Director of Proposals

The Director of Proposals provides strategic leadership and oversight of FlightSafety International Defense (FSID) proposal development organization, responsible for delivering high-quality, compliant, and competitive submissions that drive company growth. This role leads proposal strategy and governance across two major workstreams: competitive DoD contract pursuits and follow-on contract and task order proposals. This position will lead teams performing both workstreams - ensuring disciplined execution through all phases of the bid lifecycle. As a key contributor to the FSID strategies, and in alignment with our FlightPlan, the Director of Proposals establishes and enforces proposal standards, processes, and bid governance consistent with Shipley best practices.

The following duties are essential to the successful and satisfactory performance of this job. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for all proposal activities across FSI Defense.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve a standardized proposal management framework based on Shipley methodology, including defined bid gate reviews, color team processes, and decision checkpoints.
• Lead two proposal teams-one focused on competitive DoD contract pursuits and one focused on follow-on contract and task order proposals -ensuring consistency, alignment, and excellence across both.
• Establish proposal governance standards, templates, and tools that drive quality, compliance, and efficiency across the organization.
• Partner with Business Growth and Capture leaders to shape winning strategies that align with company objectives and customer needs.
• Oversee proposal planning, content strategy, pricing coordination, and executive review to ensure successful, timely submissions.
• Drive adherence to bid/no-bid and submit/no-submit criteria through structured gate reviews.
• Ensure proposal teams effectively translate capture strategies, customer requirements, and technical solutions into compelling, customer-focused proposals.
• Promote disciplined use of data, metrics, and lessons learned to continuously enhance proposal quality and win probability.
• Foster a high-performance culture that encourages innovation, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Build, mentor, and develop proposal managers, writers, coordinators, and subject matter experts, ensuring strong professional capability across both teams.
• Partner with program and contracts leadership to support negotiations and smooth transition of awarded efforts into execution.
• Represent FSI's proposal organization in internal and external forums, strengthening the company's professional reputation and competitive posture.
• Travel ~20%

• Bachelor's degree in business, communications, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master's degree in business or strategy is preferred.
• Shipley certification or equivalent training in proposal management strongly preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in proposal management, capture, or business development within the defense, aerospace, or simulation industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex competitive proposals and customer change proposals under formal government acquisition processes.
• Proven success in establishing and executing structured proposal processes and governance frameworks.
• Deep understanding of defense acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS), pricing strategies, and compliance standards.
• Strong technical and analytical aptitude with the ability to synthesize complex solutions into clear, persuasive narratives.

• Expertise in Shipley proposal methodologies and best practices.
• Strong leadership and organizational development skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, with the ability to lead teams and influence executive stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking with strong business acumen and attention to operational detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines while maintaining quality and compliance.
• Proficiency in proposal management tools and collaboration platforms (MS 365, GovWin, CRM, ProPricer, Visible Thread).
• Experience in MS 365 (including MS Project), GovWin, CRM, ProPricer, Visible Thread (AI) or similar technologies to support DoD proposals.
• Currently posses or eligible to obtain government security clearance.

While performing the duties of this job, the teammate is regularly required to sit, use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The teammate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. The teammate must have close and distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.