Capture Manager

Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employee. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team. And we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed. 

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being "All In" for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us. 

Ardent is seeking a Capture Manager to join our team.  

This is a hybrid/on-site position located in Tyson's Corner-Vienna, VA. Weekly on-site team, partner, and client meetings are expected regularly.

Position Description:

We are seeking a dynamic Capture Manager to join our team and lead business development efforts for government contracting opportunities. The Capture Manager will focus on identifying, pursuing, and securing contracts and task orders aligned with our company's mission, leveraging innovative solutions, and ensuring compliance with all applicable contract requirements.

The ideal candidate will have a solid background in federal contracting, expertise in capture management processes, and the ability to build strategic relationships with clients, partners, and internal teams.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Capture Development

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders, including government representatives, industry partners, and internal teams.
• Identify and qualify business opportunities across various federal and state contracting vehicles through market analysis, networking, and attending industry events.
• Develop and execute strategic capture plans with a short- to medium-term (1-3 year) outlook, ensuring alignment with client objectives and organizational goals.
• Analyze competitive landscapes and create win strategies to position the company effectively for task orders and contracts.

Capture Management

• Lead the capture process for government contracts, including crafting capture plans, value propositions, and proposal strategies.
• Collaborate with technical experts to design innovative solutions that meet client requirements and differentiate the company from competitors.
• Oversee proposal development, ensuring compliance with solicitation requirements, packaging standards, and relevant inspection criteria.
• Manage the proposal lifecycle, including drafting, editing, and ensuring alignment with the capture strategy and client mission needs.

Customer Engagement

• Establish and maintain trusted advisor relationships with government representatives, understanding their goals, challenges, and priorities.
• Tailor company solutions to meet client needs, such as digital transformation, IT modernization, quality assurance, and infrastructure improvements.
• Provide valuable insights and recommendations to clients based on their specific requirements and business challenges.

Market Research and Analysis

• Conduct thorough market research to uncover new business opportunities, with a focus on identifying client needs in IT, operations, and infrastructure.
• Leverage federal procurement tools, such as GovWin, FPDS, and others, to analyze trends, competition, and contract forecasts.
• Stay informed on government contracting standards and regulations, ensuring compliance and a competitive edge.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Partner with internal teams, including technical, project management, and executive leadership, to ensure alignment and support for business development efforts.
• Foster a collaborative environment within the team, encouraging innovation, knowledge-sharing, and a focus on achieving capture success.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field (preferred, will accept experience in lieu of a degree).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in business development, capture management, or a related role in federal contracting.
• Proven experience in developing and executing capture strategies for government contracts, including managing task orders under IDIQ vehicles (or similar contract types).
• Strong understanding of federal contracting regulations, including FAR, DFARS, and industry standards related to quality assurance.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical solutions clearly to clients and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills to assess market opportunities, competitive positioning, and client needs.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key government stakeholders, industry partners, and internal teams.
• Ability to work in a team-oriented environment, collaborating with diverse groups to achieve business development goals.

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be U.S. Citizens willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process.

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.