Director, Proposal Management - Defense and Space

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Proposal Management to lead Defense and Space proposal operations supporting U.S. Government, OEM Defense, International Defense, and Space customers. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving winning proposal strategies, leading high-performing teams, improving proposal processes, and ensuring successful execution of complex RFQ, RFI, and RFP opportunities.

The ideal candidate is a transformational leader with deep expertise in proposal management, government contracting, cross-functional collaboration, and process improvement. This individual will work closely with executive leadership, sales, engineering, finance, and operations teams to secure new business and retain existing customers.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of proposal management professionals.
• Conduct performance evaluations, coaching, and career development planning.
• Establish performance metrics and productivity goals.
• Develop succession plans and build organizational capability for future growth.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Process Improvement & Operations Excellence

• Identify and implement process improvement initiatives to increase proposal quality, efficiency, and responsiveness.
• Leverage automation and emerging technologies, including generative AI, to improve proposal operations.
• Monitor key operational metrics and present results to executive leadership.
• Improve proposal turnaround times and on-time delivery performance.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. 

Strategic Collaboration

• Partner with Sales, Engineering, Finance, Contracts, and Program Management teams to develop compelling solutions.
• Facilitate executive reviews, proposal kickoffs, and compliance reviews.
• Analyze risks, opportunities, and business impacts to support strategic decision-making.
• Present proposal performance, business insights, and organizational recommendations to senior executives. 

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of proposal management experience in Aerospace, Defense, Government Contracting, or related industries.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience managing professional teams.
• Strong understanding of RFQ, RFI, and RFP processes.
• Knowledge of FAR and government proposal compliance requirements.
• Experience leading cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams.
• Proven success managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Strong presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree, Management, Operations, or related field
• APMP membership or certification.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
• Experience with Salesforce.com and data analytics tools.
• Experience implementing process automation and AI-enabled business solutions.
• Background supporting Defense, Aerospace, Aviation, or Space customers.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Proposal Management
• Project Management
• Business Process Improvement
• Executive Communication
• Relationship Building
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Planning & Scheduling
• Risk Management
• Team Development
• Continuous Improvement
• Customer Focus

What Success Looks Like

• Increased proposal win rates and business growth.
• Improved proposal productivity, quality, and turnaround times.
• Strong employee engagement and talent development.
• Consistent on-time proposal delivery
• Effective implementation of process improvements and operational efficiencies

Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status.

Beyond a performance-driven salary, you'll work alongside dedicated experts on technology that's advancing aviation. As a Honeywell Aerospace employee, you're eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Explore your benefits: https://honeywellaerospacebenefits.com/

The application period for the job is estimated to be 40 days from the job posting date; however, this may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on aircraft across commercial aviation, defense and space — from engines and cockpit electronics to cabin systems, mechanical components and connectivity solutions. Our technology helps operators fly more safely, reduce fuel consumption, improve on-time performance and deliver a better experience for the people on board.

As aviation continues to evolve, we're also developing systems to support autonomous and supersonic platforms, bringing the same focus on safety and efficiency to the next era of flight. With approximately 36,000 employees worldwide and net sales of $17.4B in 2025, Honeywell Aerospace is one of the largest dedicated aerospace companies in the world. Explore our businesses: https://www.honeywellaerospace.com

Control Systems develops the thermal and motion control systems that help aircraft take off, land safely and protect the people on board. With more than 10 million passengers per day flying on aircraft equipped with our products and more than 75% of commercial flights beginning with our engine start systems, Control Systems reaches farther across the aviation industry than most people realize.