Job details

Director, CLD Proposal Management

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director, CLD Proposal Management to lead one of the most exciting opportunities in human spaceflight. Reporting to the VP of Haven-2 Engineering, you will drive the end-to-end development of Vast’s proposal for NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) Phase 2 RFP. This is a rare opportunity to play a key leadership role in securing Vast’s place to design and build a commercial space station to succeed the ISS and push the boundaries of human spaceflight.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

Lead entire proposal development process for NASA CLD Phase 2 RFP which is the largest and most strategic contract for the Haven-2 space station
Manage one or more direct reports who will support proposal team on writing technical and non-technical sections of the proposal
Develop and manage overall proposal timeline and schedule to ensure proposal is developed on time while minimizing drag on engineering and functional teams with last minute asks
Develop the win strategies and key strengths of Vast and ensure that these are communicated throughout the proposal sections
Working with VP of Haven-2, act as primary orchestrator and coordinator across multiple internal teams and stakeholders including engineering, finance, sales, mission operations, mission assurance, production, supply chain, and leadership team to make sure that each team’s content is aligned and ties into the larger bid strategy and approach

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, business, or writing discipline
10+ years of experience in proposal management, business development, or capture management

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Demonstrated success in writing and winning large proposals ($100M+) with NASA or other government agencies
Experience with entire proposal development, negotiation, and award process including Industry Days, RFIs, RFPs, pre-award discussions, and post-award customer kick offs
Strong engineering background with technical expertise in aerospace or space programs
Familiarity with industry standards, regulations, and best practices in spaceflight hardware and proposal development
Ability to work in a fast paced and nimble environment that is building internal processes in parallel to building the world’s first commercial space station

Additional Requirements:

Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Pay Range (Recruiting will help fill this portion)

Director, CLD Proposal Management: $185,000 - $245,000

Salary Range: California

$185,000—$245,000 USD

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Vast Glassdoor Company Review

4.5

Vast DE&I Review

No rating

CEO of Vast

John Price

Approve of CEO

Average salary estimate

$215000 / YEARLY (est.)

min

max

$185000K

$245000K

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