Proposal Manager Jobs in California
Proposal Manager jobs in California are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in defense and aerospace, technology, healthcare systems, and government contracting across a range of levels from entry-level proposal coordinator through senior and director roles. Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area lead hiring volume, with well-established employers like Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and Kaiser Permanente consistently seeking proposal talent. The most in-demand specialties in California are federal and state government proposals, defense and aerospace bids, and healthcare RFP management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 21+ Proposal Manager jobs
At GFT, we’re not just pursuing projects—we’re strategically capturing opportunities that shape our communities. The Strategic Growth Office is the engine behind GFT’s enterprise-wide growth. It fuels our most significant pursuits by aligning talent, insights, and strategy to win complex, high-impact projects. From vision through delivery, we partner across all Business Groups to develop compelling, competitive proposals that reflect our core values and technical excellence.
What you’ll be challenged to do:
- May manage one or more assistant proposal specialists/proposal specialists on a day-to-day basis. Responsibilities includes assignment of tasks to appropriate team member 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 team
- May serve as timesheet approver, perform Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER), and recommend training for staff and provide input to annual training plan for department
- Other duties as assigned
Proposals
- Manages proposals and assures 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 Manager for input and oversight
- Provides by discussing and writing the key strategic win theme development and messaging and organizes resources to support overall proposal effort (graphics, other proposal specialists, print production, operations, etc.) and requires no direct oversight from Manager to produce a quality proposal
CAPTURE PLANNING
- Proactively identifies opportunities in the pipeline that should start capture and then initiates with the business line, promotes, and leads Capture Planning support efforts for longer-term, complex opportunities concurrently with no oversight required by Manager
- Proactively researches and drives the development of the opportunity with the Capture Manager
- Concurrently works across multiple opportunities at any given time and establishes the 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
CLIENT MANAGEMENT
- In support of the client manager, develops client and teaming relationships at the direction of the client or capture managers. The BD&P manager may develop understanding of the pursuit through industry activities, such as trade shows to develop relationships and develop opportunities in support of the business line
- 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 business plan
- Facilitates client management meetings and assures 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 applicable field is required
- Must have the requisite experience in California
- Normally 10+ years of total combined experience in the full lifecycle of business development (marketing, communications, client, capture, and proposal phases), 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 though and including successfully performing 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 business development, marketing, communications, or sales received through an industry professional organization is highly desirable
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
:
Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.
GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.
Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
Location: Irvine ; Los Angeles ; Sacramento ; Seattle
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time
Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
At GFT, we’re not just pursuing projects—we’re strategically capturing opportunities that shape our communities. The Strategic Growth Office is the engine behind GFT’s enterprise-wide growth. It fuels our most significant pursuits by aligning talent, insights, and strategy to win complex, high-impact projects. From vision through delivery, we partner across all Business Groups to develop compelling, competitive proposals that reflect our core values and technical excellence.
What you’ll be challenged to do:
- May manage one or more assistant proposal specialists/proposal specialists on a day-to-day basis. Responsibilities includes assignment of tasks to appropriate team member 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 team
- May serve as timesheet approver, perform Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER), and recommend training for staff and provide input to annual training plan for department
- Other duties as assigned
Proposals
- Manages proposals and assures 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 Manager for input and oversight
- Provides by discussing and writing the key strategic win theme development and messaging and organizes resources to support overall proposal effort (graphics, other proposal specialists, print production, operations, etc.) and requires no direct oversight from Manager to produce a quality proposal
CAPTURE PLANNING
- Proactively identifies opportunities in the pipeline that should start capture and then initiates with the business line, promotes, and leads Capture Planning support efforts for longer-term, complex opportunities concurrently with no oversight required by Manager
- Proactively researches and drives the development of the opportunity with the Capture Manager
- Concurrently works across multiple opportunities at any given time and establishes the 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
CLIENT MANAGEMENT
- In support of the client manager, develops client and teaming relationships at the direction of the client or capture managers. The BD&P manager may develop understanding of the pursuit through industry activities, such as trade shows to develop relationships and develop opportunities in support of the business line
- 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 business plan
- Facilitates client management meetings and assures 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 applicable field is required
- Must have the requisite experience in California
- Normally 10+ years of total combined experience in the full lifecycle of business development (marketing, communications, client, capture, and proposal phases), 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 though and including successfully performing 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 business development, marketing, communications, or sales received through an industry professional organization is highly desirable
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
:
Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.
GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.
Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
Location: Irvine ; Los Angeles ; Sacramento ; Seattle
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time
Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
See All 21 Proposal Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Proposal Manager JobsProposal Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Proposal Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Education
- Construction & Real Estate
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in proposal manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in business, communications, English, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end proposal development for government or commercial clients
- Proficiency with proposal software such as Loopio, Qvidian, or Microsoft Office Suite
- APMP Foundation or Practitioner certification preferred by many California employers
- Strong knowledge of FAR and DFARS regulations for defense and government contracting roles
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines in a fast-paced California contracting environment
Proposal Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a proposal manager in California?
Most proposal managers in California start with a bachelor's degree in business, communications, or a related field, then build experience in proposal coordination or writing roles. California does not require a state-issued license for this role. Earning an Association of Proposal Management Professionals certification, either at the Foundation or Practitioner level, is a widely recognized credential that California employers in defense, technology, and healthcare contracting actively prefer when hiring.
How much do proposal managers make in California?
Proposal managers in California earn a median of about $120,910 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,180 for the lowest 10% to over $188,560 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire proposal managers in California?
Employers hiring proposal managers in California right now include Fisher & Phillips LLP, HDR, and Ruhnau Clarke Architects, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's dense concentration of defense primes, health systems, and technology firms means consistent year-round demand for proposal professionals across the state.
Which California cities have the most proposal manager jobs?
Irvine, San Diego, and Sacramento have the most proposal manager openings in California. Los Angeles and San Diego are driven by the region's large defense and aerospace contracting base, anchored by major prime contractors, while the Bay Area reflects demand from technology companies and healthcare organizations that regularly respond to large commercial and government RFPs.
Are there remote proposal manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 60% of proposal manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the document-driven, collaborative nature of the work. Proposal writing, compliance review, and coordinating contributor inputs are the tasks most commonly performed fully remotely, while kickoff meetings and final production may require on-site presence depending on the employer.
How can I get hired as a proposal manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a proposal coordinator or proposal writer role, which California defense contractors, healthcare systems, and technology firms use as a structured entry point into proposal teams. Large California employers such as Northrop Grumman and major health systems often hire junior proposal staff directly out of graduate programs. A portfolio of writing samples, familiarity with RFP response formats, and an APMP Foundation certification each provide a measurable edge when competing without direct proposal management experience.
Where can I find and apply to proposal manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to proposal manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 21 Proposal Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Proposal Manager Jobs