Senior Associate, Business Development & Proposals

Converge Strategies • Washington, DC

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Associate, Business Development & Proposals is a full-time, execution-focused role that serves as a central engine for CSL's growth operations. This position is ideal for an early career professional (3–5 years of experience) with hands-on experience in proposal development, government contracting, or consulting operations who is ready to own key business development processes and grow into broader capture and client engagement responsibilities over time.
In this role, you will keep CSL's business development operations running by managing proposal timelines, maintaining pipeline and partner tracking systems, and ensuring follow-through across a fast-moving portfolio of pursuits. You'll work closely with CSL's Director of Business Development and portfolio leads to turn opportunities into projects.
This is a role for someone who is systematic and detail-driven but also brings intellectual curiosity and creative problem-solving to their work. You should be comfortable building and improving processes while also thinking critically about how CSL positions itself in a competitive market. Over time, this role offers a clear path into capture management, client engagement, and strategic business development.

Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of professional experience in consulting, government contracting, or a related professional services environment.
• Direct experience supporting federal proposal submissions, including familiarity with common RFP structures, evaluation criteria, and compliance requirements.
• Strong technical writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex capabilities into clear, persuasive proposal narratives.
• Experience building or maintaining business development tracking systems (pipeline trackers, CRMs, opportunity databases).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines and move work forward in ambiguous or evolving situations without waiting for detailed direction.
• Experience with structured document development, including compliance matrices, version control, style guides, and quality review processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, team-oriented working style.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in energy, defense, emergency management, or climate/resilience fields.
• Familiarity with Department of Defense organizational structures, funding mechanisms, or program offices.
• Experience with GSA Schedules, OASIS, or other major government-wide contract vehicles.
• Working knowledge of federal procurement processes, including familiarity with contract vehicles (IDIQs, GWACs, BPAs), acquisition planning cycles, and platforms such as SAM.gov.
• Interest in or experience using AI tools to improve business development workflows, proposal development, or research processes.

Responsibilities

• Draft and edit proposals in response to federal and commercial RFPs, RFIs, and other solicitations, ensuring compliance with solicitation requirements and alignment with CSL's capabilities and differentiators.
• Build and manage proposal calendars, compliance matrices, and document control processes for each active pursuit.
• Coordinate technical inputs across CSL colleagues and teaming partners, managing version control and integration of multi-author content.
• Prepare capture plans and opportunity summaries in advance of solicitation release, synthesizing market intelligence and competitive landscape analysis.
• Support red team and color team reviews and incorporate feedback into final submissions.
• Ensure all submissions meet formatting, compliance, and quality standards before delivery.
• Own and maintain CSL's internal pipeline tracker, ensuring opportunity data is current, accurate, and actionable for leadership decision-making.
• Track and manage partner and teaming conversations, maintaining records of engagement status, agreements, and follow-up actions.
• Track and report on business development metrics, forecasts, and win/loss data.
• Draft capabilities briefings, white papers, past performance summaries, and one-pagers for use in client and partner engagement.
• Conduct market research to identify and qualify target opportunities within CSL's core areas, including energy resilience, national security, emergency response, and grid transformation.
• Continuously improve BD tools, templates, and workflows in collaboration with the Director of Business Development.
• Prepare materials and logistics for prospective client meetings and industry events, including briefing documents and talking points.
• Execute outreach and follow-up communications on behalf of CSL leadership, exercising judgment on timing, tone, and messaging.
• Support the development of relationships with prospective clients and teaming partners.
• Over time, take on increasing responsibility in direct client engagement, capture conversations, and relationship management as the role evolves.
• Demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn about new business areas, policy domains, and technical topics beyond current expertise.

Benefits

• Converge Strategies, LLC, offers a competitive salary, vacation, and benefits package, including health insurance and retirement benefits.
• employees are eligible for an annual bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level