What This Role Actually Is

You will lead proposal efforts for our clients from strategy through submission. That means you own the process: compliance analysis, kickoff calls, color team reviews, schedule management, content development, editing, production, and final delivery. You will work directly with client teams, subject matter experts, and our internal writers and coordinators to produce proposals that win.

Our clients are federal and government contractors of all sizes, from small businesses to firms ranked among the top defense contractors in the country. The work spans construction, engineering, environmental services, IT, architecture, surveying, and more. You will manage IDIQs, SF 330s, must-win opportunities, task orders, and multi-phase procurements. You may manage OTA, BAA, and SBIR proposals. If you have done this work before, you know what it takes. If you have not, this is not the right role.

You will be a strategic advisor to your clients, not an order-taker. One of our core values is “Expert Value, Not Order-Takers.” We hire people who understand what wins and why, who catch compliance issues before they become problems, who push back when a client’s approach is not competitive, and who suggest stronger win themes because they know what evaluators are looking for. We do not want someone who just formats documents and checks boxes. We want someone who makes proposals better because they are in the room.

What We Are Looking For

We need someone who can manage multiple proposals simultaneously without dropping the ball on any of them. Someone who builds strong relationships with clients in a remote environment. Someone who holds teams accountable to deadlines without creating unnecessary stress. Someone who writes and edits at a high level and has the technical chops to work in Word styles, themes, and Adobe Acrobat Pro without needing guidance.

You should be familiar with the Shipley methodology, but you should also know when to deviate from it. Not every proposal needs every step, and we trust our managers to use good judgment about what a specific pursuit requires.

More than anything, we are looking for someone who is honest about what they can do. Our interview process is designed to separate people who talk a good game from people who actually deliver. We will ask you to demonstrate your skills, not just describe them. If that excites you, keep reading.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen. Five or more years of proposal management experience, with at least two years managing federal proposals. A bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Marketing, Business, or a related field is preferred. Strong understanding of the federal acquisition process, including FAR/DFARS. Proficiency in Microsoft Word (styles, themes, formatting) and Adobe Acrobat Pro. Proven track record of managing winning proposals for government contractors.

Veterans, military spouses, and former government employees with knowledge of federal contracting are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have sat on the other side of the evaluation table, you understand what we do and why it matters. That perspective is valuable to us and to our clients.

What Makes This Different

This is a 1099 consulting position. If you have been thinking about going out on your own but do not want to spend your time finding clients, chasing invoices, marketing yourself, and competing with other consultants, this is worth your attention. You get the independence of consulting without the feast-or-famine cycle. We provide the clients, we provide the work, and we have plenty of both. You focus on what you are actually good at: making proposals win.

We are remote-first with team members nationwide. You work from wherever you work best, and we trust you to manage your time. We care about results.

We pay competitive hourly rates based on your experience and the value that you provide to our clients. You will also never be asked to work for free. We also offer an option of W2 employment with benefits after a trial 1099 consulting period.

We provide a steady pipeline of work. That is actually why we are currently hiring: we are busy because we are good, and we would rather grow the team than risk burning out our team members.

You will work on proposals you can actually win. We believe that no one should submit a proposal that they aren’t qualified for, especially if they are hiring a consultant. If we find through our analysis that a pursuit is not winnable, and all strategic options have been exhausted, we will recommend against submitting the proposal. That means you will not waste weeks of your life on proposals that were dead before they started. Your mental health will appreciate this.

You will have a real team behind you. Coordinators, writers, graphic designers, and leadership that supports you. You are not on an island. When you need help, you get it. Our clients are great. Our team is great. People stay because the work is good, the people are good, and the culture is real.

You will do work that matters. Our clients’ success has real consequences. Contract wins mean growth for their businesses, jobs for their employees, and infrastructure and services that support national security. We take that seriously, and we want people who take it seriously too.

Why Cavalry Instead of Going Solo

We hear it all the time from experienced proposal professionals: “I could do this on my own.” You probably could. But going independent means you are also the business development team, the accounts receivable department, the marketing manager, the cybersecurity manager, and the person who absorbs the risk when a client disappears or a project falls through. At Cavalry, you get the flexibility and autonomy of consulting work with the stability of a team, a brand, a reputation, and a client base that keeps coming back. You do the work you love. We handle the rest.

If this sounds like the kind of place where you belong, we want to hear from you.