Director of Proposal Operations – AI Enablement

Niyam IT

Director of Proposal Operations at Niyam IT leading and scaling proposal management with AI integration. Responsible for team leadership and proposal development leveraging innovative tools.

Posted 6/1/2026full-timeFairfax • Virginia • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own end-to-end proposal management on priority pursuits, from RFP receipt and kickoff through submission, including compliance matrices, outlines, writing assignments, schedule management, and production.
Write and edit technical volumes, management volumes, and proposal response content for IT services contracts, ensuring clarity, measurability, and tight alignment to PWS/SOO/SOW requirements.
Develop compelling executive summaries, discriminators, and win themes in close coordination with capture managers and leadership.
Lead and facilitate all color reviews (Pink, Red, Gold) in alignment with Shipley methodology, delivering actionable feedback that measurably improves proposal quality.
Manage proposal schedules and contributor accountability with urgency and precision across multiple simultaneous pursuits.
Lead integration of AI proposal tools into Niyam's Shipley-based process.
Develop AI-assisted workflow playbooks that accelerate first drafts, compliance checks, and reuse of past performance and boilerplate content, while preserving the discipline and quality standards of the Shipley methodology.
Track and report AI-driven efficiency metrics (cycle time, cost per proposal, compliance error rate) to inform investment decisions and demonstrate ROI to leadership.
Directly supervise and develop the proposal team — coordinators, writers, and graphic support staff — providing mentorship, coaching, and day-to-day guidance, and owning hiring, performance management, and team growth.
Train team members on effective AI tool use, Shipley best practices, and proposal writing craft to raise the overall quality and throughput of the proposal function.

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of Federal proposal management experience, including direct people-management or team-leadership experience, with a demonstrated track record of winning prime contracts across IT services.
Proven expertise writing and managing Technical Approach volumes, Management volumes, and all required response content for IT professional services contracts.
Direct hands-on experience with OTA, CSO, and Tradewinds (TSM) proposal formats and non-traditional acquisition mechanisms.
Demonstrated proficiency with AI proposal tools; experience with one or more of the following is required: GovDash, Procurement Sciences Awarded AI, Turing Proposal Pilot, or a comparable AI-assisted proposal platform.
Deep working knowledge of Shipley-based proposal methodology, including color review facilitation, compliance matrix development, and win theme architecture.
Experience supporting or leading proposals for Department of War (DoW) or civilian Federal agency clients.
Proven experience building, leading, and scaling a proposal team, including hiring, performance management, and process standardization.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Flexible Work Hours : Life doesn’t always fit into a 9-to-5 schedule. We offer flexibility to help you manage your work-life balance effectively.
Remote Work : Niyam IT understands the value of flexibility. We offer remote work.
Career Growth : Niyam IT is not just a job; it’s a career journey. We provide a supportive environment for your professional development and offer fully paid opportunities for training and advancement within the company.
Great People : Our people are the blueprint of who Niyam IT is to the industry and community.
Great Environment : Niyam IT fosters a great environment where innovation, collaboration, and personal growth thrive.
Diversity & Inclusion : We believe in the strength of diverse perspectives. Your unique ideas are welcomed and celebrated every day at Niyam IT.

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

proposal managementtechnical writingschedule managementcompliance matrix developmentAI proposal toolswin theme architecturecolor review facilitationperformance managementteam leadershipproposal writing

Soft Skills

mentorshipcoachingcommunicationcollaborationorganizational skillsattention to detailproblem-solvingtime managementleadershiptraining