Now Hiring - Cogent People Inc. - Capture Manager – Federal Health in Columbia, MD

Full description of the position

Description: Location : Columbia, MD (Hybrid) Residency Requirement : Candidates must have lived in the U.S. for at least 3 of the past 5 years and be authorized to work in the U.S. (Citizen, Permanent Resident, or EAD). Sponsorship H1B: This position does not offer sponsorship. * Job Overview: Cogent People Inc. is seeking an experienced, results-oriented Capture Manager to lead and execute capture activities in support of the company's federal health IT growth strategy. This role is responsible for shaping and driving pursuit strategies for complex federal opportunities from early market engagement through proposal submission. The Capture Manager translates customer intelligence, competitive analysis, and procurement insights into actionable capture strategies, win themes, and solution positioning. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, deep federal acquisition knowledge, strong leadership and communication skills, and the ability to operate with autonomy while influencing cross-functional teams to maximize win probability. Responsibilities: * Capture Planning & Governance * Lead the development, execution, and continuous refinement of capture plans for priority federal health IT pursuits * Own, develop, and present capture gate reviews, recommending bid/no-bid decisions and pursuit strategies to executive leadership * Plan and facilitate Black Hat sessions, Price-to-Win analyses, competitive positioning, and solution tradeoff discussions * Establish and enforce disciplined capture processes, artifacts, and metrics; contribute to continuous improvement of growth SOPs and pipeline governance * Market & Opportunity Research * Proactively identify and qualify new opportunities through SAM.gov, eBuy, agency forecasts, and customer engagement * Direct and synthesize research using USAspending, FPDS, CPARS, Interact/GSA, and market intelligence tools (e.g., GovWin, GovTribe, HigherGov) to assess customer buying patterns, incumbents, competitors, and contract vehicles * Analyze RFIs, SSNs, RFPs, PWS/SOWs, Q&As, amendments, and acquisition strategies to derive requirements, evaluation criteria, risks, and differentiators * Translate market and customer insights into clear win strategies, capture recommendations, and solution approaches * Account & Stakeholder Mapping * Build and maintain detailed customer, influencer, and decision-maker maps, documenting priorities, pain points, and acquisition timelines * Lead or support customer engagement planning in coordination with BD leadership * Identify, assess, and recommend teaming partners and subcontractors aligned to technical, past performance, and contractual needs * Operational Support * Develop call plans, meeting readouts, capture briefs, and executive summaries; oversee NDA/TA coordination * Lead or oversee FOIA requests and past performance research to inform capture and proposal strategies * Partner closely with BD leadership, solution architects, proposal managers, recruiting, and delivery leadership to shape discriminators, staffing strategies, resumes, and past performance narratives early in the lifecycle * Support proposal development as needed, including writing or reviewing (e.g., executive summaries, management approaches, win themes) Requirements: * Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Information Systems, Public Policy, Analytics) or equivalent experience * 7+ years of experience in federal health IT capture management, business development, or proposal leadership * Demonstrated success leading captures for federal healthcare agencies (e.g., CMS, HHS, VA, NIH) * Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and executive leadership * Advanced proficiency with Excel and data analysis tools; ability to synthesize large volumes of procurement, financial, and market data into executive-ready insights * Strong working knowledge of federal acquisition processes, documentation, and compliance requirements * Experience developing and institutionalizing capture processes, workflows, and SOPs; proficiency with MS Suite and SharePoint-based collaboration environments * Proven judgment, discretion, and ability to operate independently while collaborating across teams * Strong attention to detail with a commitment to delivering high-quality and accurate work. * Proven ability to manage time and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment. * Demonstrated problem-solving skills with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset. Preferred Qualifications: * Experience at CMS directly, either supporting capture, business development, or delivery * Deep familiarity with federal acquisition lifecycle (RFI/SSN/RFP), NAICS/PSC mapping, and major federal health IT contract vehicles * Extensive experience conducting competitive analysis using SAM.gov, USAspending, FPDS, CPARS, and agency forecast data * Hands-on experience with market intelligence platforms (e.g., GovWin, GovTribe, HigherGov) * Demonstrated success building repeatable capture frameworks and mentoring junior capture or research staff * Ability to collaborate effectively with software engineering, data, integration, and delivery teams to align technical solutions with customer mission needs * Interest in responsibly leveraging AI/LLMs to enhance capture research, analysis, and knowledge management Why Cogent People Inc. At Cogent People, we foster a collaborative, growth-driven environment where innovation thrives. You'll be part of a team working on mission-critical solutions that make a real impact. We offer competitive salaries, career development opportunities, and the chance to contribute to meaningful projects that shape the future. We prioritize employee satisfaction and provide a supportive, inclusive culture where every team member is valued and empowered to succeed. We are a Certified Great Place to Work. Benefits: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance : Comprehensive coverage. 401(k) Plan : Matching contributions. Life Insurance & Disability Coverage: Company-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance. Paid Time Off : 3 weeks of PTO annually, plus 10 holidays. EEO Employer: Cogent People Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, or any other status protected by law.