Business Development & Proposal Manager

Job Overview

GFT is seeking a Business Development & Proposal Manager to join our West Team in either Nor Cal, SoCal, Washington or Arizona. This role follows a hybrid work model requiring regular attendance at our closest office. The Strategic Growth Office fuels enterprise‑wide growth by developing compelling proposals that reflect core values and technical excellence.

• May manage one or more assistant proposal specialists/proposal specialists on a day‑to‑day basis. Responsibilities include assignment of tasks to appropriate team members and review of work to ensure compliance with quality and department‑specified practices and procedures.
• May manage and/or assist Business Development Manager or Leader with proposal workload and resourcing for regional or global business development teams.
• May serve as timesheet approver, perform Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER), and recommend training for staff and provide input to the annual training plan for the department.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Manages proposals and ensures the capture strategy is defined and transitioned to the proposal strategy through the course of proposal development phases and final submittal/interviews, as required.
• Leads multiple large, long‑term, and complex pursuits concurrently.
• Responsible for leading interview development and working closely with the Manager for input and oversight.
• Provides strategic win‑theme development and messaging, and organizes resources to support the overall proposal effort (graphics, other proposal specialists, print production, operations, etc.) without direct oversight from the Manager to produce a quality proposal.

• Proactively identifies opportunities in the pipeline that should start capture and initiates with the business line, promotes, and leads Capture Planning support efforts for longer‑term, complex opportunities concurrently with no oversight required by the Manager.
• Proactively researches and drives the development of the opportunity with the Capture Manager.
• Works across multiple opportunities at any given time and establishes priorities per each opportunity in alignment with the Capture Manager.
• Able to flex within the framework of best practices.
• Keeps all CRM documentation updated.
• Uses capture management plans in accordance with company templates and standards.
• Coordinates with respective MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for the business line for early opportunity pre‑positioning activities that will be led by MARCOM and overseen by the BD&P Manager.

• Supports the client manager by developing client and teaming relationships at the direction of the client or capture managers.
• Leads any Tier 1 and/or 2 client management plans for a single business line with no oversight from Manager required.
• Communicates/prioritizes BDM support efforts based on understanding of the business plan.
• Facilitates client management meetings and ensures documentation in CRM.
• Coordinates with respective MARCOM staff to define needs and develop strategic plan recommendations for the business line for early client pre‑positioning activities that will be led by MARCOM and overseen by the BD&P Manager.

• Normally a 4‑year degree required in English, marketing, journalism, communications, or an applicable field.
• Must have the requisite experience in California.

• Normally 10+ years of total combined experience in the full lifecycle of business development, with most of the experience focused in one or more of GFT's core business lines.
• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience supporting, facilitating, and participating in capture planning support.
• Demonstrated success in taking opportunities successfully from capture support through and including all phases of proposal management responsibilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated increasing responsibility in the business development lifecycle phases (marketing, communication, client, capture, proposal).
• At least 2 years of experience supervising staff (if applicable).
• Certification or training in…