Senior Proposal Writer & Capture Strategist, Federal

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-g…