Proposal Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of proposal managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for proposal managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of proposal managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for proposal managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Proposal Managers?
Do proposal managers need a degree? What kind of experience do proposal managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for proposal managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Proposal Managers
Jobs Postings for Proposal Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 107,981 (53%)
- No Education Listed: 46,672 (23%)
- High School or GED: 25,440 (12%)
- Master's degree: 20,178 (10%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 5,347 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of proposal managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 53% of positions. In 23% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Proposal Managers
Jobs Postings for Proposal Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 17,495 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 47,198 (40%)
- 4-6 Years: 37,359 (31%)
- 7-9 Years: 8,890 (7%)
- 10+ Years: 7,889 (7%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for proposal managers. In 40% of job postings for Proposal Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 31% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for proposal managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Proposal Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for proposal managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 20 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective proposal managers, and in 2023 a total of 23,317 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective proposal managers.
Top Degree Programs for Proposal Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Proposal Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General. | 3,378 |
| Agriculture, General. | 3,221 |
| Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations. | 3,166 |
| Fashion Merchandising. | 2,911 |
| Agricultural Business and Management, General. | 2,125 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General. | 3,378 |
| Agriculture, General. | 3,221 |
| Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations. | 3,166 |
| Fashion Merchandising. | 2,911 |
| Agricultural Business and Management, General. | 2,125 |
| Apparel and Textiles, General. | 1,873 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. | 1,102 |
| Retail Management. | 983 |
| Retailing and Retail Operations. | 953 |
| Apparel and Textile Marketing Management. | 707 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. | 685 |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other. | 670 |
| Farm/Farm and Ranch Management. | 558 |
| Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling. | 278 |
| Viticulture and Enology. | 237 |
| General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other. | 223 |
| Merchandising and Buying Operations. | 134 |
| Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations. | 84 |
| Apparel and Textiles, Other. | 26 |
| Wine Steward/Sommelier. | 3 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Proposal Managers
With an associate of science in business administration degree, you’ll dig into the functional areas of business and learn how to connect each function with the others to advance business goals and further outcomes while you prepare for a variety of roles in operations, sales, management and coordination.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Build a strong foundation of real-world business knowledge suitable for a variety of career options in your industry of choice.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Proposal Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by proposal managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for proposal managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Proposal Managers
Based on 175,858 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Proposal Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing | 73,332 | 42% |
| Procurement | 73,015 | 42% |
| Contract Management | 32,834 | 19% |
| Project Management | 28,923 | 16% |
| Finance | 28,917 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Proposal Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 81,906 | 47% |
| Management | 73,322 | 42% |
| Negotiation | 51,048 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 46,931 | 27% |
| Detail Oriented | 40,962 | 23% |
Based on 175,858 job postings related to proposal managers, purchasing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 42% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for procurement, contract management, project management, finance and supply chain were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for proposal managers, followed by management, negotiation, microsoft excel, detail oriented and microsoft office.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing | 73,332 | 42% |
| Procurement | 73,015 | 42% |
| Contract Management | 32,834 | 19% |
| Project Management | 28,923 | 16% |
| Finance | 28,917 | 16% |
| Supply Chain | 27,431 | 16% |
| Invoicing | 26,133 | 15% |
| Request For Proposal | 26,006 | 15% |
| Accounting | 25,074 | 14% |
| Auditing | 18,860 | 11% |
| Marketing | 17,884 | 10% |
| Contract Negotiation | 15,384 | 9% |
| Subcontracting | 13,827 | 8% |
| SAP Applications | 13,044 | 7% |
| Supply Chain Management | 12,902 | 7% |
| Process Improvement | 12,181 | 7% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 11,148 | 6% |
| Supplier Performance Management | 10,996 | 6% |
| Inventory Management | 10,201 | 6% |
| Data Analysis | 9,972 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 81,906 | 47% |
| Management | 73,322 | 42% |
| Negotiation | 51,048 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 46,931 | 27% |
| Detail Oriented | 40,962 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 39,885 | 23% |
| Operations | 38,216 | 22% |
| Customer Service | 36,905 | 21% |
| Writing | 36,381 | 21% |
| Sales | 34,723 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 34,154 | 19% |
| Research | 31,055 | 18% |
| Planning | 30,958 | 18% |
| Leadership | 30,378 | 17% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 26,646 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 24,824 | 14% |
| Organizational Skills | 23,523 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 23,004 | 13% |
| Self-Motivation | 20,270 | 12% |
| Time Management | 19,592 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about proposal managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for proposal managers.
What do proposal managers do?
How much do proposal managers make?
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