📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Proposal Writer - Technical and Management Volumes
🔹 Company: Leidos
🔹 Location: Reston, VA, USA
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (On-site 3 days/week)
🔹 Category: Writing & Editing
🔹 Date Posted: April 3, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Primarily on-site with potential to telework up to 25% between live proposals
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Supporting competitive proposal bids for Leidos' largest, most strategic bids across the enterprise
- Working directly with Capture Executives, Solution Architects, and Technical and Management Volume Leads
- Documenting, writing, and articulating solutions and corporate experience against proposal requirements
- Leading written responses to technical, management, corporate experience, staffing rationale, resumes, and transition sections
- Improving proposal quality through process improvements
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of experience and expertise in proposal writing, with a focus on large, complex bids. Successful candidates will have a proven track record of high-quality, high-scoring proposals.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Work with Solution Architects and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to document, write, and articulate solutions and corporate experience against proposal requirements
✅ Lead written responses to technical, management, corporate experience, staffing rationale, resumes, and transition sections
✅ Work as part of a collaborative team to clearly articulate solution and strategy, approach to performing the work, experience, win themes, and discriminators
✅ Apply communication and interviewing skills to gather needed information from internal and external personnel to support writing activities
✅ Write clear, compliant, persuasive, and articulate proposal sections; translate complex ideas into easily understandable text
✅ Develop and implement process improvements to help improve proposal quality
ASSUMPTION: The role requires strong writing, communication, organizational, and leadership skills, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree with at least 8 total years of professional experience or 6 years with a master’s degree
Experience: 5 years of experience working as a proposal writer responding to Federal Government solicitations
Required Skills:
- Proven successful track record of high-quality, high-scoring proposals
- Demonstrated success writing and leading technical, management, transition, staffing, and/or corporate experience & past performance volumes for complex efforts
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Excellent organizational and leadership skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Strong work ethic and desire to excel and keep growing over time
- U.S. citizenship (due to nature of the role)
Preferred Skills:
- 8 years of experience working in a competitive proposal environment, 5 years of experience as a writer responding to Federal Government solicitations, and 2 years supporting FEDSIM captures
- Experience with Federal Government proposals, including FEDSIM proposals
- Experience with traditional video, live orals, and/or demonstration proposals
- Ability to coach and instruct others to facilitate consistency across multiple authors
- Active Secret or Top-Secret clearance and eligibility for SCI
ASSUMPTION: The required and preferred qualifications listed are essential for success in this role. Candidates should have a strong background in proposal writing, with a focus on Federal Government solicitations.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $104,650.00 - $189,175.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health and Wellness Programs
- Income Protection
- Paid Leave
- Retirement
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with potential to telework up to 25% between live proposals
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is a general guideline and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Leidos is a Fortune 500 innovation company focused on national security and health, operating in heavily regulated industries
Company Size: Leidos has 48,000 employees globally, with a presence in heavily regulated industries
Founded: 1969
Company Description:
- Leidos is a global science and technology solutions leader working to address some of the world’s toughest challenges in national security, engineering, and health
- The company provides innovative technology, solutions, and services in defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets
- Leidos supports vital missions for government and commercial customers
Company Specialties:
- Defense
- Intel
- Sensors
- Health Systems
- Enterprise IT
- Cyber
- Systems Integration
- Space
- Healthcare
- Digital Modernization
- Cybersecurity
- AI/ML
- and Aviation
Company Website: www.leidos.com
ASSUMPTION: Leidos' size and industry focus provide opportunities for career growth and development within a stable and established organization.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior
Reporting Structure: The Senior Proposal Writer will work directly with Capture Executives, Solution Architects, and Technical and Management Volume Leads
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with potential to telework up to 25% between live proposals
Growth Opportunities:
- Supporting Leidos' largest, most strategic bids across the enterprise
- Working with diverse teams and subject matter experts
- Potential to take on leadership roles and process improvement initiatives
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within a large, established organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Leidos' headquarters is a modern, professional office environment
Office Location(s): Reston, VA, USA
Geographic Context:
- Reston is a suburban area located in Northern Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
- The area offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with access to parks, shopping, and dining options
- Reston has a humid subtropical climate, with mild winters and hot, humid summers
Work Schedule: Full-time, with potential to telework up to 25% between live proposals
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and location in Reston, VA, offer a balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility, with access to urban amenities and a suburban lifestyle.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with a member of the HR team
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
- Background check and reference checks
- Job offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Writing and communication skills
- Proposal writing experience, particularly with Federal Government solicitations
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Provide specific examples of your proposal writing experience and accomplishments
- Demonstrate your understanding of the role and Leidos' mission and values
ATS Keywords: Proposal Writer, Technical Writing, Management Writing, Federal Government Proposals, FEDSIM, Capture Operations, Capture Executives, Solution Architects, Technical and Management Volume Leads
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, given the high demand for skilled proposal writers in the industry. Applicants should tailor their application materials to highlight their relevant experience and skills.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Proposal management software (e.g., ProposalPoint, ProposalWise)
- Collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack)
ASSUMPTION: The required tools and technologies for this role are standard in the industry and should be familiar to experienced proposal writers.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Innovation
- Integrity
- Agility
- Stewardship
- Teamwork
Work Style:
- Collaborative
- Results-driven
- Adaptable
- Attention to detail
- Strong communication skills
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of high-quality, high-scoring proposals?
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment?
- Do you have strong writing, communication, and organizational skills?
- Are you able to translate complex ideas into easily understandable text?
ASSUMPTION: Leidos values innovation, integrity, agility, stewardship, and teamwork, and seeks candidates who align with these values and work styles.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role requires a high level of experience and expertise in proposal writing, with a focus on large, complex bids
- The role may require working on multiple proposals simultaneously, with tight deadlines
- The role may require travel to support proposal efforts in various locations around the Washington Metro Area
- The role may require working with diverse teams and subject matter experts, requiring strong collaboration and communication skills
ASSUMPTION: The role presents both opportunities and challenges, requiring a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to other Senior Proposal Writer roles in the industry, but with a focus on supporting Leidos' largest, most strategic bids across the enterprise
- The role requires a high level of experience and expertise in proposal writing, with a focus on large, complex bids, making it a more specialized role compared to other proposal writer positions
- The role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within a large, established organization, with potential to take on leadership roles and process improvement initiatives
ASSUMPTION: This role is similar to other Senior Proposal Writer roles in the industry, but with a unique focus on supporting Leidos' largest, most strategic bids across the enterprise.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive technical volume for a large, complex bid, including leading written responses to technical, management, corporate experience, staffing rationale, resumes, and transition sections
- Coaching and instructing other authors to facilitate consistency across multiple volumes for a single bid
- Implementing process improvements to help improve proposal quality, such as creating templates or standardizing formatting
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and opportunities for process improvement in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare for them?
- How does this role support Leidos' overall mission and strategic goals?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the organization?
- How does the team collaborate and communicate to ensure proposal quality and success?
- What is the typical timeline for a proposal effort, from initial RFP release to final submission?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions help applicants better understand the role, the team, and the organization, enabling them to make an informed decision about their fit for the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your proposal writing experience and accomplishments
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR representative within one week of submission to inquire about your application status
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
