Senior Proposal Writer & Capture Strategist, Federal

Job description

Government technology has failed the public for decades, and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services. Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern, AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation, and now we're building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service. Our platform reaches 55 million Americans across 50+ agencies. Our goal: build technology that touches the lives of 100 million residents by the end of the year. Founded in 2022 and based in New York City, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital. We're builders, designers, and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn't be a luxury in government. It's how you earn trust back. THE ROLE Kaizen's proposal and capture function is expanding to keep pace with the increasing volume of competitive Federal solicitations! This role addresses this demand head-on: a hire fully dedicated to Federal proposal and capture, responsible for the writing, strategy, and process that win competitive contracts with the U.S. Government. You'll own solicitation responses, white papers, solution briefs, and unsolicited proposals end-to-end, and shape how Kaizen's Federal proposal function scales as the team grows. This is a rare chance to build something from the ground up at a company that has already proven it can win, at a moment when Federal demand for what Kaizen builds keeps climbing. LOCATION This is a hybrid role based out of either our New York City HQ or DC office. Candidates must be able to commute to either NYC or DC to work out of our office at least three times a week (Tuesdays - Thursdays). WHAT YOU'LL DO - Own the full development and submission of Federal solicitation responses, including RFx responses, white papers, solution briefs, and unsolicited proposals, from first draft through submission. - Monitor Federal contracting channels beyond SAM.gov http://SAM.gov to surface new opportunities that fit Kaizen's strengths. - Partner with product, engineering, and partnerships to translate technical work into narratives that win with Federal contracting officers, work that ultimately gets modern tools into the hands of the agencies serving millions of Americans. - Build the AI-assisted workflows and templates that let Kaizen's Federal proposal function move faster as the team grows. - Work alongside David to sharpen capture strategy, spot what a strong-fit opportunity looks like, and prep for competitive deals with the Federal BD team. - Catch the requirements a solicitation does not explicitly spell out, since missing them is often the difference between a compliant response and a losing one. - Represent Kaizen at virtual industry days and other Federal BD activities as needed. WHAT YOU'LL BRING - At least 8 years of experience writing and winning proposals for Federal government solicitations. - Experience at a startup or fast-moving tech company, not solely at large, established Federal contracting firms. - Deep fluency in Federal procurement, including working with contracting officers, developing unsolicited proposals, knowing which procurement channels to monitor beyond SAM.gov http://SAM.gov, and understanding the terminology and mechanics of different solicitation types. - A sharp eye for detail. In this role, missing a small requirement can sink an otherwise strong response. - A self-starter who takes on work without needing to be told what is next, and who asks for feedback rather than waiting for it. - Real, hands-on experience using AI tools in proposal and capture work, not just familiarity with the concept. STRONG CANDIDATES MAY ALSO... - Have experience at a fast-growing, mission-driven technology company, think Palantir, Anduril, or similar, rather than a large traditional Federal contracting firm. - Have been part of a small, nimble proposal and capture team before. - Have owned the full spectrum of both capture strategy and proposal development, not just one half of the process. DON'T APPLY IF... - You need a highly structured environment with a clear playbook for every task. This role is still being built, and you will be shaping the process as much as executing it. - You are not genuinely energized by government work. Federal contracting has a learning curve, and half-hearted interest shows up fast in the writing. - You would rather wait for direction than figure out the next right move yourself. - You are comfortable letting small details slide. In Federal solicitations, the fine print is often the whole ballgame. If you want to help decide how the Federal government experiences modern software, and you are willing to do the unglamorous work of winning the right to build it, this is worth a conversation. WHAT KAIZEN OFFERS Health & Insurance - 100% coverage across the board: medical through Oxford/United (Gold and Platinum PPO plans), dental through Guardian PPO, and vision through Beam — all fully covered for employees, with 100% coverage for dependents. - $100,000 in fully paid life insurance. FSA and Dependent Care FSA. - One Medical membership, on us — same-day primary care, 24/7 virtual visits, and offices all over the city. - Fertility and family-building support through Carrot. - 401(k) through Guideline, with a 2% company match. Family & Time Off - 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents. 10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents. - Unlimited PTO, with a two-week minimum (we mean it when we say take time off!) - Closed for all federal holidays. - Company-wide winter break the week of Christmas. - Company offsites throughout the year. Office & Remote Setup - Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees. - $50/month commuter benefit (company contribution). - Expensed lunch while in the office. - Company-provided laptop of your choice. Wellness - Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse https://grindhousemhttn.com/ — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value, on us. For remote employees, $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement. Stipends - $100/month utility stipend. - $500/year professional development. - $250/year recreation. - $300/quarter pet care stipend.