Senior Proposal Manager

About this job

Shield AI is hiring a Senior Proposal Manager for its New Delhi location to lead and manage international government and commercial proposals within the India business. Working with the BD Ops team, you will serve as the primary cross-functional lead for bids, proposals, RFIs, and related deliverables across product lines and geographic regions. A normal day involves managing the proposal lifecycle from start to finish, which includes leading kickoff meetings, collaborating with stakeholders, conducting color reviews, and handling management reviews with senior leaders. You will communicate key customer, market, and BD strategy insights while transforming complex technical concepts into clear, succinct prose. The role requires strong technical writing capabilities, exceptional organization and time management, and the ability to handle multiple workstreams efficiently in a fast-paced environment while upholding high standards and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Manage competing priorities across proposal and other deliverable development within the BD Ops team.
• Lead end-to-end proposal execution from pre-RFP planning through submission and closeout.
• Drive cross-functional proposal teams to deliver compliant, high-quality submissions on schedule.
• Continuously improve proposal processes, tools, templates, and best practices.
• Mentor proposal contributors and foster high-performing, collaborative teams.
• Support the India GTM team with briefing and presentation development for customer engagements.
• Support customer meetings, demonstrations, and GTM events as required.

Requirements

• 2-4+ years of Government of India / Indian Ministry of Defence or international government proposal development or BD operations experience, or 3+ years working with Government of India or international government requirements.
• Bachelor's degree in business, communication, marketing, engineering, or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong record of academic achievement.
• Experience with proposal methodologies, compliance matrices, and implementing project management tools and processes.
• Proven record of leadership in a professional setting.
• Ability to communicate complex, technical ideas effectively in both oral and written forms.
• Ability to work collaboratively, flexibly, and effectively with people at all levels of an organization.

Good to have

• Strong technical background especially with unmanned/uncrewed systems and/or autonomy software.
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of military operations and India defense acquisition processes.
• Understanding of international markets and geopolitical trends in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Experience managing Foreign Military Sale and Direct Commercial Sale bids and proposals.
• Active Indian security clearance.

Who should apply

This role suits professionals with a background in government proposal development or business development operations, particularly those familiar with the Indian Ministry of Defence or international government requirements. Ideal candidates possess strong technical writing skills, a proven leadership record, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple workstreams. Freshers are not suited for this position as specific years of experience in proposal development or government requirements are required.

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