Technical Proposal Writer at Akima, LLC in Vienna, Virginia

Job Description:

Akima is a global enterprise with more than 7,500 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities, maintenance, and repair; information technology; logistics; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 14,000 Iñupiat shareholders, Akima’s core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers’ missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Iñupiat values. In 2020, Washington Technology ranked Akima #39 amongst the top 100 government contractors. To learn more about building your career with the Akima portfolio of companies, visit www.akima.com.

Job Summary: 

The mission support and systems engineering solutions writer is responsible for the development of accurate, compelling messaging and high quality content for proposals writing solutions related to: records management, research and development services, office administration services, subject matter expert support, C5ISR services, wired and satellite telecommunication services, and equipment maintenance services. The candidate is responsible for researching and documenting information, and drafting clear, concise, accurate, and compliant responses to RFPs. The successful candidate will exhibit strong writing skills to ensure consistency and clarity to meet client needs. This position is an opportunity for those gifted with the ability to craft an interesting story while adhering to strict deadlines on multiple projects. The candidate will conduct interviews with technical and management SMEs, program leaders, and key personnel, will create writing strategies, and work with graphic designers to further develop proposal content. This is a chance for an experienced proposal and solutions writer to bring in experience and best practices. This individuals will be able to apply previous experience with the breadth of resources found in a $1B (+) corporation, and leverage these attributes in a unique business environment.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for leading technical sections as assigned and ensuring compliance with all RFP requirements for Akima’s Mission Support and System Engineering portfolios.


• Review client RFP and Statement of Work (SOW) to help determine how to structure the solution to be compliant, compelling, and highly rated by the client.


• Engages with the capture managers during pre-RFP stage to assist with solution development and other capture support activities, where applicable.


• Assist in capturing the required elements needed to develop technically compliant responses to solicitations.


• Participates as a major stakeholder in all capture and proposal strategy reviews and provides oversight and guidance on proposal compliance and quality.


• Works under the guidance of the capture manager and the proposal manager to generate appropriate compliant text for assigned sections.


• Incorporates information from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to be included in the proposal.


• Writes clear, persuasive, proposal sections; translates complex ideas into easily understandable text.


• Researches and gathers information for use in proposal development activities.


• Participates in strategy and solution sessions, as detailed in Akima Competitive Win Plan (ACWP) and internal training, to produce proposal artifacts well ahead of actual proposal phase


• Participates in storyboarding and content development meetings.


• Participates in color reviews, providing detailed feedback to proposal teams.


• Develops win themes and incorporates strategies developed in review teams for final proposal drafts.


• Interviews program managers and task leads, and other technical personnel to collect methodology information and incorporate that information into writing winning technical approach sections of proposals.


• Once an opportunity has been qualified, attend all gate reviews, pipeline reviews, and other BD/Capture meetings as an opportunity stakeholder.


• Incorporates feedback based on reviews to ensure the final narrative is compliant, compelling, and high scoring.


• Identifies, resolves, mitigates, and escalates gaps and risks to proposal management and operations leadership.


• Office environment. Some travel (10%) may be required.

Minimum Qualifications:

In accordance with President Biden's Executive Order 14042, you must be able to meet all health requirements, including but not limited to, current and future vaccination requirements to infectious diseases such as COVID-19.  The Executive Order generally requires that all federal workers and federal contractor employees be fully vaccinated by December 8, 2021.

• Bachelor's Degree (minimum)


• Preferred: 12+ years of proposal writing, experience mostly with large, complex opportunities of total contract value of at least $50M and often requiring solutions in addition to technical approach and other proposal volumes.


• Demonstrated experience writing, managing, participating in, and/or developing complex, voluminous proposals for significant opportunities including, specifically technical and solutions


• Experience writing solutions related to IT, artificial intelligence, records management, research and development services, office administration services, subject matter expert support, C5ISR services, wired and satellite telecommunication services, and equipment maintenance services.


• Ability to research, absorb and capture varied information; multitask and balance competing deadlines.


• Advanced knowledge of the organization’s products, services, and customer base (Mission Support and Systems Engineering).


• Efficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Visio.


• Highly organized, team-oriented, enthusiastic, independent thinker, and collaborative.


• Must possess excellent reading comprehension, writing, spelling, communication, and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to obtain a security clearance

The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description generally cover the nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position.  This is not intended to be a complete list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required.  Subject to the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, the company management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as may be necessary.  We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for the position; however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are Equal Opportunity Employers. Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination because of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, protected veteran, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

We are committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities.  If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position please contact, Recruiting Services at job-assist@akima.com or 571-353-7053.  The dedicated email and telephonic options above are reserved only for individuals with disabilities needing accessibility assistance.  Please do not use the dedicated phone number above to call on the status of your job application if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation.  Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

In order for our company to stay compliant with government regulations, please apply on line. Please DO NOT email resumes or call in lieu of applying online unless you have a physical and/or mental disability and need assistance with the online application.