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Proposal Strategist

Herndon, VA

Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.

Role

Clarity is seeking a Proposal Strategy SME to serve as a critical steward of proposal quality and technical narrative across our growth portfolio. This role is designed to bridge the gap between technical excellence and business strategy, lowering silos between engineering, delivery, and business development to improve proposal win rates. As a Proposal Strategy SME, you will shape how Clarity tells its technical story designing solutions, stress-testing approaches, and ensuring our proposals clearly articulate why and how we win. You will influence proposal strategy, and content quality across multiple pursuits, helping establish best practices and measurable improvements in proposal effectiveness. This role sits within Clarity’s Growth & Business Development organization and works in close partnership with Capture Managers, Proposal Managers, and technical leadership.

Responsibilities

  • Improve proposal win probability through strategic evaluation, enhancement, and alignment of technical and management proposal content
  • Serve as a trusted steward of proposal quality, ensuring technical solutions are clear, compelling, compliant, and differentiated
  • Act as the connective tissue between business development and technical teams by breaking down silos to create cohesive, mission-aligned proposals
  • Partner with technical SMEs to conceptualize, validate, and document innovative architectures and implementation approaches
  • Write, edit, and/or shape technical proposal and past performance volumes with a focus on clarity, compliance, and persuasive storytelling
  • Translate complex technical concepts into accessible narratives for non-technical evaluators
  • Contribute to proposal strategy, win themes, discriminators, and value propositions that resonate with mission stakeholders
  • Coach and train principal contributors (technical leads, SMEs, writers) in proposal best practices and solution storytelling
  • Capture and institutionalize best practices across proposals, tools, and templates
  • Design and implement methods for quantifying proposal effectiveness (e.g., evaluator feedback trends, score drivers, compliance gaps)
  • Develop and maintain a reuse content library

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline or Communications, Business, English, or a related field
  • 8+ years of demonstrated success as a Solutions Architect, Proposal Technical Lead, or technical proposal writer
  • Experience designing and articulating solutions across one or more of the following domains:
    • Cybersecurity
    • Cloud and hybrid environments
    • Data analytics and data engineering
    • Enterprise IT modernization
    • Software development and systems integration
    • Network engineering and operations
    • Systems engineering, risk management, and compliance
  • Strong understanding of the federal business development lifecycle and Shipley-based proposal processes
  • Proven ability to facilitate solutioning, strategy, and storyboard sessions
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including strong presenter capability
  • Advanced proficiency in Google and Microsoft suite of tools
  • Ability to manage multiple concurrent efforts under tight deadlines in a dynamic environment
  • Willingness to work extended hours as required to meet mission and submission timelines

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting DoD, IC, or national security-focused customers
  • Experience helping organizations mature proposal operations or win-rate analytics
  • Background with a systems integrator, defense contractor, or high-growth federal services firm
  • Proficiency with Google and Microsoft suite of tools

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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