator is a professional who assists the project manager in the preparation, reporting, and analysis of projects. Project administrators are given tasks with administrative responsibilities such as managing the budget for supply orders, coordinating meetings with contractors, and doing site visits... Show more	$15-39
   Internship Director	An internship director is responsible for supporting the organization's director by observing and monitoring business operations, reviewing the project management of every department to meet the successful project deliverables. Internship directors shadow each department's head, and even employees, to understand complex processes and recommend strategic solutions to maximize productivity and deliver high-quality services to the clients... Show more	$19-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

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

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Implement Salesforce for division and manage pipeline and post-award contract documentation.
   • Provide a wide range of proposal relate activities including both proposal management from RFP decomposition to proposal writing activities to delivery.
   • Establish proposal development schedule and coordinate/facilitate proposal strategy meetings to discuss themes, discriminators, technical solutions, and pricing strategy.
   • Oversee completion of all RFI requests while continuously updating reference library material for accurate responses.
   • Design, establish, and maintain an organizational structure that effectively support organizational and customer (DoD, NASA) goals.
   • Maintain current and accurate activity and status tracking information in SharePoint.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior proposal manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior proposal manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior proposal managers' average salary in hawaii is 43% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior proposal managers 55% less than senior-level senior proposal managers.
   • Certifications. A senior proposal manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior proposal manager's salary.

   Average senior proposal manager salary

   $91,999yearly

   $44.23 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior proposal manager salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a senior proposal manager job description

   A good senior proposal manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior proposal manager job description:

   Senior proposal manager job description example

   As the Senior Proposal Manager , you will have full responsibility for the preparation and compliance for Proposals.
   
   Essential Job Functions:
   Organize complete proposal schedule for the initial submission, follow-on orals presentations, questions and answers discussions, amendments or change pages, modifications, and Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs). Develop compliant outlines for proposal volumes that incorporate Section L and M specifications (or other Solicitation instructions to Offerors) and the overall proposal strategy Develop cross-reference matrixes and roadmaps for proposals; identifies specific tasks to be performed and identifies areas of responsibility and schedules. Aid in the development of RFP/Bid requirements against the proposal outline to ensure both compliance and responsiveness to the customer's issues/needs. Translate Capture intelligence, data, and information into themes, discriminators, bidding strategies, performance and cost innovations for the entire Proposal Team's use in text, graphics, oral presentations, video tapes, estimating, staffing, organizational structures, outsourcing, subcontracting, or lease/purchase cost analyses for the proposal/bid effort. Reviews and approves recommendations submitted by other proposal team members. Collaborate with the Capture Manager to conduct strategy development sessions that typically include senior executives/Vice- Presidents/Directors/Managers. Support Capture Manager in preparing for corporate Gate Reviews. Coordinate Corporate staff assistance needed to complete the bid with inputs, data, text, or writing support from HR, IT, Finance, Safety, Security, Internal Audit, Service Centers, Contracts, Small Business, Legal, Quality, or other staff functions as needed. Ensure accuracy and adequacy of final work product, including in-process and final reviews, editing for compliance with applicable standards, validation, and change verification, and ensures acceptable style layout. Ensures that there are no inconsistencies between cost and technical volumes. Develop/Coordinate Color Team reviews (as necessary) and prepares proposal team for the review and internal evaluation of the proposal. Ensures appropriate Color Team comments are incorporated in the final proposal. Coordinate with Proposal Production to complete final production/packaging/delivery of proposal documentation. Mentor and train Senior Proposal Specialist and Proposal Specialist on Proposal Process. Responsible for overall compliance of Proposal Products.
   
   Education & Experience:
   Bachelor's degree, in lieu of degree years of experience will be considered. 8 years Proposal Management experience working on preparing Government proposals.
   
   License & Certifications:
   APMP Foundation Level certification. APMP Practitioner Level, preferred.
   
   Knowledge & Skills:
   Effective interpersonal, supervisory, oral, and written communication skills. Intermediate skill using Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS, and PowerPoint. Thorough knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Able to follow directions and verbal orders with minimal supervision. Must display leadership skills.
   
   Travel: Potential for 20% travel to accommodate proposal coordination efforts to IAP operational and client locations as required.
   
   Security Clearance: Active Secret, or ability to obtain clearance.
   
   IAP - Ingenuity and Purpose
   
   www.iapws.com
   
   As a leading international services company for more than 65 years, IAP provides a broad spectrum of services and solutions to U.S. and international government agencies, and organizations. A world-class leader in providing seasoned program management, IAP leverages and integrates its capabilities - IT & Communications, Aviation & Engineering Solutions, Power Solutions, Infrastructure & Logistics - to provide safe, innovative, and reliable solutions to meet customers' diverse and complex challenges.
   
   IAP is an EOE, including disability/vets.
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior proposal manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior proposal managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior proposal managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior proposal manager job on Zippia to find and recruit senior proposal manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior proposal managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior proposal manager

   Once you've selected the best senior proposal manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new senior proposal manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a senior proposal manager?