Proposal Manager Senior

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Sharon Fleming Lay, PMP

**** *. ******* *** ******* Beach, Florida 32118 Telephone: 386-***-**** Email: ************@*******.***

Objective:

Accomplished Senior Proposal Manager with over 10 years of experience in managing and developing proposals for government defense, space, and cybersecurity solicitations, both domestic and international. Seeking to contribute to a growing and innovative company focused on growth and continuous improvement.

• Leads high-performing proposal teams, collaborating with capture managers and business units to develop strategic, high-value proposals exceeding $100M.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; adept at creating clear, concise, and well-structured written and oral business proposals, and effectively delivering recommendations to key stakeholders.

• Proven ability to manage multiple proposals simultaneously, consistently meeting deadlines with strong attention to detail and quality in final deliverables

• Collaborates across the business unit to efficiently resource proposals of varying size and complexity, assigning Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), providing staff guidance, and delivering timely training to maximize team effectiveness.

• Experience leading comprehensive color team reviews - Blue, Black Hat, Pink, Red, Green, Gold, and White Hat to enhance win probability and proposal strategy.

• Knowledgeable in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) process and experienced with the complete business development lifecycle for U.S. federal contracting.

• Experienced in remote and hybrid environments, proficient with tools including MS Office, SharePoint, Teams, Azure OpenAI Studio, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Salesforce, GovWin and ProPricer.

• Previously held Secret Security Clearance (deactivated May 2023). Employment History:

Aurora Flight Sciences – A Boeing Company Manassas, VA 2023 – Present Senior Proposal Manager

Proposal professional at Aurora Flight Sciences, driving innovations in aircraft configurations, autonomous systems, propulsion technologies, and manufacturing bid opportunities. Skilled in managing concurrent competitive and non-competitive research proposals for NASA, DARPA, AFRL, and DIU RFI/RFPs to advance next-generation flight technologies. Accountable for leadership in scope management, bid strategy, compliance, and bid development across multiple high-impact proposals.

• Liberty Lifter – Heavy Lift Seaplane

o Served as Deputy Proposal Manager, leading the development and documentation of Statements of Work (SOW) from kickoff through final delivery.

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o Directed a cross-functional team in crafting the SOW and establishing a comprehensive development and delivery schedule, detailing compliance requirements, tasks, assumptions, deliverables, timelines, and costs for the design, build, float, and flight of the X-plane.

o Ensured SOW alignment with Mil-Std-881 Work Breakdown Structure

(WBS), providing a unified program framework that integrates with the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and Basis of Estimates (BOEs). o Coordinated SOW training sessions and supported color team and gate reviews to secure necessary approvals throughout the proposal lifecycle. o Analyzed final RFP/Q&As and SOW plans to ensure compliance and clarity.

• NASA Advanced Aircraft Concepts Environmental Sustainability (AACES) o Led the proposal team to achieve a pivotal strategic win, securing a recent contract award focused on the "XD8" subsonic X-Plane design aimed at improving fuel efficiency, reducing noise, and enhancing operational effectiveness for future commercial airliners.

o Collaborated with Boeing and key university partners to drive technology development investments, shaping the future of sustainable commercial aviation and redefining airliners projected for introduction between 2045 and 2050.

• NASA Model-Based Systems Analysis and Engineering (MBSA&E) for the Sustainable Flight National Partnership (SFNP)

o Led the Boeing proposal team in securing a contract for model-based systems analysis and engineering services, supporting the development and demonstration of sustainable aviation technologies and operations through systems-level modeling and analysis.

o Collaborated with esteemed university partners and key thought leaders to develop a technical solution that advances the MBSA&E framework, enhancing digital integration across projects and contributing to the U.S. climate goal of achieving net-zero emissions in aviation by 2050. Sparton (Elbit Systems of America – ESA) De Leon Springs, FL 2019 – 2023 Manager, Systems Engineering

Reported directly to the VP of Engineering and established a new Systems Engineering organization that expanded to over 20 Project and Systems Engineer direct reports. Oversaw large DoD programs centered on Navy underwater Sonobuoys, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and maritime initiatives.

• Developed a tailored Systems Engineering process incorporating model-based systems using Cameo and requirements development and verification through Jama, facilitated end-to-end design and development of Sonobuoy and maritime projects. Oversaw integration, verification, and First Article Qualification, ensuring readiness for full-rate production.

• Partnered with Business Development on capture and proposal efforts, leading technical proposal development to deliver compliant and competitive solutions. 3

o Served as Technical Proposal Lead, resulting in a joint ceiling of $5.1 billion for modifications to an existing IDIQ contract for Navy sonobuoy capabilities.

o Led the technical proposal securing the Navy's sonobuoy Multiple Award Delivery Order Contract (MADOC).

Honeywell International Daytona Beach, FL (Remote) 2016 – 2019 Sr. Proposal Manager, Honeywell Proposal Center of Excellence Led a team in developing competitive and non-competitive proposals in response to DOD, space, and cybersecurity solicitations.

• Oversaw proposals for U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines, government, and OEM customers across global markets.

• Achieved a submission rate of 200+ proposals in 2019, valued at over $6 billion, with a win rate exceeding 70% and an average turnaround time of 52 days.

• Collaborated with external partners, including OEM customers (Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Lockheed Martin), to integrate technical, cost, and past performance volumes.

• Provided training on the Honeywell Bid Process to ensure compliant and timely proposal delivery while adhering to FAR and ITAR requirements.

• Key contributor on proposals leading to $1 billion+ contract awards for initiatives such as Lockheed Martin's Orion spacecraft and the F-35 program, coordinating across multiple Honeywell locations to deliver critical systems. Raydon Corporation Port Orange, FL 2001 – 2016 Sr. Proposal Manager

Advanced from Systems Engineer to Project Engineer and Proposal Manager, culminating in promotion to Program Manager for the Common Driver Trainer. Oversaw comprehensive project management and proposal development for major defense contracts, demonstrating consistent leadership and technical expertise over 16 years.

• Proposal Manager for Common Driver Trainer (CDT): Secured a $90M contract award from the U.S. Army.

• Proposal Manager for Route Clearance Training System (RCTS): Secured a

$60M contract from the Army National Guard; transitioned to Project Engineer for program execution, delivering the first article within 90 days post-award. GE Transportation Systems Melbourne, FL 1999 – 2001 Sr. Systems Engineer, Precision Dispatch System (PDS) Established the new systems architecture for GE Railway's Precision Dispatch System, supporting BNSF railroad in their transition to the new system. Boeing Company St. Louis, MO & Kennedy Space Center, FL 1990 – 1999 Staff Systems/Technical Specialist, Software Engineer

• Led software engineering efforts for the Test Control and Monitor System

(TCMS) supporting NASA Space Station activities.

• Served as software avionics engineer for the Space Station Data Management System (DMS) and Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) prototype systems.

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Education and Professional Credentials:

• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) Project Management Institute, May 2013

• Master of Project Management Villanova University, July 2012

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Missouri State University

• Member of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP)

• Completed Shipley Proposal Writing and Capture Management Training

• U.S. Patent US877761982: Vehicle Crew Training System

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