Proposal Manager

Hermeus is an aerospace and defense technology company founded to radically accelerate air travel by delivering hypersonic aircraft. The company aims to develop hypersonic aircraft quickly and cost-effectively by integrating hardware-rich, iterative development with modern computing and autonomy. This approach has been validated through design, build, and test of the company’s first combined turbojet-ramjet engine and is now being scaled through its first flight vehicle program, Quarterhorse. Hermeus is also developing Darkhorse — an uncrewed hypersonic aircraft designed to deliver unique asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter.

As a Proposal Manager, your role will require a combination of essential project management and content generation skills. Your expertise will play a crucial role in effectively navigating the dynamic environment of a rapidly growing company, managing competing priorities, and overlapping schedules with precision. Critically, you will regularly engage with nearly every business function to deliver the necessary content for the business.

Your core responsibilities include crafting compelling materials to inform customers' market research and acquisition strategies, crafting compelling technical narratives on bleeding-edge technology sets, developing, and implementing pricing strategies, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to successfully close contracts. Skillfully handling competing priorities with overlapping schedules, you will ensure seamless execution as you drive the development and delivery of formal capture content. 

Responsibilities:

• Business Development Expertise:
• Deep understanding of business development processes and strategies.
• Identify and evaluate potential business opportunities.
• Conduct market research and analyze competitive landscapes.
• Familiarity with customer acquisition and retention techniques.
• Manage responses to government and customer inquiries (white papers, quotes, proposals).
• Build and curate a comprehensive content library (prose, briefs, graphics).




• Leadership and Teamwork:
• Partner with finance, product, and business development teams for strategic pricing.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to pursue long-term opportunities and implement Hermeus’ strategy.




• Project Management:
• Develop and implement project plans; manage timelines, resources, and budgets.
• Experience in risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• Establish and oversee the proposal process with a focus on continuous improvement.




• Communication Skills:
• Articulate ideas, proposals, and technical concepts effectively in writing and orally.
• Strong presentation skills; ability to engage and influence stakeholders.




• Technical Acumen:
• Coordinate with engineering team to ensure accurate representation of technology to customers.




• Strategic Thinking:
• Strong analytical skills; assess market trends and identify opportunities.
• Develop winning strategies to secure new business and anticipate challenges with effective solutions.

Requirements:

• At least 3-5 years of experience as a Proposal Manager.
• Self-starter who is excited by ambiguity and seeks large opportunities for ownership and impact.
• Prefer experience in government and/or military.
• Demonstrated expertise and success in leading captures and proposals in the aerospace and defense sector.
• Knowledge of effective solutions for various types of government solicitations, evaluation methodologies, and pricing structures.
• Proficient in establishing streamlined processes from scratch.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, enabling clear articulation of information and comprehension of business requirements, fostering strong relationships throughout the organization.
• Comfortable collaborating with diverse disciplines, such as product, engineering, program management, manufacturing, finance, and more.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, lead, motivate, and influence others to support corporate goals and objectives, producing a winning proposal within budget and schedule constraints.

Multipliers:

• Active TS/SCI clearance highly desirable

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.