Capture & Proposals Manager

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Capture & Proposal Manager to help build and manage a more structured approach to identifying, pursuing, and winning public-sector work. Based in Laguna Hills, California, this position will be responsible for tracking upcoming municipal opportunities, maintaining a qualified pursuit pipeline, coordinating RFQ/RFP responses, and developing high-quality proposal submissions. The role will work closely with company leadership throughout the capture process, from identifying an opportunity well before solicitation through final proposal submission.

The ideal candidate has meaningful experience supporting or leading capture, pursuit, proposal, or business development efforts within a public-sector environment. Success in this role requires more than strong proposal writing. The company needs someone who understands how to identify upcoming opportunities, monitor procurement activity, determine what should be pursued, organize the capture process, and help position the firm to win work. Construction management or broader AEC industry experience is preferred, but demonstrated success with municipal or other government contracting environments is more important.

Why Join Our Client?

Our client is an established construction management firm supporting municipal and public-sector projects in Southern California. The company has historically grown through professional relationships and referrals and is now investing in a more deliberate approach to business development and capture as it expands its internal team and pursues additional public-sector opportunities.

This position will work directly with an experienced company leader who understands the firm's clients, projects, and technical services but is looking for a true capture professional to bring deeper expertise in opportunity tracking, pursuit planning, and proposal development. The successful candidate will have significant ownership of the capture function and the ability to help establish the processes the company uses to identify opportunities, build its pipeline, prepare for upcoming procurements, and compete for new work.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor municipal and public-sector procurement activity to identify upcoming RFQs, RFPs, and other relevant opportunities before solicitations are released.
• Develop and maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline that gives company leadership visibility into upcoming pursuits, deadlines, requirements, and resource needs.
• Lead the preparation and coordination of RFQ, RFP, SOQ, and related proposal submissions, ensuring responses are complete, compliant, organized, and professionally presented.
• Evaluate potential opportunities with company leadership and support pursuit decisions based on requirements, timing, competitive positioning, available qualifications, and organizational readiness.
• Develop pursuit plans and coordinate the information, resumes, project experience, qualifications, supporting documentation, and other materials required for competitive submissions.
• Manage proposal schedules, submission requirements, internal deadlines, and supporting documentation throughout the capture process.
• Participate in relevant client and opportunity discussions with company leadership to understand requirements, identify information important to the pursuit, and translate those insights into stronger submissions.
• Help establish repeatable capture, proposal, and opportunity-tracking processes that support the company's long-term growth strategy.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in capture management, proposal management, pursuits, business development, or a closely related function involving public-sector opportunities.
• Experience identifying, tracking, and managing a pipeline of government, municipal, or other competitively procured opportunities.
• Hands-on experience developing and coordinating RFQs, RFPs, SOQs, proposals, or similar qualification-based submissions.
• Strong understanding of public-sector procurement processes, solicitation requirements, compliance expectations, deadlines, and competitive proposal development.
• Ability to manage multiple active and upcoming pursuits while maintaining accurate documentation, schedules, priorities, and follow-up activities.
• Strong written communication and proposal-development skills, with the ability to organize technical and business information into clear, compelling submissions.
• Ability to work directly with company leadership and operate with significant ownership of the capture and proposal process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a construction management, engineering, architecture, general contracting, infrastructure, or other AEC-related organization.
• Experience pursuing municipal construction management, public works, facilities, or professional-services contracts.
• Experience building or improving capture, pursuit, proposal, or opportunity-tracking processes within a growing organization.

About J.Riley Recruitment

J.Riley Recruitment is a Veteran-Owned Professional Search Firm serving companies and professionals nationwide across Architecture/Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Energy, and Business Operations.

Since 2020, we have combined industry expertise, market intelligence, and disciplined execution with a direct, relationship-driven recruiting approach designed to align professionals with opportunities that fit their experience, goals, and long-term career interests.

Through the J.Riley Veteran Talent Network, we also maintain a dedicated connection to the Military Veteran community, helping experienced Veterans translate their military and civilian backgrounds into professional career opportunities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.