Director of Proposals

Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employee. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team. And we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed. 

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being "All In" for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us. 

Ardent is seeking a Proposal Lead to join our team.  

This is a hybrid/on-site position requiring three (3) days on-site at our Tysons Corner - Vienna, VA headquarters. Only candidates willing to work on-site should apply. 

Position Description:

Ardent is seeking a Director of Proposalsto join our expanding growth team. The Proposal Director will bring a proven track record of successfully leading proposal teams to submit compliant, compelling and winning proposals that enable Ardent to support challenging missions across the Federal government. This role will lead the full lifecycle of proposal activities from pre-RFP preparation, capture, solutioning, proposal development, multi-phased reviews, and submission. Working closely with internal capture and growth team, practice area groups, delivery SMEs, and external stakeholders, this role drives proposal processes and maintains overall leadership for the company’s proposal efforts.

The Director of Proposals is a player/coach, a hands-on leader providing thought leadership resulting in innovative and winning proposals. The right candidate will bring a diverse understanding and capability to lead technical writing teams, proposal coordination, integrated reviews, Sharepoint/TEAMS proposal infrastructure, multi-functional review teams, and executive stakeholders. The Proposal Leader ensures the development of easy-to-understand anchor graphics, supporting narrative and ConOps aligned with SOW/PWS requirements and customer/mission intelligence. The candidate should possess experience both writing and acting in a book boss capacity (Technical, Management and Past Performance), providing mentorship to less experienced and developing authors and SMEs. The right candidate will have a working understanding of Ardent’s core capabilities of Digital Transformation, Data Science & Analytics and Location Intelligence. This role is critical to the organization’s ability to submit compelling, compliant and winning proposal responses to Federal RFPs, RFIs, Sources Sought, Unsolicited Proposals, OTAs, and white papers.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Drive the proposal process to meet milestones according to Ardent processes and Industry best practices
• Set schedules, lead efforts, guide writing, creating compliant and compelling proposals
• Engage with Business Development, Delivery, Solution Architects, and Practice Area SMEs to craft proposal strategy and develop compelling and winning messaging to show the strengths and discriminators
• Ensure proposal submissions are compliant with applicable solicitation instructions, engage compelling technical solutions, innovative management approaches, and relevant past performance
• Review solicitation requirements and develop proposal response strategy and outline
• Lead all volumes of proposals and work with SMEs to develop content in a graphics-driven and aesthetically appealing format
• Take ownership of our proposal management processes, systems and tools
• Lead technical solutions, management and staffing approaches, and associated proposal content for Ardent proposal responses
• Oversee facilitation of RFP solutioning, beginning with anchor graphics and proposal architecture aligned with solicitation requirements, applying Shipley-inspired color review process. Results should be differentiated, innovative solutions by working with SMEs from Ardent’s practice areas and delivery.
• Conduct iterative sessions with SMEs to address a wide range of delivery options and align frameworks, methodologies, and proof points to specific service delivery activities.
• Lead team to develop management methodologies for large scale programs, including comprehensive approaches to address cost, schedule, performance, risk mitigation, quality control, knowledge management, and transition efforts.
• Lead color team reviews to enhance, refine and optimize technical proposal content.
• Present progress on iterative development of technical and management approaches, transition plans, staffing rationales, qualification matrixes, and corporate experience summaries to senior leaders. 
• Responsible for engaging with business development and practices in pursuit and winning of new business development opportunities primarily focused on supporting core customer agencies. 
• Participate in the development of Demos, White Papers, Presentations, RFIs, Sources Sought responses, Oral presentations or other sales or marketing efforts.
• Provide analysis of RFPs with revisions and amendments along with strategy recommendations for continuing pursuit.
• Travel as required to contract sites, partner offices, and on other company business as necessary.

Requirements: 

• 5+ years of experience managing all phases and components of federal proposals within midsize to large organizations.
• Experience leading proposals in Ardent’s core capabilities of Digital Transformation (DevSecOps, Cloud), Data Science (Analytics, Tableau, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning), and Location Intelligence (Geospatial, ESRI).
• Desire to succeed in a fast-paced and rapidly evolving business organization with the ability/ willingness to work extended hours to meet dynamically changing needs and delivery schedules.
• Knowledge of Federal procurement processes, standard solicitation instructions, and proposal development methods.
• Proficiency in SharePoint, TEAMS and other collaboration technologies.
• Excellent writer and editor with knowledge of Chicago, AP, and GPO styles.
• Strong Microsoft Word skills (including templates, styles, macros) and desktop publishing.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of federal procurement processes and guidelines, including but not limited to: FAR/DFAR, GSA MAS, GWACs, BPAs, IDIQs.
• Must be willing to roll up your sleeves and engage with practice areas, delivery teams and customers to elicit information necessary to develop compelling technical and management solution content.
• Experience with analyzing RFP requirements, specifically Sections C, L, and M and developing logical and compliant proposal structure.
• Ability to lead technical and management volumes, mentor and guide supporting authors, development of overall CONOPS, technical and management approaches, solution features and benefits, schedule, performance, quality, transition, and risk management approaches.
• Knowledge of recognized, government-authored, and industry-standard methodologies.
• Independent worker with strong research, analysis, and presentation delivery skills.
• Adept at establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships.
• High energy, goal oriented, striving for excellence. Ability to coordinate multiple projects and initiatives at one time.
• Expert computer skills with advanced knowledge and experience in Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Advanced, adaptive writing skills with a strong orientation towards clarity, completeness, and compliance.
• The capacity to manage multiple, complex proposals simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to give and receive candid feedback in an open, results-oriented environment.
• Ability to independently resolve issues and promptly escalate larger issues.

Education/Experience:

• BA/BS degree preferred; will accept work experience in lieu of degree.
• Professional training or certification in proposal development preferred (APMP, Shipley, etc.)

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process.

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.