Director, Proposal Operations

AHP is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and results-driven Director of Proposal Operations to lead and continuously improve our enterprise proposal function. This role serves as the architect of AHP’s proposal excellence through establishing standards, processes, coaching, and operational discipline to consistently deliver compelling and competitive proposals across federal, state, and municipal government opportunities.

About the role

The Director of Proposal Operations will work within AHP’s Strategic Development department, collaborating closely with Managing Directors, Program Directors, subject matter experts, finance, and executive leadership to build proposal excellence across the organization. This individual will champion Shipley-based best practices, ensuring proposal strategy, win themes, pricing, storytelling, and production are integrated into a seamless proposal development process that maximizes AHP’s probability of winning.

The Director will develop an annual strategic plan for proposal operations, outlining goals, objectives, and strategies to leverage AHP’s assets, expertise, and technology. This position leads the Proposal Operations team while serving as an internal advisor and coach to proposal managers, capture leaders, and technical experts. The role focuses on strengthening AHP’s proposal capability by standardizing processes, developing reusable assets, improving proposal quality, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction, continuous improvement, and day-to-day operations of AHP's Proposal Operations function to ensure high-quality, compliant, and competitive proposals.
• Implement and refine proposal operations policies, standard operating procedures, templates, tools, and governance aligned with Shipley methodology for a scalable, repeatable proposal development process.
• Lead proposal reviews and quality assurance processes, including compliance, color team, executive, and final production reviews.
• Monitor proposal performance metrics (win rates, proposal quality, cycle times, resource utilization, lessons learned) in partnership with the Data Office to drive continuous improvement.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including AI-enabled proposal tools and automation, to improve proposal quality, efficiency, and knowledge management.
• Partner with Strategic Development, Finance, Executive Leadership, and technical teams to develop pricing strategies balancing competitiveness, profitability, and long-term business objectives.
• Develop, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of Proposal Managers, fostering professional growth and collaboration.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to capture managers, proposal managers, and subject matter experts by facilitating proposal strategy sessions and strengthening proposal messaging.
• Oversee proposal planning and execution from pre-proposal through submission, ensuring effective resource allocation, schedule management, compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Strengthen the connection between capture planning, proposal strategy, pricing, and execution to increase AHP’s probability of winning using Shipley methodology.
• Foster a culture of trust, respect, and professional growth within the proposal operations team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, English, Public Administration, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Human Services, or a related field (required).
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Health, Social Work, or a related discipline (strongly preferred); extensive experience may substitute for formal education.
• APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) or PMP (Project Management Professional) certification (preferred).
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in proposal management within a business-to-government consulting firm serving federal and/or state health, behavioral health, healthcare, or human services agencies.
• Demonstrated experience redesigning or improving proposal operations for organizations producing high volumes of government proposals.
• Track record of success leveraging Shipley methodology to lead complex, winning proposals for agencies such as SAMHSA, HRSA, CMS, CDC, ACL, ACF, state Medicaid agencies, or behavioral health authorities.
• Experience leading or managing a proposal operations, proposal management, or proposal excellence function within a government consulting firm (strongly preferred).
• Ability to evaluate proposal operations against industry best practices and implement improvements.
• Experience with nationally recognized government consulting firms competing for federal health and human services contracts and cooperative agreements (strongly preferred).
• Expertise in applying Shipley methodology, developing proposal strategy and win themes, facilitating color team reviews, and leading cross-functional proposal teams.

Skills

• Proficiency with Shipley Proposal Methodology.
• Exceptional strategic thinking with the ability to translate technical solutions into compelling, customer-focused proposal narratives.
• Strong facilitation skills to build consensus among executives, business developers, finance professionals, proposal managers, and subject matter experts.
• Ability to evaluate opportunities, identify proposal risks, and recommend strategies to improve win probability.
• Deep understanding of government, nonprofit, and healthcare sectors.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families.
• Retirement plan with a 3% employer match.
• Student loan repayment assistance.
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance.
• Generous paid time off.
• Annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards.

Pay

Salary range: $140,000 - $175,000. Actual salaries may vary based on factors such as location, experience, and education.

Schedule

• Hybrid working modality with flexible working hours.
• Primarily sedentary role with frequent communication via video conferencing, email, and digital platforms.
• Requires access to a reliable and secure internet connection for remote work responsibilities.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. All work must be performed within the United States or its territories.