Caitlin Rasmussen

About Caitlin Rasmussen

I\'ve spent eight years building proposal operations, starting as the first business development hire at a small government contracting firm and growing into managing over 100 proposals across federal health, defense, life sciences, international development, and legal services. I\'ve coordinated teams across continents, worked across industries, and currently support government contracting clients across vastly different industries, learning each domain fast enough to write about it clearly. Proposal management sits at the intersection of strategy, writing, project management, and people. That combination is where I do my best work. I care about the craft, I care about helping others understand what good proposal work looks like, and I care about pushing past \"the way we\'ve always done it\" because the best proposals come from teams that are given room to think differently.\"The ultimate freedom for creative groups is the freedom to experiment with new ideas. Some skeptics insist that innovation is expensive. In the long run, innovation is cheap. Mediocrity is expensive — and autonomy can be the antidote.\" — Tom Kelley, General Manager, IDEO

Experience

1. Capture & Proposal Manager Consultant

   On Point Strategy

   Mar 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   As the Capture and Proposal Manager for an 8(a), Woman-Owned, HUBZone small business, I lead the full lifecycle of opportunity development, including pipeline management, capture strategy, and proposal development for federal contracts. I refine scalable processes, SOPs, templates, and training programs to streamline pursuit efforts and ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS and agency-specific requirements.In this role, I manage the development of compliant, high-impact proposals for RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, and sole-source opportunities. I coordinate internal technical teams, C-Suite leadership, pricing analysts, and key personnel to translate complex requirements into clear, compelling, and fully compliant submissions. I lead proposal reviews, manage schedules, enforce quality control standards, and ensure the timely delivery of polished final products that position the company to win.Additionally, I support capture planning efforts, including opportunity research, competitor analysis, and the development of win themes and technical solution strategies. I mentor junior staff and foster collaboration across technical, executive, and business development teams to drive alignment and improve proposal success rates.